Air Force Captain From Vacaville Killed In Southwest Asia
VACAVILLE (CBS13) - An Air Force captain from Vacaville was killed when his fighter jet crashed in Southwest Asia on Wednesday.
The Department of Defense announced Thursday the death of Capt. Francis D. Imlay, 31.
Imlay sustained fatal injuries in an accident involving an F-15 aircraft near a base in Southwest Asia. He was assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.
The Southwest Asia region includes Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran and Imlay was deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
More than 300 Mountain Home airmen are currently deployed to support F-15E overseas missions designed to deliver combat air power for joint operations and to meet ground commander requirements.
The Idaho Statesman newspaper in Boise reported that the jet Imlay was piloting crashed and that another crew member suffered minor injuries.
"It is with a heavy heart I inform you we lost a valued member of the Gunfighter family yesterday," said Col. Ron Buckley, 366th Fighter Wing commander, in a press release Thursday.
"Today we mourn the loss of one of our warriors, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and coworkers during this time. He was a true professional and his dedication to the Gunfighter family will not soon be forgotten."
Imlay was married and had at least one young son.
