Helo Squadrons Come Together to Honor Fallen Shipmate

U.S. Navy Releases

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, HSC-2, HSC-22 and HSC-26 participated in a "missing man" formation during the funeral of Lt. Adam Dyer, of HSC-23, at Arlington National Cemetery on March 9.

Dyer and three other crew members assigned to HSC-23, based at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., died when their Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean while conducting a routine training mission off USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) near San Clemente Island on Jan. 26.

"Lt. Adam Dyer wanted to be buried at the Arlington National Cemetery and the Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic volunteered the aircraft, therefore, we took a helo from four squadrons that fly '60s' within the wing and did the formation," said Lt. Cmdr. Kirk Hansen, HSC-28 "Dragon Whales" operations officer.

A missing man formation consists of four aircraft in a formation shape of a "V," with the right arm, from the pilots' perspective, longer than the left. When the "V" passes over the ceremonial site, the aircraft in the "ring-finger" position pulls up and leaves the formation, to signify a lost comrade in arms.

Taking part in the missing man formation was a first-time experience for members of the HSC-28 crew.

"It was pretty powerful flying over Arlington National Cemetery, because it's a recognizable piece of America known throughout the general public and to fly over it doing the missing man formation made the experience an emotional one," said Hansen.

The crew members volunteered to be a part of this event as their way of saying thank you to their fellow aviators for serving their country.

"I knew AW2 (Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class) Christopher M. Will who passed away after the crash," said Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class(AW/NAC) Trevor Ahrendt, HSC-28 search and rescue swimmer. "This is my way of giving something back to the crew and him personally. I believe it meant a lot to their friends and family."

The entire crew shared their feelings and regards to the importance of remembering any and all fellow aviators because they said when one is lost a little bit of themselves is lost.

"This is an opportunity to honor a shipmate and carry out their wishes and anybody that fly's a '60' is a friend of ours," said Lt. Ethan Lust, HSC-28 Naval air training and operating procedures standardization officer.

Besides Dyer and Will, the other two crewmembers who died in the crash were Lt. j.g. Laura J. Mankey and Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class Cory J. Helman.

For more news from around the fleet, visit www.navy.mil.

Story Number: NNS070314-03 - Release Date: 3/14/2007 11:44:00 AM