Monday, February 20, 2012

Air Force officer from Georgia killed in African crash


NEWNAN, Ga. -- A 29-year-old airman from Newnan has died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Africa.

Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock and three other airmen were killed February 18th in an accident involving their U-28 aircraft, according to the Department of Defense. It happened Saturday near Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. According to the Associated Press, they were on their way back from a reconaissance mission flown in support of the war in Afghanistan.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but the AP also reported the crash did not appear to have resulted from enemy fire.

Whitlock grew up in Newnan, Georgia, where his father works in local government and his mother is employed by their family's church. His brother has also been deployed to the Middle East.

The Whitlock family expects to receive Capt. Whitlock's remains at Dover Air Force Base, then bring him home to Georgia for burial later this week.

Whitlock was assigned to the 34th Special Operations Squadron at Hulburt Field, Fla. The special forces officer was promoted to Captain last year, and recently married.

The three other airmen killed in the crash were Capt. Ryan P. Hall of Colorado Springs, Colo., 1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkins of Bend, Ore. and Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten of Upper Marlboro, Md. 

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