Recovery Efforts Under Way
Among those killed in a V-22 Osprey crash last week off of Yakushima Island, Japan last week was Air Force Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy, 33, from Oviedo, Florida, the Air Force announced today.
The CV-22B Osprey, bearing the call sign “GUNDAM 22,” went down during a routine training mission, and it is believed that all eight crew members aboard have been lost.
Tech. Sgt. Lavoy, who served as a medical operations flight chief at the 1st Special Operations Squadron, is mourned deeply by both his hometown of Oviedo and his military peers.
The days following the crash of the Osprey have lead to a massive search and rescue operation, which has now transitioned to a search and recovery mission. The Air Force has successfully recovered three of the eight fallen airmen and is currently in the process of recovering three more. However, the search continues for the remaining two servicemen. The Air Force has not disclosed the identities of those whose remains have been found and those still missing.
Alongside Tech. Sgt. Lavoy, the servicemen lost in the crash include:
- Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann, 32, an instructor pilot with the 21st Special Operations Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan.
- Maj. Eric V. Spendlove, 36, a flight surgeon and medical operations flight commander at the 1st Special Operations Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan.
- Maj. Luke A. Unrath, 34, a pilot and flight commander with the 21st Special Operations Squadron.
- Capt. Terrell K. Brayman, 32, a pilot and flight commander with the 21st Special Operations Squadron.
- Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage, 25, a flight engineer with the 21st Special Operations Squadron.
- Staff Sgt. Jake M. Galliher, 24, an airborne linguist specializing in Mandarin Chinese with Yokota’s 43rd Intelligence Squadron, Detachment 1.
- Senior Airman Brian K. Johnson, 32, a flight engineer with the 21st Special Operations Squadron.
The Osprey’s unique capability for vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter and forward flight like an airplane has been under scrutiny, especially in Japan, where the propeller driven aircraft is widely used. The crash marks at least 16 crashes of the V-22 Osprey dating back to 1991. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has requested a suspension of Osprey flights in Japan following the crash.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and peers of all who are impacted by this mishap and loss of life,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, Air Force Special Operations Command commander. “In times like these, where service to our nation is not just a personal commitment but also a legacy woven into the fabric of our families, the depth of sorrow is immeasurable. The honorable service of these eight Airmen to this great Nation will never be forgotten, as they are now among the giants who shape our history.”
As recovery efforts continue, the Oviedo community and the nation mourn the loss of Tech. Sgt. Lavoy and his fellow servicemen, commemorating their sacrifice and commitment to their country.
