Bodies Of Four Hurlburt Airmen Arrive Back In The U.S.

The bodies of four airmen, based at Hurlburt Field in Mary Esther, Florida, are back in the United States.

A plane carrying the bodies of Capt. Ryan P. Hall, Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens and Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten landed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Tuesday morning.

The four men were killed February 18 when their U-28A single engine aircraft crashed near Camp Lemonnier in Djibouri, Afria. The Special Operations team members were returning from a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Capt. Hall, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was a U-28A pilot on his seventh deployment.  He entered the Air Force in 2004, receiving his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corp at The Citadel.  He had been assigned to the 319th SOS at Hurlburt Field since 2007 and had more than 1,300 combat flight hours.

Capt. Whitlock, 29, of Newnan, Georgia, was also a U-28A pilot and was on his fifth deployment.  He entered the Air Force in 2006, receiving his commission through the Officer Training School.  He had been assigned to the 319th SOS and then to the 34th SOS at Hurlburt Field since 2008 and had more than 800 combat flight hours.

Lt. Wilkens, 26, of Bend, Oregon, was a combat systems officer on his third deployment. He entered the Air Force in 2009, receiving his commission through the Air Force Academy.  He had been assigned to the 34th SOS at Hurlburt Field since April 2011 and had more than 400 combat hours.

Airmen Scholten, 26, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was a mission systems operator assigned to the 25th IS at Hurlburt Field since 2009.  He enlisted in the Air Force in 2007.  He had more than 900 combat hours in six different airframes and was on his third deployment.

“The Hurlburt Field community expresses our deepest condolences to the family of the crew, and we share in their sorrow. Our efforts are focused on helping them through this difficult time,” said Col. Jim Slife, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing. “We will never forget the valuable contributions these brave men made to their country and community.”

The U-28A is a single engine, manned fixed wing aircraft developed around the Pilatus PC-12 airframe that provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in support of special operations forces. 

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

Hurlburt Field is assisting family members with funeral arrangements. No details have been announced.