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Shaw AFB officials: Pilot dead following F-16 aircraft crash on base

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Shaw Air Force Base has confirmed that the pilot of the U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon that crashed late Tuesday night has died. The aircraft was assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. The incident occurred on the military base around 11:30 p.m. on June 30. Officials at Shaw AFB say that the aircraft was on a routine training mission with one pilot on board when the crash happened. Shaw AFB emergency responders were on scene. Sumter County Fire and Rescue assisted with the crash. (www.wistv.com) More...

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Penjluv50
Penjluv50 8
May he rest in peace and thank you for serving.
mmc7090
mmc7090 10
MRS Valerie Schmitz

FEEL NO GUILT IN LAUGHTER
Feel no guilt in laughter, he’d know how much you care.
Feel no sorrow in a smile that he is not here to share.
You cannot grieve forever; he would not want you to.
He’d hope that you could carry on the way you always do.
So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared,
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.
Let memories surround you, a word someone may say
Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour or a day,
That brings him back as clearly as though he were still here,
And fills you with the feeling that he is always near.
For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart
And he will live forever locked safely within your heart.

Unknown
bbabis
bbabis 10
There is nothing ‘routine’ about training in the military. There are limits and edges that must be explored and learned and true to all aviation it is very unforgiving. RIP sir and I pray you’ve touched the face of God.
jbsimms
James Simms 4
We train like we’re going to fight & sometimes sadly, there are accidents like this & the F-15 crash.

1LT Schmitz received his commission through Officer Candidate School & served as a Loadmaster on a C-17 before earning his wings.
ADXbear
ADXbear 5
RIP SIR
tnjimbob
Jim Highfill 5
RIP. Thanks for your service.
nk4091
Neil Klapthor 3
A tragic loss to his family, the Air Force, and to the country. I salute you LT.
jbsimms
James Simms 4
Rest In Peace
talktalatka
F A 2
So sad to lose another young pilot. Just two weeks ago there was another young lieutenant who died in an F-15, leaving another young spouse a widow.

Is there something connecting these two accidents?

deingy
David Ingram 1
No! To be fighter aircraft they must be hot rods and when things go wrong there is little wiggle room.
bobbolew
Robert Lewis 0
Yet another F-16 crash. There is probably no connection between these two crashes but it seems like F-16s have the worst record for Class A mishaps of all the fighter models. I've never been able to find a good black and white source for the statistics. Anybody know one? Needless to say condolences to all those affected by these two accidents.
DonMc123
DON MCLAIN 1
Sad to hear this. I'm sure he was living his dream. My condolences to his family.
ah6oy
Jim DeTour 1
Pictures of the plane flipped and big fuel pod looking good enough to spoil a good percentage of lift at low speeds I'm thinking he got behind the curve at a higher speed and didn't realize it till too late when pull back to land. Then it might of been like the old F-100 Sabre dance stuck behind the curve.
Blmorgan
Bryan Morgan 1
Because there must be something wrong with the plane, could never be just a tragic accident
KSparx
Kevin Sparks 1
Sad to hear. RIP.
mdlacey
Matt Lacey 1
One of the aviation pages on FB shared his wife’s post. Just gut-wrenching.
spitfiremk8fd
Frank Deane 1
So sad to loose such a fine young man. Lt Schmitz may you have found the doors to heaven which you flew so close to on many occasions, now open to you. Rest in peace Lt. From an Aussie down under.
,
172s8460
Robert Fort 0
Rest In Peace, brave warrior.
Blmorgan
Bryan Morgan -7
If the FAA was handling this the F16 and the F15 would definitely have to be parked forever
klunker
Chas DeVine 2
Not the time for this Bryan
KSparx
Kevin Sparks 1
Why do you say that?

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