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Flags To Be Lowered In Honor Of Colorado Airman

DENVER (AP) — Gov. John Hickenlooper has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff from Thursday through Sunday to honor a 30-year-old Air Force pilot from Colorado who was killed when he crashed his F-16 jet in the Middle East.

Capt. William H. "Will" DuBois, of New Castle, died when he crashed near an unidentified coalition base. He was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, which flies out of Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.

Investigators say the jet developed a problem related to maintenance shortly after takeoff.

The U.S. Central Command, which is in charge of U.S. military operations in the Mideast, said the crash did not occur in either Iraq or Syria, where the American-led coalition has been bombing Islamic State extremists.

A memorial service will be held in Rifle on Dec. 14.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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