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Two Beale Airmen killed in Afghanistan

  • Published
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Two Beale Airmen were among four Airmen killed in a MC-12 Liberty plane crash near Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, April 27. Captain Reid K. Nishizuka, 30, of Kailua, Hawaii, was assigned to the 427th Reconnaissance Squadron. Staff Sergeant Richard A. Dickson, 24, of Rancho Cordova, Calif., was assigned to the 306th Intelligence Squadron. Both were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

NATO reported there was no apparent enemy activity in the area at the time, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. The MC-12 was also deployed from Beale AFB.

"All of us are saddened at the loss of Capt. Nishizuka and Staff Sgt. Dickson," said Col. Phil Stewart, installation commander at Beale. "The Air Force is a tight-knit family, and it hurts to lose a wingman in combat. I'd like to express my deepest condolences to the families and friends impacted by this tragedy; our thoughts and prayers are with them. Please respect the families' privacy as they grieve the loss of these loved ones."