On 27 Sept 1996, a Memorial was dedicated on behalf of the 24 men that fatefully lost their lives aboard Aircraft 0354, Callsign Yukla 27, assigned to the 962 AACS. The memorial is surrounded by 24 Spruce trees, one for every member aboard the aircraft--their humanity. 24 bronze cast name plaques adorn the wall, one for each Airman--their professionalism. The E-3B AWACS replica is mounted in a climbing left hand turn, Yukla 27's takeoff that day--their mission. Both the U.S. and Canadian Flags are raised high--our nations share their loss. Yukla, from Tanaina Indian dialect meaning Eagle, the callsign of all Alaskan AWACS aircraft. ...He will lift them up and they will soar on wings like eagles.
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| Yukla 27 Memorial, Elmendorf AFB, AK |
22 Sept 1995 will forever be remembered as a day of mourning for a tight-knit and very close community of family and aviators. That fateful morning, 24 men of the 962 AACS boarded an AWACS at Elemendorf AFB, AK for what should have been a “standard flight/mission.” Yet, shortly after V1 (point of no return on takeoff/takeoff decision speed), the starboard side engines suffered a catastrophic bird strike. Yukla 27 entered into a slow climb to the left and the aircraft impacted the hills approximately one mile from the departure end of the runway. All 24 crewmembers instantly perished.
The Air Force Accident Investigation Board concluded that the accident “was directly caused by the ingestion of geese into engines number one and two. Two other factors substantially contributed to the accident of which the 3d Wing Leadership lacked an aggressive program to detect and deter the geese—what is commonly known as Bird Air Strike Hazard Program (BASH) and that the Control Tower might have prevented the accident if “sound judgment” were used. Nevertheless, 15 years later, many remembered the event, the lives lost, and the great memories we all shared with those American and Canadian men.
Below are excerpts of those “memories” taken from around the web (There are quite a few). Before I begin to list the “memories,” please say a prayer to those families who also suffered losses in the aftermath of the "Sitka 43" C-17 accident that occurred 28 July 10. Four Airmen perished doing what they loved most—it is rumored that the crew crashed near Yukla 27’s accident site.
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I was flying a mission with NATO AWACS the day this happened and our RO tuned in BBC when the crew we were relieving on station in the Adriatic asked us if we had heard anything. Our whole crew listened for hours as BBC started broadcasting information as they received it. I knew several of the crew and will never forget them!!
~CH, 24 Sept 10
It is comforting to us in Montréal to read from all of you on this site. The National Air Force Museum of Canada will be remembering the two Canadian crew members this week end in Trenton, Ontario. Thanks to an American visitor who asked for the names of David Pitcher and my brother Jean-Pierre Legault to be remembered during a ceremony. I will certainly mention this page to our family and friends attending.
~ML, 22 Sept 10
To my brother Steve.....thinking of you....miss you and love you always......so hard to believe that it has been 15 years now....you are always in our hearts.....
~LTW, 22 Sept 10
Thank you for starting this page. I also located it during a search as the anniversary approaches. My brother, SSGT. Scott Bresson, was lost to us that day, but lives always in our memories, deeply loved and painfully missed.
~SH, 14 Sept 10
Every time I make peanut butter cookies I think of BK asking me to bring more of them in to work the next day, he said they were the best ones he ever ate.
~CCH, 22 Sept 10
I still miss Chuck, Scott, and all the guys so very much......tough memories.
~RBH, 09 Jan 10
I was TDY to Tinker for the flight manuals review conference when it happened. The week before, Mark Collins had asked me to go in his place so he could be in town for some family that were coming to town. I miss them all, but I think of Mark most. I wish I still had his guidance today.
~CG, 27 Sept 09
At 0747 this morning, please remember Yukla 27. Those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. 24 Men lost, memories not.
~CK, 22 Sept 10
I look at Darby's picture every day and never forget my boy DeFran.
~JP, 22 Sept 10
RIP to the crew! And love to their loved ones
~LT, 20 Sept 10
RIP Josh and crew grateful to at least have met you!!
~JM, 20 Sept 10
Amn Smith was one of my students at the TRS when I was going thru instructor upgrade. Great kid and so young at the time. The ultimate sacrifice my friend. God Bless those that serve.
~JB, 08 Sept 10
Went to Saudi with Defran on his last trip there before he went up to Elmendorf. I'll never forget talking to him about Alaska and telling him that "he'd love it up there"....
~JC, 08 Sept 10
I remember going to a few ball games with DW and a few of the other ASTs...good times at the stadium and then in Bricktown...They're all still sorely missed...
~CL, 08 Sept 10
CDMT was my first supervisor at the 963d, great dude, knew quite a few of those guys, RIP bros.
~BN, 09 Sept 10
He was a CDMT instructor and knew his stuff well. I was flying a mission over Florida that day when we got the news...RIP guys
~EM, 09 Sept 10
Josh Weter (CDMT) was a dear friend of mine. Several years ago I created a memorial webpage as a tribute to all those who perished in the accident.
~DB, 09 Sept 10
I'll never forget that day, I was in Saudi, sitting on a bus outside of the admin building on Eskon, getting ready to head out to the jet, when they told us what happend. Said we didn't have to fly that day if we didn't want to, but we all knew we needed to for them. They will never be forgotten!
~SK, 10 Sept 10
I was flying that day, we were doing a spouse flight when it cam eover the radio. I still have Darby P rrin's painting hanging over my mantel. Family always in our prayers
~TA, 20 Sept 10
Very hard to belive that was 15 years ago, always in our prayers........
~MS, 15 Sept 10
Hard to believe that was 15 years ago...RIP Yukla
~BS, 15 Sept 10
A little tribute true and tender. Just to show that we remember.
Time may pass and fade away but memories of you will always stay. Miss you still Josh!
~JW, 22 Sept 09
Think of the ones we lost all the time. I lost two friends, Robert "Cowboy" Long and Carlos A. I pray for all the families and friends of those we lost.
~KDH, 30 May 09
Dave, you are a great man with an outstanding sense of humor. We all miss your presense. We had a lot of good times buddy
~PL, 25 Mar 09
I was a Master Corporal teaching at the AWC&Cs controller school in North Bay and looking forward to a Tinker posting when I heard about the news. I will greatly miss Dave Pitcher, a close friend and colleague. My thoughts go out to everyone lost and who lost that day.
~DG, 25 Mar 09
We were flying off the Florida coast when we got the news.....it was a long drive back to Tinker. I ended up PCS'ing to Elmendorf to replace one of the two FE's lost in the crash. I was on the static crew for the one year memorial of the crash....wasn't a good day. May God be with the families of those who gave all!
~BG, 23 Mar 09
I believe that everyone who has ever flown in AWACS should visit the crashsite. It is not only sobering but also a realization of how fragile our lives are and how strong we should keep our friendships. Those 24 heroes should never leave our minds each and every day.
~DJ, 19 Mar 09
There are probably thousands more memories, thoughts and prayers waiting to be posted. I will forever miss my friends and think of the 24 for the rest of my life.
Below you will find an excerpt of the transmission, photos of the 24 crewmembers and links to websites throughout the internet related to Yukla 27.
0745:29 RDO-TWR: Yukla two seven heavy, the wind three one zero at one one, cleared for takeoff Runway five. Traffic is a C-130 three miles north of Elmendorf northwest-bound, climbing out of two thousand.0745:3 CAM: [light switches]0745:39 AC?: In sight.0745:41 RDO-CP: And Yukla two seven heavy cleared for takeoff, traffic in sight.0745:44 CP: Cleared for takeoff, crew.
0745:45 FE: *check complete.
0745:45 CAM: [Engines spool up]
0745:47 AC: Engineer, set takeoff power.
0745:49 CAM: [Engines spool up]
0746:09 CP: Eighty knots, copilot's aircraft.
0746:11 AC: Your airplane.
0746:20 AC: V 1 .
0746:28 AC: Rotate.
0746:28 CP: All the birds.
0746:31 FE: Lotta birds here.
0746:33 AC: # we took one.
0746:36 CP: What do I got?
0746:37 FE?: We took two of 'em.
0746:37 AC: We got two motors.
0746:37 FE: Flight start.
0746:38 CP: Roger that.
0746:40 AC: Take me to override.
0746:41 CP: Go to override on, on the ...
0746:43 RDO-CP: Elmendorf tower, Yukla two seven heavy has an emergency. Lost ah number two engine, we've taken some birds.
0746:44 St5: You're in override.
0746:4 St5: There's the rudder.
0746:46 FE: Got it.
0746:47 St5: You're in override.
0746:48 AC: Thank you.
0746:49 FE: Starting dump fuel.
0746:51 AC: Start dumping.
0746:52 RDO-TWR: Yukla two seven heavy, roger. Say intentions.
0746:55 CAM: [Stick shaker activates, continues until impact]
0746:56 RDO-CP: Yukla zero two heavy's coming back around for an emergency return.
0746:58 CP: Lower the nose, lower the nose, lower the nose.
0747:00 RDO-TWR: Two seven heavy, roger.
0747:00 AC: Goin' down.
0747:02 CP?: Oh my God.
0747:02 AC: Oh #.
0747:04 CP: OK, give it all you got, give it all you got.
0747:06 RDO-CP: Two seven heavy, emergency.
0747:09 RDO-W1: Roll the crash, roll the crash.
0747:10 CAM: [PA tone]
0747:11 CP: Crash (landing)
0747:11 AC: We're goin' in.
0747:11 AC: We're going down.
The Crewmembers of Yukla 27
From Left to Right, Top to Bottom
First Lieutenant Carlos Arriaga
Staff Sergeant Mark Bramer
Staff Sergeant Scott Bresson
Technical Sergeant Mark Collins
Senior Airman Lawrence DeFrancesco
Technical Sergeant Bart Holmes
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Leary
MS Corporal Jean-Pierre Legault
Captaiin Robert
Long
Master Sergeant Steve O'Connell
Captain Bradley Paakola
Technical Sergeant Ernest Parrish
Sergeant David Pitcher
Captain Glenn Rogers
Airman Jeshua Smith
Staff Sergeant Raymond Spencer
Major Richard Stewart
Technical Sergeant Charles Sweet
Major Marlon Thomas
Technical SergeantTimothy Thomas
Major Steven Tuttle
Technical Sergeant Brian Van Leer
Airman Darien Watson
Senior Airman Joshua Weter
Facebook Yukla 27 Group 1
Yukla 27 Group
Facebook Yukla 27 Group 2
Yukla 27Artwork
Darby Perrin Art
Modern Military Art
Yukla 27.org
Safety Crusader
Airborne Early Warning Association
Canada's Air Force 2009 Memorial
University of Colorado Memorial Site
Sitka 43 Memorial Press Release
Yukla 27 A Memorial Page
Photo Page of Accident Site
1:09:27:10
Source Story: Google, Writer
Photo Source: Google, Yukla27.org
As the writer of this blog, I was affected by the loss of friends but can not imagine the pain the families felt that day and in the years since. May God Bless them and the 24 men. Forever in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteThank you Chris for posting the link to your blog. The first picture that you posted of the crash site had to be shortly after it happened. I remember going out there a few days before the memorial service at Elmendorf. My mom and dad could not bring themselves to go out there. I still vividly remember the smell of jet fuel. Also thinking, wow such a huge airplane is now in tiny little pieces. I walked the field with the 962nd on the 10year reunion. We wills till finding parts of the plane in the field. Thanks again for remember our loved ones. Deanne Frank - sister of Maj. Steve Tuttle
ReplyDeleteThis was difficult for me to read. I have managed to avoid seeing these pictures for 15 years, so much for the miracle of the internet eh? I suppose I can't really be upset, clearly you have good intentions and I do thank you for keeping their memory alive.
ReplyDeleteI was on a bus on the way to Disneyland Paris. I looked over the seat in front of me as the headline of the Stars and Stripes caught my eye, "AWACS Crashes in Alaska" ... it took my breath away. I immediately started running names through my head of dear friends and crewmembers I'd flown with at Tinker and in Saudi. As it turned out, both of the engineers had been students of mine, Mark Collins had been my roomate in Saudi for 3 months in '88. BK Van Leer had worked for me in the 966th and I'd flown with several others. As fate would have it, Larry DeFrancesco's father was my wife's boss @ Spangdahlem while I was the Airman Leadership School Commandant just up the road @ Bitburg. My ALS students there took it upon themselves to dedicate the Learning Resource Center @ the ALS to SrA DeFrancesco. His wife and daughter, parents and grandmother attended the dedication ceremony on the first anniverrsary of the crash. I was the last guest speaker @ the school before it was relocated from Bitburg to Spangdahlem in Dec '07. At that time, the staff assured me the memorial would be moved along with the other "heritage" items to its new location, so if you're ever @ Spangdahlem, stop by the Pitsenbarger Airman Leadership School and make sure the current staff knows how important this memorial is to all of us. - Mike Sullivan
ReplyDeleteThis was a hardship on me personally to see. I have were able to avoid discovering these types of pictures regarding 15 years, a great deal to the miracle of the web correct? I assume I can not be disappointed, evidently you might have very good motives and i also do appreciate maintaining their recollection in existence. Cheap Runescape Gold
ReplyDeletei was a young fireman on this day. We were the first truck on the hill. I have not and will not share what i saw and felt, but this has forever changed my life. I'm sorry for all of those who were close to the men and women on this flight. I accidentally a few and ran away from them and for that I am sorry. I wish there could be closure, and if i can give you only this...they passed doing what they loved, for the country they loved, for the ones that they loved.
ReplyDeletemillstech2000@yahoo.com
I was in Panama with a KC-135 outfit out of Fairchild AFB. We were there to support the Kadena AWACS unit. We heard about the crash minutes after it happened. I still remember the Kadena guys response,"oh God, what happened?" Later in my career I PCSed to Elmendorf and had a the pleasure of working one of the spouses of those fine airmen lost that fateful day. I wished, for her sake I could take it all back.
ReplyDeleteWe were headed to Saudi out of the 965th, I remember Mike Wilcox, MCC (crass old bastard, but we love him anyway) We had overnighted in Bangor on a fuel stop, before proceeding on. The intel guy told us that an AWACS had gone down, when we showed the next morning. I remember we held takeoff to ensure they were not going to ground the fleet. Later what seemed like a lifetime, we ended up in Saudi Arabia, in those portable trailer office things where OPS was and the mission planning rooms. Major Wilcox had the duty of reading the report that listed the crewmembers names. The feeling in that room, the anticipation, "please do not let it be someone I know" along with the guilt for having selfish feelings about myself. Major Wilcox, whom at the time I did not know was capable of producing tears, could not make it through the list. Today in my office at work, there is a 24 picture that is behind me and it keeps me grounded. -sp8
ReplyDeleteI flew with 963rd in Tinker when this incident occurred. SGT Dave Pitcher and I were both selected for AWACS duties. Since I had a tour with NATO AWACS Dave had the choice of where to be assigned. He picked Alaska. Makes one wonder how your future will be depending on choices made. GOD bless all on YUKLA 27.
ReplyDeleteI was there that day. Running late to work. Worked that bird the day prior. I rounded the end of the runway as they began takeoff roll. As I pulled into the parking lot, they lifted off. The rest of that day and the days that followed will forever be etched into my mind...
ReplyDelete