The Department of Defense on April 10 identified TSgt. Anthony L. Capra, 31, of Hanford, Calif., as the airman who died April 9 of wounds suffered when he encountered an improvised explosive device while supporting combat operations near Golden Hills, Iraq. According to a release from Eglin AFB, Fla., Capra was an explosive ordnance disposal craftsman deployed to Balad AB, Iraq, from Det. 63, 688th Armament Systems Squadron, at Indian Head City, Md. The detachment, part of the Air Armament Center at Eglin, serves as the Air Force approval authority for EOD-specific tools and equipment and EOD tactics and techniques. Capra had previously served with the EOD flight at Eglin. (Eglin report by Lois Walsh)
When an E-3 Sentry battle management aircraft was damaged in an Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, it sparked a host of questions about one of the Air Force’s oldest, smallest, but most critical fleets. Experts say the service doesn’t have many options to answer those questions.