This Day in CCT History

On 28 February 1984, Pararescueman SSgt Scott A. Anderson was killed in a C-130 crash. On board the same C-130 were seven Combat Controllers: Capt. Roderick C. Gress, TSgt Larry A. Rainey, SSgt Victor A. Valley , SSgt Eddy D. Clark, Sgt Emilio F. Martinez, Jr, Sgt Jonathon Goerling, and Sgt Steven M. Ray. The PJ and CCT were on board to conduct a training parachute jump. The C-130E, tail number 68-10944 took off from Zaragoza Spain on a low-level jump training mission. Weather in the area included a 1200 feet ceiling and 6 km visibility. The C-130 struck a mesa near Borja Spain at an elevation of 2200 feet. In addition to the eight jumpers, there were seven crew members, and three passengers for a total of eighteen fatalities. This was the largest loss of Combat Controllers in a single plane crash in the
history of CCT. The cause of the accident was pilot error.

Also, let’s remember this day in history on 4 March 2002 when TSgt John Chapman (CCT) and SrA Jason Cunningham (PJ) were KIA on the Anaconda mission. Both were posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross. We’ll never forget them for being “First There… That Others May Live.”

In loving memory and deepest respect to our fallen brothers,

Wayne Norrad, President
Combat Control Association