SrA. Michael J. Hinkle II, 24, of Corona, Calif., has died due to a non-combat-related incident in Southwest Asia, the Defense Department announced. Hinkle died Wednesday. The cause of his death is under investigation. Hinkle was a cyber transport systems journeyman assigned to the 28th Communications Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. He was deployed to the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron at an undisclosed air base in Southwest Asia. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our fellow airman,” said Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro, commander of Ellsworth’s 28th Bomb Wing, in a release. Taliaferro added, “Mike will be missed by all of us, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.