Nellis to honor helicopter crews killed in collision

Thursday, Sept. 2, 1999 | 9:40 a.m.

A monument to the memory of the 12 Nellis Air Force Base helicopter crewmen killed last Sept. 4 during maneuvers will be dedicated at 9 a.m. Friday.

The monument will stand in front of the 66th Rescue Squadron, the unit to which the men were assigned. They were killed during night maneuvers when their HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters collided 25 miles north of Indian Springs.

The one-year anniversary observance ceremony will include a memorial prayer service prior to the dedication, base officials said, noting it is not open to the public.

The six men killed on one of the helicopters were: Capt. Gregg Lewis, pilot; Capt. Phillip Miller, co-pilot; Staff Sgt. Kevin Brunelle, flight engineer; Staff Sgt. Kenneth Eaglin, flight engineer; Senior Airman Jesse Stewart, para-rescueman; and Master Sgt. Matthew Sturtevant, gunner.

Those killed on the other helicopter were: Lt. Col. William "Hal" Milton, pilot; Capt. Karl Youngblood, pilot; Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Armour, flight engineer; Senior Airman Adam Stewart, flight engineer; Airman 1st Class Justin Wotasik, para-rescueman; and 2nd Lt. Michael Harwell, mission essential ground personnel.

The 66th Rescue Squadron has participated in military rescues in the Persian Gulf War and has assisted local authorities in dozens of civilian rescues at Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead and other sites.

Last year's crash was one of the worst in Nellis' history.