Lt. Col. Morris “Moose” Fontenot Jr. was kill Aug. 27 when his F-15C crashed in western Virginia, officials announced. Fontenot was the full-time inspector general for the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes ANGB, Mass. “We all continue to keep the Fontenot family in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time,”
said Col. James Keefe,104th Fighter Wing Commander. Fontenot, an Air Force Academy graduate, was an F-15 instructor pilot with more than 2,300 flight hours and 17 years experience flying USAF Eagles. The aircraft was on a solo, cross-country flight to NAS New Orleans to receive a system upgrade when the pilot reported an in-flight emergency shortly before losing radio contact around 9 a.m. on Aug. 27, states the release. An official safety investigation board is being convened, states the release.