AIR COMMANDO 2 Kirk, James Maurice

[John Robertson]

• SURNAME

Kirk​

• FORENAME

James Maurice​

• UNIT

1 Special Operations Squadron​

• RANK

Major​

• NUMBER

• DATE OF DEATH

26th February 1981​

• AGE

38​

• GRAVESITE

remains not recovered​

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

from Los Angeles,California​

born 14.9.1942 Los Angeles,California​

son of Maurice L. and Bernice Hazel (nee Worden) Kirk​

husband of Janie Kirk​

535 Tactical Airlift Squadron (483 TA Wing) 1968​

pilot/aircraft commander​

MC-130E (64-0564)​

killed when crashed South China Sea​

​

The 1st SOS members lost Feb. 26, 1981, during the STRAY 59 crash were Maj. James Kirk, aircraft commander; Capt. Norman Martel, pilot; Capt. Thomas Patterson, navigator; Capt. Gregory Peppers, navigator; Tech. Sgt. Stephen Blyler, radio operator; Tech. Sgt. Barry Chumbley, loadmaster; Tech. Sgt. Gary Logan, loadmaster; and Staff Sgt. John Felton, flight engineer.​

The 15 passengers lost were:​

From the U.S. Air Force​

Senior Airman David Bingaman, Senior Airman Glenn Bloomer, Senior Airman James Bach and Airman First Class Kyle Wells.​

From the U.S. Army​

Sgt. 1st Class Danny Janecki, Staff Sgt. Patrick Estel, Staff Sgt. Davis Hagen and Sgt. Bryan Broadwater.​

From the Philippine Navy​

Radioman Petty Officer 3rd Class Rodrigo Penol and Seaman Manuel Dumo.​

From the Australian Army​

Sgt. Ewen Miller, Sgt. Murray Tonkin and Signalman Gregory Fry.​

From the New Zealand Army​

Warrant Officer 2nd Class Dave Heywood and Sgt. Dennis Terry.​

​

only survivor​

Jeffrey A. Blohm​

age 27​

from Hamburg,New York​

First Lieutenant​

1 SOS​

electronic warfare operator​