Air Force officials say they are investigating a photo of 15 airmen posing with another airman pretending to be dead and lying in an open casket with a noose around his neck.
According to the Air Force Times, the image appeared on Facebook in October and was emailed to the them on Monday.
Todd Spitler, an Air Force spokesman at the Pentagon, said Thursday that the group is from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and they were attending training at Fort Lee, Va.
Though apparently unrelated, the photo is particularly sensitive because word of it follows revelations about the mishandling of remains of the war dead at the Air Force mortuary in Dover, Del.
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said in a statement that he is saddened the photo could cause further grief to families of the fallen. Spitler said the command in Texas is investigating.
The Air Force Times also reports that the investigation should take one to two weeks.
