The Air Force has released the names of three of the four airmen killed in the Nov. 8 crash of a US Army Black Hawk helicopter in Italy. Another three airmen remain hospitalized. All were assigned to Aviano AB, Italy. Those killed included: SSgt. Robert D. Rogers, 27; SSgt. Mark A. Spence, 24; and SrA. Kenneth P. Hauprich Jr., 22. The family of the fourth airman killed requested the Air Force withhold his name. Those injured are: TSgt. Tanisha A. Pryor, SrA. Michael J. Costley, and SrA. Joshua A. Hanak. Two of the four Army aircrew members also died in the crash, which an Army Europe release said was a training flight for the soldiers and joint operations orientation flight for the airmen.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…