August 9, 1996: An F/A-18C, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, operating from the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT CVN 71 crashed at sea. Lt. Craig M. Munsen was killed.
Lt. Munsen was the husband of Emmanuelle and the father of Nicolas. He was a graduate of Jacksonville University and born in Story City, IA.
Craig was my first flight student. He was extremely bright, a superb pilot and always a perfect gentleman. His family will be forever in my prayers.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NWSA) -- An intensive search has ended for the pilot of an F/A-18, which was lost on approach to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), near Puerto Rico Aug. 9.
LT Craig Munsen, 29, of Des Moines, Iowa, of Strike FighterSquadron (VFA) 105, has been declared dead. He had been conducting routine training flight operations when the aircraft was lost at about 10 p.m. Friday.
Two H-60 "Seahawk" search and rescue helicopters responded immediately after the aircraft was lost. USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), from Mayport, Fla., aided in the search. While some debris from the aircraft was located, Munsen was not recovered.
A memorial service for Munsen was conducted in Theodore Roosevelt Monday morning.
VFA-105 is based at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Fla.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the mishap.
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Happier Times, VT-27 1989:
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ReplyDeleteNicolas:
DeleteYour father was an outstanding aviator, exceptional man, and a wonderful friend.
Nicolas, I was working on the flight deck as a plane captain the night we lost your dad. It was a great loss. Your dad was a really good man. A lot of the pilots were less than friendly with the lower ranked enlisted guys but your dad went out of his way to be respectful and nice. I still think about him once in a while. He is still missed be many. JCD
ReplyDeleteI was in AOCS with Craig. He taught me to golf. Emmanuelle taught me to laught at my last name. He is always in my heart.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Blanchette, CDR retired.
He was a good man.
Delete