The Air Force Tuesday released the names of three Georgia-based airmen who were swept out to sea in Okinawa Sunday by high waves kicked up by Typhoon Phanfone.
The airmen were based at Robins Air Force Base, which is south of Macon in Warner Robins.
The body of Senior Master Sgt. James Swartz, an aerospace propulsion superintendent with the 116th Air Control Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, was recovered Sunday, according to a posting on the air base's Facebook page.
Georgia Air National Guard member Master Sgt. Daniel Paschal, an aerospace propulsion craftsman with the 116th Air Control Wing, and Staff Sgt. Joshua Schoenhoff, an instrument and flight control systems specialist with the 461st Air Control Wing, are still listed as missing.
The three were on duty at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, and were visiting the northwest coast of the island when they were hit by a wave and swept into the sea.
Stars and Stripes newspaper reported online Tuesday that a fourth airman who was with the group taking pictures of the large waves was also swept away, but made it back to shore.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing by the Air Force and the Japanese Coast Guard.
A second body recovered by the Japanese Coast Guard Tuesday has not yet been identified, according the base.
The Air Force has not released the hometowns of the Georgia-based airmen.
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