THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Rest in eternal peace.

SGT. Alston was assigned to the 919th Air Refueling Squadron, 4252nd Strategic Wing. His death in Vietnam is classed as died through non-hostile action ... air crash on land. His dates of service were 1961 - 1966. He was a Aircraft Maintenance Specialist. Info: http://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=259741

On May 19, 1966, a USAF Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker (#57-1444) from the 919th Air Refueling Squadron was destroyed in a takeoff accident at Okinawa-Kadena Air Force Base in Japan. The tanker was on temporary duty from Turner Air Force Base to Kadena in support of Young Tiger refueling missions over the Gulf of Tonkin. On the day of the crash, the crew was waiting for a break in the heavy rains to takeoff. Three tankers ahead of the flight aborted their takeoffs because of the rain and runway conditions. There were varying accounts of this crew’s mission. One account claims they were asked to ferry an engine to a stranded RC-135 in Alaska. In another report, they were supporting a surprise bombing in Vietnam at a time it would be least expected. In this same report, they were also carrying some aircraft generator parts bound for Yokota, Japan. Purportedly, when they were halfway down the runway on takeoff, they got a radio call to cancel the flight, that the Yokota tankers had been fixed. It was too late to abort the takeoff, and it is believed they were hydroplaning. Once airborne, they are thought to have touched back down, then get airborne again, then lose their engines, possibly #1, #2, and #3 at once. The jet veered left, came down nose high, and crashed into a hill by an ammo depot and a cement bridge. Some of the debris impacted on Highway 16, killing a Japanese civilian. Six crewmen and four passengers on the aircraft were killed. One crewman, assistant crew chief A1C Kenneth Alston, was pulled from the wreckage alive, but died three days later. The other lost crew members comprised aircraft commander CPT Benny T. Stowers, co-pilot 1LT James N. Spangler, navigators CPT Charles T. Haffendorfer and 1LT Ronald W. Ringwall, boom operator SSGT Charles E. Stuart, and crew chief SSGT Glen E. Wallace. The lost passengers were SSGT Clyde A. Crow, TSGT Franklin D. Waters, SGT Marvin Louis Dooley, and A1C Thomas R. Annis. One person on the ground was killed, an Okinawan motorist named Kazuo Skhimizu. The eleven lost airmen had their names added to Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in May 1986. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, aviation-safety.net, and “Voices from an Old Warrior: Why KC-135 Safety Matters” by Christopher J.B. Hoctor]

My name is Krysteen Wescott and I am the daughter of Sgt 1st class Robert H Wescott Jr. It meant a lot to me to find your picture.You photo was given by Myrtle Alston Chastain, from Helen, GA. Pat was very kind to contact your sister and you are remembered.