Illinois Marine Killed In Midair Collision In Japan

IWAKUNI, JAPAN — An Illinois native was among six Marines pronounced dead after a midair collision on Dec. 6. Cpl. Daniel Baker, 21, of Tremont, joined the Marine Corps in 2016.

Baker was assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, based out of Camp Butler in Okinawa. On Dec. 6, he was in a KC-130J, a large transport plane refitted to perform midair refueling.

While in the air on a regularly scheduled training mission, Baker's KC-130J and a F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet collided, falling into the sea.

An immense search for the Marines ensued. The Marine Corps Times reported U.S., Japanese and Australian forces conducted over 800 hours of air and sea operations, searching over 35,000 square miles of ocean, but to no avail.

The rest of the KC-130J crew, who were all pronounced dead alongside Baker, are:

• Lt. Col. Kevin R. Herrmann, 38, of New Bern, North Carolina
• Maj. James M. Brophy, 36, of Staatsburg, New York
• Staff Sgt. Maximo A. Flores, 27, of Surprise, Arizona
• Cpl. William C. Ross, 21, of Hendersonville, Tennessee

The two Marines from the Hornet were both found. Capt. Jahmar F. Resilard, a pilot with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, was pronounced dead Friday.

See the U.S. Marine Corps' official statement.

"Every possible effort was made to recover our crew and I hope the families of these selfless Americans will find comfort in the incredible efforts made by US, Japanese, and Australian forces during the search," said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, which oversees the majority of Marine units based in Japan.

Baker was no stranger to service. He served as a member of Tremont Rescue 702 before joining the Corps.

Photo credit: Cpl. Daniel E. Baker, Lt. Col. Kevin R. Herrmann, Maj. James M. Brophy, Staff Sgt. Maximo A. Flores, Cpl. William C. Ross / USMC