An Ohio pilot traced a four-hour flight path over central Ohio on March 19 to honor three Ohio Air National Guard airmen.
According to FlightAware, the aircraft departed Bowling Green at 3:42 p.m. Thursday, March 19, and remained airborne for more than four hours.
Flightradar24 tracking showed the route forming three crosses and the outline of a saluting soldier over central Ohio, WCMH reported.
Authorities identified the Ohio airmen killed in the March 12 KC‑135 crash over Iraq as Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington; Capt. Seth Koval, 38, of Stoutsville; and Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags lowered to half-staff on March 14 until sunset on the day of the airmen's funerals, his office said.
The remains of the three Ohio airmen returned to the United States in a dignified transfer on March 18, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
U.S. Central Command said six U.S. airmen died when a KC‑135 refueling tanker crashed during Operation Epic Fury on March 12 in Iraq.
Officials said the crash followed a midair collision and was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, USA TODAY reported.
The additional three airmen, assigned to MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, were identified as Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky.