Imlay, Francis Dee Jr
Male
Verified Captain Francis Dee Imlay Jr., 31, of Vacaville, California, was a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle pilot with the 391st Fighter Squadron. He died on March 28, 2012, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Their Story
Francis Dee Imlay Jr. was a captain in the United States Air Force, assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. A native of Vacaville, California, he was a weapons systems officer for the F-15E Strike Eagle, a dual-role fighter jet designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. He had deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to locations including Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
Captain Imlay died on March 28, 2012, at a military hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, he succumbed to injuries sustained in a non-combat incident at Al Dhafra Air Base. The Air Force stated the incident was under investigation, and no further operational details were released publicly.
Operation Enduring Freedom was the official U.S. military designation for the global war on terrorism, initiated in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. While primarily focused on Afghanistan, the operation included counterterrorism activities across multiple theaters, including the Philippines and the Horn of Africa. U.S. forces operated from forward locations like Al Dhafra Air Base, a key staging and logistics hub in the Persian Gulf region.
The Air Force announced Imlay's death in a press release on March 30, 2012. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of major. His death was noted by local media in his hometown of Vacaville, California, where he was remembered as a graduate of Vacaville High School.
Major Imlay's name is inscribed on the California Korean War Veterans Memorial in Sacramento's Capitol Park, which also honors service members from later conflicts. He is remembered by the 391st Fighter Squadron and the wider Air Force community as a dedicated aviator who served during a prolonged period of conflict.
Explore Further
Major Imlay was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
