TOP STORY >>Wreath laying honors memory of passed service members

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Little Rock Air Force Base held a wreath laying ceremony at Heritage Park on base Feb. 17, in honor of five service members who died when performing a flight training mission here Feb. 18, 1972.

The ceremony honored the service of:

Sgt. William D. Blair, a student flight engineer;

Captain Edward R. Breen, an instructor pilot;

1st Lt. Maurice F. Cherry, a student pilot;

Tech Sgt. Raymond L. Hughes, an instructor flight engineer, and

1st Lt. Henry M. Thorsen, a student pilot.

On the afternoon of Feb. 18, 1972, the crew of the THULE 80, a C-130E, took off from the base to perform their training mission. After finishing the mission, they turned the aircraft to return to base. At 7:07 p.m., the aircraft collided with a T-37, and lost power in two engines. The THULE 80 crashed, killing the entire crew.

Service members from throughout the base gathered to honor the memory of the deceased, and the wreath was laid at the request of their loved ones.