Two Lemoore-based Hornets down over Ft. Hunter-Liggett, one pilot rescued, one not.
With respects, Mike T, although your recommendation has merit in some ways, in another it is still too personal.
I prefer this one, for the wingman we lost. For all the wingmen we have lost.
I heard about that on the news last night, and my thoughts immediately flew to you, Lex.
*sigh*
A sad day, indeed.
Sheesh Lex, that really brought a tear to my eye… I can’t tell you how much admiration and trepidation I have for the brave young flyers that are training today. If what I understand is correct, then the flyers of today have to meet standards never before expected by Navy Air. That makes this disaster all the more devastating.
God Bless Them.
It is a dangerous trade. Bad things happen. However, I can’t think of anything I’d rather die doing than flying an F-18 on the edge of the envelope. I don’t know anything about fighter spirit but I think both pilots exemplified it here when something went wrong. My heart felt condolences to the family and the community.
God Bless His Soul and God Bless the U.S. Navy.
Ten years ago I had the honor to attend the funeral of a man I could call a friend – Sam. Passed away of “natural causes” at 74. Texas A&M grad, USAAF pilot WWII, P-47 and P-51 out of Lesia, Italy, Checkertail Clan (woo-hoo), three swastikas on the fuselage.
“Hey Sam, how ya doin’?”
“Damn fine today but I sure as hell ain’t buyin’ any green bananas.”
After the church service and before the reception at his home, seven of his QB aviator friends, including his then 86 year old former squadron commander, evaporated from the crowd to “lift the glass” to Sam. I saw the room set up as you described, Lex – empty chair, turned down glass… I cry now thinking about that.
Thanks for reminding us about the empty round table.
I take this opportunity to apologize to my host, the good Captain, and to all readers for being a vulger person yesterday.
Bad things happen to good people but we don’t let that stop us from doing good. I pray God continues to bless the men that wear those gold wings and the supporting cast who make it happen.
Now-a-days, on the 4th of July, Memorial Day, and all those occasions that a medley of service songs play and members of that service stand to be recognized, I always ask my wife to stand with me. She endured at lest as much hardship as I, and didn’t have half the fun I had. And so I hope for the family of our fallen brother that they will stand and be recognized as Anchors Aweigh plays on.
Those of us (and I include myself) that have never walked up to the line and tweaked the “Grim Reaper” in the nose, will never appreciate what those that don the wings of gold go thru on a daily basis to protect us. My heart-felt sympathy is extended, first, to the families of the naval aviators that perished, and secondly to those of the naval aviation fraternity that daily place themseves in harm’s way in defense of our nation.
Always present at our Seabee Birthday Ball, in honor of our past POWs/MIAs, the table took on a deeper, more personal meaning after 9/11, then again during OEF/OIF, and much more after I saw seven of our own die in OIF II. But we raise a glass or six to our brothers, regroup and carry on. Our hearts are with the aviator’s family and the Naval Aviation family tonight.
Just as a point of reference, the splendid memorial to departed aviators was not known in the Fleet circa 1955-65.
A fine “new” tribute