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(RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany, April 6—AP) The six U.S. Air Force crew killed in the crash of Commerce Secretary Ron Brown’s plane were honored by colleagues and commanders Tuesday for their contribution to a “mission of peace.” One by one, surviving members of the crew’s squadron marched to the front of the chapel at Ramstein Air Base, removed their flying scarves, placed them in front of photographs of the dead, then saluted.

Officers, friends and relatives wept throughout the one-hour memorial service at the base, headquarters for the plane’s crew. All were members of the 76th Airlift Squadron, whose mission is to carry top American military and political leaders around Europe. All 35 people aboard Brown’s plane were killed when it crashed Wednesday while trying to land in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

“They were instrumental in ensuring our nation’s senior leaders were able to pursue the peace process and their mission was honorable,” said Brig. Gen. William E. Stevens, commander of the 86th Airlift Wing, which oversees the squadron. The dead crew members, he said, had made a tremendous contribution “to this country, in the pursuit of peace and hope in the world.”

Their bodies were sent home to the United States on Saturday, but many relatives flew to Germany for the memorial service. The chapel held 600 people, and 150 more watched on closed-circuit television in the chapel annex and an assembly hall.

CREW MEMBERS:

Capt. Ashley J. Davis

Capt. Timothy W. Shafer

Tech. Sgt. Cheryl A. Turnage

Tech. Sgt. Shelly A. Kelly

Staff Sgt. Gerald (Jake) V. Aldrich

Staff Sgt. Robert Farrington Jr.

Brown’s funeral is to take place Wednesday in Washington.


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