2 Florida sailors vanish after plane goes down in Western Pacific

Sailors vanish after C-2A Greyhound goes down in Philippine Sea

U.S. NAVY

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Lt. Steven Combs and Seaman Apprentice Bryan Grosso, both from Florida, were among the three sailors who vanished this week when their plane went down in the Philippine Sea, the U.S. Navy announced Saturday. 

They were in a C-2A Greyhound on their way to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan when they went down southeast of Okinawa Wednesday. 

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Grosso, an aviation ordnanceman airman apprentice, was stationed at the Naval Air Technical training Center in Pensacola, and the Naval Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Illinois. 

Combs, who was from Manatee County, was assigned to  the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30. His previous duty assignments include the "Greyhawks" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 120, the Center for Security Forces Detachment Kittery Point in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Training Wing 4, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Grosso's awards include the National Defense Ribbon. Combs' awards include the National Defense Ribbon and the Navy Battle "E" Ribbon. 

The Navy identified the third sailor who died in the incident as Seaman Matthew Chialastri from Louisiana. Seven others were rescued. 

 

 


About the Author:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.