OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The 97th Intelligence Squadron and the Prop Wash Gang hosted a 60528 remembrance ceremony Aug. 30, 2018 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska to honor 17 crewmembers who lost their lives 60 years ago.
The number 60528 was the tail number of a C-130 modified to fly reconnaissance missions. On Sept. 2, 1958, the aircraft inadvertently entered restricted airspace over the Turkish and Armenian border where it was intercepted and shot down by Soviet MiG-17 aircraft. It crashed near the village of Sasnashen, 34 miles northwest of Yerevan, the Armenian capital.
“It’s important that we don’t let history bury these heroic deeds that were done by these people,” said Master Sgt. Ken, 97th IS superintendent of operations support. “The Air Force has to take a pause and remember the sacrifice these aircrew members paid.”
During the ceremony, members of the Prop Wash Gang, a group of retired intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operators, along with their family members and fellow wingmen paid tribute to the fallen Airmen as a wreath was placed on a small piece of wreckage from the C-130. There was also a moment of silence and the playing of “Taps” in recognition of the 17 crewmembers who lost their lives Sept. 2, 1958, while performing their mission.
“There’s not a mission we don’t take into account that was done before us,” Ken said. “These are the giants, and we stand on their shoulders. In this career, you serve in silence - you don’t talk about your job. It’s important when we lose people to have these intimate gathering; we take a pause and we remember there were lots of sacrifices during the Cold War that were not necessarily spoken of.”
Because the incident occurred during the Cold War era, ISR related missions were rarely discussed.
Once the Cold War ended, a U.S. team located and identified the rest of the crew member’s remains. The remains were returned and buried with full honors at Arlington Nation Cemetery.
More than 40 reconnaissance aircraft were shot down during the Cold War era. Many of the crews still remain missing in action. However, agencies such as the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency continue efforts to identify and return as many as possible.
The six aircrew members and eleven security service reconnaissance crew members of 60528 are listed below:
Capt Edward J. Jeruss
Capt. Paul E. Duncan
Capt Rudy J. Swiestra
1Lt John E. Simpson
1Lt Ricardo M. Villarreal
MSgt George P. Petrochilos
TSgt Arthur L. Mello
SSgt Laroy Price
A1C Robert J. Oshinskie
A2C Archie T. Bourg Jr.
A2C Clement O. Mankins
A2C Gerald D. Maggiacomo
A2C Gerald H. Medeiros
A2C Harold T. Kamps
A2C James E. Ferguson, Jr.
A2C Joel H. Fields
A2C Robert H. Moore