FEATURE
FEATURE
COMMUNITY
ENVIRONMENT
Into the smoke: One Airman’s instinct to save lives, Page 2
Base honor guard: Presence with purpose, Page 6
Families connect at Month of the Military Child event, Page 9
Earth Day 2026, Pages 16 & 17
April 17, 2026 | Volume 50, Number 15
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76th AS honors legacy of IFO-21 crew on 30th anniversary of tragedy
Airmen assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing and the 76th Airlift Squadron stand at attention during the presenting of colors for the 30th annual remembrance ceremony in honor of the fallen crew members of Implementation Force-21 Ramstein Air Base, April 9. The April 3, 1996, accident prompted sweeping Air Force safety improvements that fundamentally changed the way military aircraft operate, establishing new standards and requirements that have since protected countless aircrew and passengers on missions around the world.
Story & photos by Senior Airman Trevor Calvert 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Thirty years after the crash of Implementation Force-21, the 76th Airlift Squadron marked the milestone anniversary with a weeklong series of events honoring the 35 souls aboard who lost their lives on April 3, 1996, near Dubrovnik, Croatia. The commemoration, which included a training day, a formal remembrance ceremony and a trip to the crash site, reflected the squadron’s enduring commitment to preserving the memory and lessons of the accident that claimed the lives of the Airmen of the 76th AS. “It’s important for us to honor our fallen crew members each and every year, not only because it makes us better aircrew and keeps us humble, but because it also keeps their legacy alive,” said Lt. Col. Bryan Gibbs, 76th Airlift Squadron commander. “The mission they were doing back then is the same mission we are doing and seeing now.” IFO-21 was aboard a CT-43 aircraft, assigned to the 76th AS for distinguished visitor airlift. On April See LEGACY on Page 3
Explore famous Burg Eltz
I remember when we first moved to Germany, I found myself mesmerized by castles. I actually saw a Facebook post where someone mentioned that See BURG ELTZ, Page 28
“Undertone” is the featured movie of the week, Page 29
Photo by Rolf E. Staerk/Shutterstock.com
by Cheryl Koller contributing writer to MilitaryInGermany.com