Lastes, Glenn Paul, TSgt

Source: http://www.pownetwork.org/kia_kia_bnr_2005.htm

Military Plane Crashes In Albania Associated Press April 1, 2005 TIRANA, Albania - Search teams recovered the bodies Friday of nine Americans killed when a U.S. military aircraft crashed in mountainous southern Albania during a joint exercise. . . (a night training mission to work on terrain-following and avoidance skills, airdrops and landing using night-vision goggles.)

The USAF C-130H airplane (# 87-0127) crashed near the remote village of Rovie, in the Drizez Mountains, 60 miles southeast of the Balkan country's capital, Tirana. No one on board survived, said Albanian army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Pellumb Qazimi. Four bodies were found earlier Friday, and five more were found inside the plane, Albanian officials said. The military transport was assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Group based in RAF Mildenhall in England. . .

Cause of the crash determined to be "the crew's loss of situational awareness placed the aircraft in too low a climb with respect to the surrounding mountainous terrain. Responding to the situation, the crew did not use all available power and stalled the aircraft during a turning climb. This resulted in a loss of aircraft control and almost immediate crash."
        -source: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20050331-0

The men died late Thursday during a training exercise with the Albanian military. Their -130H Combat Talon II struck a mountain near Tirana, the capital city.

The nine men  were:

Capt. Todd R. Bracy, Aircraft Commander
Capt. James S. Cronin, Navigator
Capt. Gil C. Williamson, EWO
Capt. Surender D. Kothakota, Co-Pilot
1st Lt. Ray C. Owens Jr.
Chief Master Sgt. Lawrence B. Gray, Flight Engineer
Tech. Sgt. James R. Henry, Loadmaster
Tech. Sgt. Glenn P. Lastes, Linguist
Staff Sgt. Patrick R. Pentico, Loadmaster

All but Lastes were members of the 7th Special Operations Squadron. Lastes was with Detachment 2, 25th Information Operations Squadron, also at RAF Mildenhall.  

TSgt. Lastes was interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 60, Site 7958.

Notes/Links:

http://www.ftva.org/eagles/fe2005.cfm
http://www.silent-warriors.com/glenn_lastes.html (photo)
http://www.pownetwork.org/kia_kia_bnr_2005.htm
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/albania-crash-march-2005.
htm http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20050331-0

http://www.beanerbanner.com/BB%202/Rocco/7SOST2.jpg (photo of Glenn)
http://www.specialforcesroh.com/browse.php?mode=viewiroll&rollid=11281 http://www.airforcetimes.com/legacy/new/0-AIRPAPER-931835.php (details)