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Posted by United Press International on January 13, 2010, 12:05 pm
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NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the
U.S. Air Force's demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, said the late
Thunderbirds pilot Maj. Russell C. Goodman will be honored in
Nevada.
Thunderbirds spokesman Capt. Jason McCree said a ceremony in
honor of Goodman will take place at Nellis Air Force Base in Clark
County, Nev., Thursday, decades after the pilot died in Vietnam, the
Las Vegas Sun reported Wednesday.
Pentagon officials said in a news release that Goodman and
Navy Lt. Gary L. Thornton were flying an F-4B Phantom jet on Feb.
20, 1967, when their jet was shot down during a bombing mission.
"They were struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire and their
plane exploded. Thornton was able to eject at just 250 feet
altitude, but Goodman did not escape," the officials said.
While Thornton was held as a prisoner of war for six years
after the crash, Goodman's family was unable to obtain his remains
until recently.
DNA tests determined a bone fragment from Goodman was buried
in a Vietnamese village grave, allowing his remains to be returned
home to the United States.
The Sun said Thornton is expected to offer some words
regarding the fallen pilot at Thursday's ceremony, which is closed
to the public.
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