Community bids farewell to fallen Ohio airman killed in refueling mission over Iraq
By Giacomo Luca
Click here for updates on this story
WILMINGTON, Ohio (WLWT) — Burial services will take place on Friday morning for Captain Curtis Angst, an Ohio airman killed in a plane crash during Operation Epic Fury.
Captain Curtis Angst, 30, with the Ohio Air National Guard, was one of six crew members killed when their plane went down over Iraq.
“Curtis was doing what he loved mostâflying and serving alongside the men and women he cared so deeply about,” the Kettering City School District wrote. “His life was defined by service, generosity, and a genuine love for people.”
Mindy McCarty-Stewart, Angst’s mother-in-law, serves as superintendent at Kettering City Schools.
He grew up in Wilmington, Ohio, in a family with deep roots in aviation.
There will be a nine-mile procession from the Edgington Funeral Home at 97 W. Locust Street in Wilmington beginning at 9:15 a.m. Friday. The procession will run to the Roberts Centre, where a celebration of life will take place at 123 Gano Road.
His father was a private pilot and mechanic, and his mother was a flight attendant. They told NBC News their son had loved airplanes ever since he was a baby.
That passion led him to the University of Cincinnati, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in aerospace engineering.
His military career began while studying in Cincinnati. He first served as a mechanic with the 123rd Air Control Squadron in Blue Ash.
Angst went on to pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi, rising to the rank of captain while flying the KC-135 refueling aircraft.
His loss is being felt in his hometown and across the nation, along with the 12 other U.S. service members killed in the 34 days since the U.S. launched its war against Iran.
“It’s so painful when you think about it because you can relate to your own families, and it could have been anybody, but unfortunately, it was Curtis, and our hearts are just broken for him,” said Wilmington Mayor Patrick Haley.
During his first national address this week on the war with Iran, President Donald Trump honored the sacrifice of the U.S. service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
“I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” Trump said. “As we celebrate this progress, we think especially of the 13 American warriors who have laid down their lives in this fight to prevent our children from ever having to face a nuclear Iran.”
Captain Angst had nearly 900 hours of experience in the cockpit when his refueling plane went down in friendly airspace over western Iraq on March 12, killing all six crew members.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, but did say another aircraft was involved and landed safely. CENTCOM is now investigating the cause.
Captain Curtis Angst will be laid to rest this morning during a private ceremony at Dayton National Cemetery with full military honors. He leaves behind a devoted wife, his parents, and his sister.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.