All three firefighters who were killed when their water tanker crashed in Australia have been identified, and their employer said they were veterans of the U.S. military. The men died on Thursday when their C-130 water tanker aircraft crashed while fighting wildfires in Australia.
The Canadian-based Coulson Aviation, an aerial firefighting company, identified the men as Capt. Ian McBeth, 44; First Officer Paul Hudson, 42; and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan, Jr. The three “remarkable and well-respected crewmembers” were on board their plane when it crashed in New South Wales in southeast Australia.
McBeth was from Great Falls, Montana, and served in the Montana Air National Guard. He previously served in the Wyoming Air National Guard, according to Coulson Aviation’s website. He is survived by his wife and three children.
“Ian was a highly qualified and respected C-130 pilot with many years fighting fire, both in the military and with Coulson Aviation,” the company said.
Hudson, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was from Buckeye, Arizona, and served in the Marine Corps for 20 years. He was a C-130 pilot and retired as a lieutenant colonel.
DeMorgan was from Navarre, Florida, and served 18 years as a flight engineer in the U.S. Air Force. He had more than 4,000 hours in the air, 2,000 of which were in combat environments. He is survived by his two children, his parents, and a sister.
“Rick’s passion was always flying and his children,” the company said.
“The brave Americans who died near Snowy Monaro died helping Australia in its time of need,” U.S. Ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse said in a statement.
More than 60 fires reportedly are burning in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. Some 30 people have been killed, and more than 24.7 million acres burned.
The firefighters’ bodies allegedly have been recovered, and officials hope to find the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder. The men will be honored in Australia at a state memorial service in February, along with the three Australian firefighters who have died this fire season.
