A Massachusetts man, identified as United States Air Force staff sergeant Jacob M. Galliher, was killed in an Osprey crash off the shore of Yakushima Island in Japan. The remains of Galliher were recovered, but the whereabouts of seven other Airmen onboard the aircraft are still unknown. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Cailin Loesch reported
A Massachusetts man, identified as a United States Air Force staff sergeant, was killed in an Osprey crash off the shore of Yakushima Island in Japan on Wednesday. The man, Sergeant Jacob “Jake” M. Galliher, 24, originally from Pittsfield, was recovered in a search and rescue operation. The whereabouts of seven other Airmen onboard the aircraft are still unknown. Galliher enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2017 and was assigned to the 43rd Intelligence Squadron. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The Osprey involved in the crash was one of six deployed to Yokota Air Base and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing. The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off and land like a helicopter but fly like an airplane while aloft. The search and rescue operation is ongoing, and the U.S. and Japanese allies are determined to bring the Air Commandos home..
A tragic incident occurred off the shore of Yakushima Island in Japan, where a United States Air Force staff sergeant named Jacob “Jake” M. Galliher lost his life in an Osprey crash. The 24-year-old Massachusetts man’s remains were recovered during an extensive search and rescue operation. However, the whereabouts of the seven other Airmen who were on board the aircraft are still unknown. Sergeant Galliher, originally from Pittsfield, had enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2017 and was working as a direct support operator for the 43rd Intelligence Squadron.
Galliher’s family released a statement expressing their grief and requesting privacy and prayers for his wife, two children, and other family members. They described him as an incredible son, brother, husband, father, and friend, whose life had a positive impact on hundreds, if not thousands of people in Pittsfield and beyond. He had a deep commitment to serving his family, his country, and the people he loved.
The cause of the crash, which happened during a training mission, is currently under investigation. The search and rescue operation involves air, surface, and subsurface area searches of the water and coastline. The aircraft involved in the crash was a CV-22B Osprey, one of six deployed to Yokota Air Base and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing. Ospreys are tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off and land like helicopters but can also fly like airplanes by tilting their propellers horizontally while in the air. Despite the crash, other Osprey operations in Japan have continued, though the remaining five Ospreys from the squadron involved in the incident are currently grounded.
Lieutenant General Tony Bauernfeind, an Air Force special operations commander, expressed their focus on the ongoing search and rescue operation while also providing support to the affected families. Both the joint force and Japanese allies are determined to bring the Air Commandos home. The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing.
(Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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