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NC Air National Guard Names Four Airmen Dead In Plane Crash

Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal Major Joseph McCormick Major Ryan David Senior Master Sgt. Robert Cannon The North Carolina Air National Guard has released the names of four full-time airmen who died Sunday when their plane crashed while fighting a fire in South Dakota. They are: Lieutenant Colonel Paul Mikeal of Mooresville, Major Joseph McCormick of Belmont, Major Ryan David of Boone, and Senior Master Sergeant Robert Cannon of Charlotte. The names of two additional airmen injured in the crash have not been released. "We're doing all we can to help the loved ones of those fallen airmen get through this difficult time," says Brigadier General Tony McMillan, who commands the 145th Airlift Wing to which the fallen airmen belong. "At the same time we're doing what our fellow airmen would want us to do. We continue to grieve, but we are ready for missions that may come in the future. We have four new Wingmen watching over us." Funeral arrangements have not been made. A spokesman for the North Carolina Air National Guard says the investigation into the cause of the crash could take weeks - or months - to complete. He says some three dozen airmen from Charlotte who are still deployed in the firefighting effort will cut their mission short and return home in the next few days.