Remembering Wraith 11 on this Memorial Day.

In March 2005, approximately 115 airmen from the 352nd Special Operations Group at RAF Mildenhall were in Albania conducting Joint Combined Exchange Training with the Albanian military. The JCET training included the MC-130H Combat Talon II aircrews flying over mountainous terrain using night vision goggles, low-level flying using Terrain Following/Terrain Avoidance Radar, airdrops, and executing self-contained approaches.

On March 31, 2005, two MC-130Hs and one MC-130P Shadow were participating in a night training mission. At about 11:05 a.m., a 7th Special Operations Squadron MC-130H (Tail No. 87-0127), call sign WRATH-11, crashed into a mountain, resulting in the loss of all nine aircrew aboard.

“The crew had been conducting NVG low-level flying operations at roughly 300 feet above ground level before the mishap occurred,” said William Landau, 352nd SOW historian. “U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and Albanian special operators and personnel arrived on the scene, but a rescue operation soon turned into a recovery operation.”

U.S. Air Force Capt. Todd R. Bracy, pilot, 34, of Murphysboro, Illinois
U.S. Air Force Capt. James S. Cronin, navigator, 32, of Oak Grove Village, Illinois
U.S. Air Force Capt. Surender D. Kothakota, co-pilot, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina
U.S. Air Force Capt. Gil C. Williamson, electronic warfare officer, 31, of Dike, Texas
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Ray C. Owens, Jr., electronic warfare officer, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Lawrence B. Gray, flight engineer, 40, of Chester, South Carolina
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. James R. Henry, loadmaster, 30, of Valparaiso, Florida
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Patrick R. Pentico, loadmaster, 22, of Hanksville, Utah
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Glenn P. Lastes, direct support operator, 39, of Southington, Connecticut