Wisconsin National Guard aircraft explosion, 6 airmen honored

MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing on Friday, Dec. 8 honored the six unit members who died in an aircraft explosion 30 years ago.

A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 128th exploded on Dec. 10, 1993. Officials said it was due to a pump that produced a spark, igniting fumes in a fuel cell of the aircraft.

The explosion killed Master Sgt. Roy Starszak, 57; Master Sgt. James Schlicht, 41; Technical Sgt. James Russell, 33; Technical Sgt. Michael Heath, 32; Technical Sgt. Russell Shurr, 35; and Staff Sgt. Patrick Foran, 31.

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The ceremony included remarks from Col. Charles Merkel, deputy wing commander of the 128th; reflections from Maj. Philip Cunningham, a chaplain from the 128th; a rifle salute from the base honor guard; and taps played by former wing member Col. (retired) Steven Ford.

"They remember that 7:02 in the morning, their building shook with a violent shutter, a clock slid off the wall, confused glances, the window in the north end of the ops building revealed a gigantic fireball," Merkel said.

Wisconsin Air National Guards honors six service members lost in 1993 aircraft explosion

The unit is based at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Airport.