Senior leaders from the Massachusetts Air National Guard express their gratitude to the many local, state and federal agencies that supported the search and recovery operations and continued to participate in the ongoing recovery efforts following the fatal crash of a 104th Fighter Wing F-15C aircraft in the remote mountains near Deerfield Valley, Va.
“The level of support provided by a number of states and at the federal level has been very helpful during this challenging time,” said Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, the Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard. “On behalf of the men and women of the Massachusetts National Guard, I thank each and every one of you for your assistance. The continued support from the available agencies will be critical as we work through the ongoing recovery and investigation.”
“The 104th Fighter Wing is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support demonstrated by our local community, and nearly 30 agencies in the Virginia area that spent more than 30 hours scouring over dangerous terrain, committed to finding our fallen Airman and to bring him home,” said Col. James Keefe, 104th Fighter Wing Commander.
The search and rescue efforts were supported by approximately 150 personnel from a number of agencies that include the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, Augusta County Fire and Rescue, Deerfield Fire Department, Churchville Fire Department, Swope Fire Department, Virginia State Police, Virginia National Guard, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Forest Service, FBI, US Border and Customs Enforcement, Maryland State Police Aviation, Indiana National Guard, Massachusetts Air National Guard, New Jersey National Guard, Alabama National Guard, West Virginia National Guard and the U.S. Air Force.
A number of volunteer search and rescue teams also participated in the rescue operation, including the Southwestern VA Mountain Rescue Group, Search & Rescue Dogs East, Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group, Blue Ridge Mountain Rescue Group, Blue-Gray Search & Rescue, VA Search & Rescue Dogs Association and Piedmont Search & Rescue.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
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Chris Graham
