COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKRC) — An Ohio pilot took to the skies this week to honor the three National Guard soldiers who died during a refueling operation in Iraq earlier in March, reports WCMH.
Capt. Curtis Angst of Wilmington, Capt. Seth Koval of Stoutsville and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons of Columbus were identified as the three Ohio National Guardsmen killed on March 12 when their air refueling jet went down over Iraq as part of Operation Epic Fury. Their plane reportedly collided with the jet they were refueling. All three were part of the 121st Air Refueling Wing and stationed at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.
According to FlightAware, the pilot’s plane took off from Bowling Green at 3:42 p.m. on Thursday and drew a tribute to the fallen guardsmen during the course of a more-than-four-hour flight. Footage from Flightradar24 shows the pilot drew three crosses, as well as the outline of a soldier saluting, over central Ohio.
The remains of the airmen were returned to their families at Dover Air Force Base last week, and Rickenbacker Military Families created a memorial fund for the families. American and Ohio flags will fly at half-staff until each soldier’s funeral has taken place.
Maj. John Klinner of Auburn, Alabama; Capt. Ariana Savino of Covington, Washington; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky, were also killed in the crash.