An airman assigned to the 19th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan, was killed during a scuba diving accident off the island of Okinawa, according to an Oct. 22 release. TSgt. Jason McIlvaine, 42, was diving near Serakaki Village, Okinawa City, when two other airmen noticed he was in distress. The airmen brought him to the surface, but McIlvaine was not breathing. The airmen performed CPR until local first responders arrived, and McIlvaine was moved by helicopter to a local hospital in Nakagami, but doctors were unable to revive him. McIlvaine’s death comes weeks after three airmen from Robins AFB, Ga., who were deployed to Kadena on a temporary duty assignment, were killed after being swept out to sea in the aftermath of Typhoon Phanfone, prompting a multi-day search.
The Air Force’s B-52 bomber may soon be able to carry up to 20 stealthy long-range anti-ship missiles to strike moving targets at sea, a key capability in a potential fight with China.
