Navy Helo Squadrons Honor Fallen Shipmates

LantFlt helo squadrons honor a fallen comrade as set out in Helo Squadrons Come Together to Honor Fallen Shipmate:

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 pilotsí 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.
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"This is an opportunity to honor a shipmate and carry out their wishes and anybody that flyís a ë60í 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.

As the father of an H-60S pilot, I offer up my own small salute to all the lost crew and their families.

Article by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Ray Hendrix, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic.

Helicoper recovery from sea set out here. Initial report of crash here.