Pilot killed in Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16 crash identified
F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing are shown on May 19, 2007.[Cory W. Watts/Flickr]
Friday, authorities identified the pilot killed when a Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16 crashed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula earlier this week.
The Wisconsin Air National Guard said 37-year-old Air Force Capt. Durwood "Hawk" Jones, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was killed in Tuesday night’s crash.
Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16 crashes in Michigan; pilot missing
Jones joined the Air National Guard in 2011 and graduated from F-16 basic qualification training in 2015. A decorated combat veteran, Jones deployed as a part of a U.S. Pacific Command Theater Support Package to Japan in 2015 and to Korea in 2017. He also deployed in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel to Afghanistan in 2019.
The Air National Guard said Jones has been awarded two Air Medals with combat "C" devices, which are awarded to individuals who have been personally exposed to hostile action or under significant risk of hostile action.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
The crash happened during a training flight. Its cause is still under investigation.