hillbillycwo
Well-known member
Just found out this morning when I got to work that 2 Naval officers flying the F/A-18F fighter aircraft lost power and flew the aircraft into a field to their deaths. Neither Officer ejected. News reports indicate the aircraft lost power and the pilot put the aircraft nose up and banked left but was unable to restart the engines. Typically when they do not eject it is because they are over populated areas but I do not know at this point if that was the case in this situation or not. Maybe some of you folks in that area may know but it has been 20 years since I was stationed there. Below is an email I sent to friends of mine in the service who are stationed out there. Please keep the squadron VFA-122, their families and all service members in your prayers. This is always a tough thing for us as military members to loose one of our own in a training mission.
"We all bear a portion of responsibility. Because of our love of Freedom if for no other reason. We put those fellows in harm's way each and every real world or training mission. They give up their Freedom to perform those missions for those of us unwilling to take the risk or unable. They do it with pride and commitment. They don't have the luxury of disagreeing publicly with policy changes or rule changes or any decision that places undue risk upon their persons or their very lives. Each day their spouses and children say their goodbyes and send their beloved service member to work they do so with the underlying risk they will see an Officer and a Chaplain notifying them of their loved ones loss in a training or combat mission.
What is so bewildering to me is that all any of those true Warriors who have stood in the arena with their faces marred from the strain or streaked with sweat from their efforts or stained with their blood have ever asked for their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families is a simple thank you.
With a heavy heart for those lost in this latest training flight and all those who have lost their lives or have suffered injury for Freedom's cause I simply say thank you. I am truly blessed to live in a Nation of the Free and the BRAVE. Nothing I could say beyond those words can express the gratitude in my heart for what they have done, are doing and will continue to do long after I take my uniform off."
"We all bear a portion of responsibility. Because of our love of Freedom if for no other reason. We put those fellows in harm's way each and every real world or training mission. They give up their Freedom to perform those missions for those of us unwilling to take the risk or unable. They do it with pride and commitment. They don't have the luxury of disagreeing publicly with policy changes or rule changes or any decision that places undue risk upon their persons or their very lives. Each day their spouses and children say their goodbyes and send their beloved service member to work they do so with the underlying risk they will see an Officer and a Chaplain notifying them of their loved ones loss in a training or combat mission.
What is so bewildering to me is that all any of those true Warriors who have stood in the arena with their faces marred from the strain or streaked with sweat from their efforts or stained with their blood have ever asked for their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families is a simple thank you.
With a heavy heart for those lost in this latest training flight and all those who have lost their lives or have suffered injury for Freedom's cause I simply say thank you. I am truly blessed to live in a Nation of the Free and the BRAVE. Nothing I could say beyond those words can express the gratitude in my heart for what they have done, are doing and will continue to do long after I take my uniform off."
