An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Tanker bases honor Shell 77

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Zeski
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Airmen across the nation bowed their heads in silence honoring the crew of Shell 77 before the start of the 5K memorial run on Saturday July 13, to honor the fallen Airmen and support their families.

Fairchild Air Force Base as well as 12 other bases participated. More than 70 people came out to show their support at Miller Park. For those taking part in the run this was more than just a normal 5K.

Staff Sgt. Tiffany Arrington, 92nd Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of military personnel squadron force management, along with three other MPS Airmen set up a team to honor the crew of Shell 77.

"It was an easy decision to make actually, most of us had previously planned schedules but it felt right to postpone them for such an important event," said Arrington. "It was important for us to be there, not only to show support to the fallen crew, their families, or Fairchild ... but to support each other as a team and know that together, we'll get through these hard times."

The crew of Shell 77 included Capt. Tyler Voss, Capt. Victoria Pinckney and Technical Sgt. Tre Mackey III, members of Fairchild Air Force Base's 93rd Air Refueling Squadron.

The three Airmen perished May 3, 2013, when their KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in northern Kyrgyzstan. All three were deployed to the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing's 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Col. Brian Newberry along with other base leadership participated in the 5K to honor and remember the crew and to support their families.

"Thank you to Team Fairchild for coming out in force for the Shell 77 memorial run we did along with 12 other bases across this great nation," said Col. Brian Newberry, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "We are a strong Air Force family. We salute the families of our fallen Airmen for their strength and remember our fallen patriots for their bravery and sacrifice. We will always remember."

(Tech. Sgt. Rachel Martinez contributed to this article)