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188th flyover honors American hero during repatriation ceremony

  • Published
  • By Maj. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --  The 188th Fighter Wing helped welcome a hero home to his final resting place 43 years after Capt. Virgil Meroney III's F-4D Phantom II crashed during a mission in Laos.

The 188th conducted a four-ship flyover and performed a missing-man formation to honor Meroney during a repatriation ceremony held in Fayetteville, Ark., June 9, 2012. Meroney was missing in action during the Vietnam War after being shot down March 1, 1969, in his F-4D, which crashed while carrying out a nighttime strike mission in Kahammouan Province, Laos.

Nearby U.S. aircrews reported seeing Meroney's aircraft hit by enemy fire. No parachutes were seen after the aircraft was hit. Heavy enemy presence in the area prevented recovery efforts.
From 2000 to 2011, additional recovery teams investigated and excavated the crash site multiple times. Teams recovered human remains, and military equipment, including an engine data plate, a radio call-sign plate, and a military identification card bearing Meroney's name.

Meroney's remains were identified May 24 and were returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Meroney was a native of Fayetteville.

Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander; Lt. Col. Brian Burger, 188th Operations Group commander; Maj. Justin Lewis; and Capt. Mark Cox performed the flyover, which included a missing man maneuver. The Little Rock Air Force Base Honor Guard also performed at the event. Former 188th chaplain, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) H.D. McCarty, presided over the service.
Anderson also presented a United States flag to the Meroney family June 10, 2012, in Fort Smith, Ark. The flag was flown over Afghanistan during the 188th's last combat deployment to Kandahar in 2010 and was also flown over Meroney's repatriation ceremony in Fayetteville.

"The 188th was honored to perform the flyover and pay respects to the Meroney family," Anderson said. "To have the opportunity to pay tribute to an American hero who gave his life serving his country was a humbling experience and a privilege for our wing."
 

188th flyover honors American hero during repatriation ceremony

  • Published
  • By Maj. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --  The 188th Fighter Wing helped welcome a hero home to his final resting place 43 years after Capt. Virgil Meroney III's F-4D Phantom II crashed during a mission in Laos.

The 188th conducted a four-ship flyover and performed a missing-man formation to honor Meroney during a repatriation ceremony held in Fayetteville, Ark., June 9, 2012. Meroney was missing in action during the Vietnam War after being shot down March 1, 1969, in his F-4D, which crashed while carrying out a nighttime strike mission in Kahammouan Province, Laos.

Nearby U.S. aircrews reported seeing Meroney's aircraft hit by enemy fire. No parachutes were seen after the aircraft was hit. Heavy enemy presence in the area prevented recovery efforts.
From 2000 to 2011, additional recovery teams investigated and excavated the crash site multiple times. Teams recovered human remains, and military equipment, including an engine data plate, a radio call-sign plate, and a military identification card bearing Meroney's name.

Meroney's remains were identified May 24 and were returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Meroney was a native of Fayetteville.

Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander; Lt. Col. Brian Burger, 188th Operations Group commander; Maj. Justin Lewis; and Capt. Mark Cox performed the flyover, which included a missing man maneuver. The Little Rock Air Force Base Honor Guard also performed at the event. Former 188th chaplain, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) H.D. McCarty, presided over the service.
Anderson also presented a United States flag to the Meroney family June 10, 2012, in Fort Smith, Ark. The flag was flown over Afghanistan during the 188th's last combat deployment to Kandahar in 2010 and was also flown over Meroney's repatriation ceremony in Fayetteville.

"The 188th was honored to perform the flyover and pay respects to the Meroney family," Anderson said. "To have the opportunity to pay tribute to an American hero who gave his life serving his country was a humbling experience and a privilege for our wing."