Jet Dedicated To Speicher

Pensacola Nas Pensacola A retired fighter jet was dedicated to one of the first people missing in the first Gulf War.

by Chad Petri

Published: Fri, May 08, 2009 - 4:54 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, May 08, 2009 - 5:05 pm CST

With his call sign in place, this retired F/A 18 Hornet now serves to remember Captain Scott Speicher.

“One of the few people in naval aviation history that I know of that everybody truly liked,” says friend Buddy Harris. He was one of dozens in attendance at a dedication ceremony for the symbolic aircraft.

“This is a specific unique thing because this plane's going to be stationed so that all new aviators and all new flight people will see it,” says Harris. He says this is another reminder that they'll keep looking for Spike. The Captain's plane was shot down January 16th 1991. He is officially listed as missing in action.

“We went on ahead and restored this aircraft's Captain Speicher's markings January 1991,” says Clay Hester with the Naval Aviation School. The people who knew Scott Speicher say this will stand as a monument to him

“It's just part of our aviation legacy and it needs to be remembered and it needs to be remembered,” says Hester. Organizers say they also want to use events like this to change the way the pentagon thinks with regards to missing military personnel.

“Hey if there's no real proof of life and there's no real proof of death, let's err on the side of life,” says Buddy Harris. Officials at the museum say it's in a perfect spot. It'll help new cadets remember Scott Speicher's place in naval history. You can check out the National Aviation Museum Online

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