Dyess Airmen Held Memorial Run for TORQE 62 Crew

The 39th Airlift Squadron honored eleven people lost in a 2015 C-130J Super Hercules crash in Afghanistan.

Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Running

Bold flat-color illustration showing a simplified silhouette of a hangar against a vast, empty horizon, evoking a sense of solemn remembrance. — Airmen from the 317th Airlift Wing and Abilene residents gathered for a memorial run honoring the eleven crew members lost in the 2015 TORQE 62 crash. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Members of the 317th Airlift Wing and the Abilene community gathered for a sunrise 5K run at Dyess Air Force Base. The event served to honor the six airmen and five contractors who died in the 2015 crash of a C-130J Super Hercules known as TORQE 62.

Why it matters

The memorial run marked the 11th anniversary of the tragedy, providing a space for airmen and the local public to remember those lost. Four of the six airmen killed in the crash were assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron.

The memorial event spanned a 5K distance to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the incident. A total of 11 personnel, consisting of 6 airmen and 5 contractors, were killed in the 2015 crash.

The players

39th Airlift Squadron

This unit hosted the memorial run and lost four airmen in the 2015 crash.

317th Airlift Wing

This wing participated in the memorial event at the base.

The details

Airmen from the 317th Airlift Wing and local community members participated in the sunrise run to honor the memory of the fallen crew. The event was hosted by the 39th Airlift Squadron, which lost four of its own personnel in the 2015 disaster.

October 2, 2015: The C-130J Super Hercules aircraft crashed in Afghanistan.
October 2, 2026: The 11th anniversary of the TORQE 62 crash occurred.
October 2, 2026: A memorial 5K run was held at Dyess Air Force Base.

Season Trajectory

The event reinforces the internal culture and historical lineage of the 39th Airlift Squadron by keeping the memory of the TORQE 62 crew at the center of the unit's heritage. This annual observance establishes a rhythm of remembrance that shapes the identity of the current airmen serving at Dyess Air Force Base.

The memorial run creates a specific logistical gathering at Dyess Air Force Base for military personnel and local residents. Participation in the 5K event serves as a tangible way for the community to engage with the legacy of the 39th Airlift Squadron.

The takeaway

Memorial runs allow military units and surrounding communities to build shared connections through physical activity. These events serve as a structured way to maintain institutional memory while honoring those who served.