Capt. Francis D. Imlay, 31, of Vacaville, Calif., died Wednesday when his F-15E crashed approximately 15 miles outside of a base in Southwest Asia, announced the Pentagon. Imlay’s fellow crew member was injured in the mishap, stated Air Forces Central officials in a release. Emergency response personnel brought the injured crew member to a military medical facility for treatment of minor injuries, they said. Imlay was assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. “This is obviously a very sad day for the Gunfighters, as we mourn the loss of one of our warriors,” said Col. Ron Buckley, commander of Mountain Home’s 366th Fighter Wing, the squadron’s parent unit, in a release. Buckley added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time.” The cause of the incident is under investigation. More details will be released as they become available, said the AFCENT officials. (See our initial coverage from Thursday.)
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III chaired a China-focused military briefing Oct. 27, part of a biweekly series of briefings with senior military commanders about China’s growing threat in the wake of an orbital hypersonic weapon test that elicited public worries from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. “What we…