Two missing sailors had trained at N.H. antiterrorism center
Aircraft crashed in the Pacific
Two of the three Navy sailors who are believed to have been killed when their transport aircraft crashed into the Philippine Sea this past week trained at a New Hampshire antiterrorism and security center.
Lt. Steven Combs, a Florida native assigned to the squadron that operated the C-2 Greyhound transport aircraft, and Airman Matthew Chialastri, a Louisiana native assigned to the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, both trained at a Center for Security Forces detachment in Portsmouth, N.H.
The center’s Kittery Detachment runs Navy personnel through an intense training course in survival, evasion, resistance and escape.
The Navy also identified Airman Apprentice Bryan Grosso, a Florida native also assigned to the Ronald Reagan, as the third sailor who went missing at sea.
The C-2 Greyhound transport aircraft crashed about 500 miles southeast of Okinawa, Japan, on Wednesday as it made its way to the USS Ronald Reagan. Eight of the 11 aboard were rescued by Navy helicopters, and a “relentless” searchand-rescue operation was launched to find the three missing sailors.
The transport was delivering passengers and cargo from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan to the USS Ronald Reagan. The transport’s mission is to send high priority cargo, mail, duty passengers and distinguished visitors to the carrier from shore bases throughout the western Pacific and southeast Asia.
An investigation into the crash is underway.
The crash is the latest accident for the Japanbased 7th Fleet, which has seen multiple deadly collisions at sea, including the USS John McCain hitting an oil tanker in August and the USS Fitzgerald striking a container ship in June. Seventeen sailors died in the two incidents.
Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Phil Sawyer said the Navy’s thoughts and prayers are with the families of the three lost sailors.
“Their service and sacrifice will be lasting in 7th Fleet and we will continue to stand the watch for them, as they did bravely for all of us,” Sawyer said.
Capt. Michael Wosje, commander of the air wing attached to the Ronald Reagan, thanked the crew who diligently searched the ocean.
“We are thankful for our professional search and rescue teams and their incredible bravery,” Wosje said in a statement. “The entire Navy team is working together to investigate the cause of this mishap and we will remain focused on our mission to operate forward in a safe and professional manner to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-AsiaPacific region.”