Airman killed in parachute jump loved his country and his job

Airman who died in parachuting accident ‘loved his country and his job,’ family says

STARS AND STRIPES
By CHAD GARLAND
Published: September 16, 2019

Staff Sgt. Adam K. Erickson, 29, was killed on Sept. 10 during a training accident on a routine military proficiency jump, Edwards Air Force Base said in a release last week.

An airman killed in a parachuting accident last week was an enlisted leader of the Air Force’s parachute-testing team and a combat veteran who had deployed to the Middle East in support of personnel recovery efforts.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Erickson was killed during a military training parachute operation in Perris, California, Sept. 10, 2019. GOFUNDME

Staff Sgt. Adam K. Erickson, 29, was killed on Sept. 10 during a training accident on a routine military proficiency jump, Edwards Air Force Base said in a release last week.

He was assigned to the California base’s 412th Test Wing and had served with the Joint Personnel Recovery Center in Qatar in 2016. More recently, he had served earlier this year as a jumpmaster and operations liaison in Romania, where the Air Force is deployed as part of the mission to deter Russian aggression in Europe.

At Edwards, Erickson was the noncommissioned officer in charge of test parachutist program operations, the base said on its Facebook page, sharing a GoFundMe campaign started by the airman’s sister.
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Death of Edwards Air Force Airman Under Investigation

U.S. Air Force service member dies on Edwards AFB
By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs 
Published August 24, 2017

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.
The U.S. Air Force is investigating the death of an Airman assigned to Edwards Air Force Base.

The deceased is identified as Senior Airman Joseph Connors of the 812th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m., Aug. 23, near the base’s north gate on Edwards AFB property. The north gate entrance was closed for a period of time due to the investigation.

Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, issued a statement to the base populace today.

“I'm heartbroken to announce the loss of one of our valuable teammates … Senior Airman Connors was one of our "rock star" Airmen — Airman Leadership School distinguished graduate and our 2016 Wing Airman of the Year. 

He is survived by his active duty spouse, who is also a vital member of our wing. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, our EOD team, and all those supporting in the wake of this tragedy.”

For general questions regarding this release, call the Edwards Public Affairs Office at 661-277-3510.

Air Force Veteran Missing in California

Police, family search for missing Air Force veteran
Air Force Times
Staff Report
March 11, 2016

Police in Hermosa Beach, California, are searching for a missing Air Force veteran, Michael David Vanzandt, who disappeared while out with friends last Saturday night.

A photo of Air Force veteran Michael Vanzandt and his children.

(Photo: Courtesy Tyler Vanzandt)

Vanzandt, 36, is a former security forces airman who now works at Edwards Air Force Base. He was last seen leaving Hermosa Beach's waterfront Pier Plaza area Saturday, March 5, with an unidentified group of people, his brother, Tyler Vanzandt, told Air Force Times.

Vanzandt was last seen on a city security camera heading east, away from the waterfront, around 11:30 pm accompanied by an unidentified group.

"We’re trying to locate those people who might have been with him," Tyler Vanzandt said. "No one's come forward to say something. That’s the biggest help we could get if one of those people would come forward. It would let us get some idea of what he was doing."
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