{"id":21608,"date":"2013-02-25T02:45:16","date_gmt":"2013-02-25T05:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/?p=21608"},"modified":"2016-11-26T01:49:40","modified_gmt":"2016-11-26T04:49:40","slug":"general-welsh-recalls-memorial-family-of-fallen-aviano-pilot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/25\/general-welsh-recalls-memorial-family-of-fallen-aviano-pilot\/","title":{"rendered":"General Welsh Recalls Memorial, Family of Fallen Aviano Pilot"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the recent Air Force Association symposium, US Air Force Chief of Staff told the story<\/a> of Maj Luc “Gaza” Gruenther, who was killed during a training flight<\/a> in January:<\/p>\n

Gruenther was a pilot with the 555th Fighter Squadron in Aviano Air Base, Italy, when the Air Force lost contact with him during a training mission over the Adriatic Sea, Jan. 28. Three days later, Gruenther’s body was recovered.<\/p>\n

As Welsh told the story of Gruenther, eyes welled with tears in the audience.<\/p>\n

“About 1,000 folks showed up to the memorial of Gruenther,” Welsh said. “As the missing man formation passed the memorial, Gruenther’s family got to wave on, saying a final goodbye to their son, husband and wingman. I like to think that Gruenther kept pulling up on the formation and touched the face of God.”
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\nGruenther’s wife went on to give birth to a baby girl the very next day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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