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Air Force Maj. Raymond G. Estelle II
Died April 27, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom
40, of New Haven, Conn., assigned to Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.; died April 27 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from gunfire from an Afghan military trainee.
Fallen airmen’s bodies arrive at Dover
By Jill Laster
Staff writer
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. — The bodies of eight airmen killed in Afghanistan returned to the U.S. early April 30, with the Air Force’s top leader in attendance.
The airmen and a U.S. contractor died April 27 when an Afghan pilot opened fire at Kabul International Airport, reportedly after an argument.
Top Air Force and military leaders — including Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy — were in attendance for the dignified transfer.
The Defense Department on April 29 released the names of the eight airmen killed in the attack. They include:
* Lt. Col. Frank D. Bryant Jr., 37, of Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
* Maj. Philip D. Ambard, 44, of Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.
* Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn, 41, of Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.
* Maj. David L. Brodeur, 34, of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
* Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown, 33, of Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, Md.
* Maj. Raymond G. Estelle II, 40, of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
* Capt. Nathan J. Nylander, 35, of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
* Maj. Charles A. Ransom, 31, of Langley-Eustis.
Also on April 29, the International Security Assistance Force released details of its initial investigation into the shooting, “in light of inaccuracy in media reports to date on this incident,” according to an ISAF release.
ISAF concluded that the gunman, who was carrying two weapons, left the room where the shooting occurred severely wounded, dying in a different location within the building. He appeared to be acting alone and had no connection with the Taliban, according to ISAF.