ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3248 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 3556 times:
Lt Cmdr Speichers remains found in Iraq...
Those of you who have been watching the situation in Iraq over the last 20 years may recall all the speculation regarding Lt Cmdr Speicher, i.e. still held POW, tortured, etc.
STT757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 16260 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3508 times:
Hopefully this brings some type of closure and peace to his family, 18 years is a long time.
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9286 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3504 times:
I have still not learned where his body was found in relation to his aircraft wreckage.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3248 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3498 times:
Quoting EMBQA (Reply 2): I have still not learned where his body was found in relation to his aircraft wreckage.
A bit more info in the actual press release... but not much....
I'm sure we'll hear more later as the story firms up. DoD probably had to do a release now to keep the press from harassing the family.....
Press release:
Remains Identified as Navy Captain Michael Scott Speicher
The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) has positively identified remains recovered in Iraq as those of Captain Michael Scott Speicher. Captain Speicher was shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet over west-central Iraq on January 17th, 1991 during Operation Desert Storm.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Captain Speicher's family for the ultimate sacrifice he made for his country," said Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy. "I am also extremely grateful to all those who have worked so tirelessly over the last 18 years to bring Captain Speicher home."
“Our Navy will never give up looking for a shipmate, regardless of how long or how difficult that search may be,” said Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Speicher and his family for the sacrifice they have made for our nation and the example of strength they have set for all of us.”
Acting on information provided by an Iraqi citizen in early July, US Marines stationed in Al Anbar Province went to a location in the desert which was believed to be the crash site of Captain Speicher’s jet. The Iraqi citizen stated he knew of two Iraqi citizens who recalled an American jet impacting the desert and the remains of the pilot being buried in the desert. One of these Iraqi citizens stated that they were present when Captain Speicher was found dead at the crash site by Bedouins and his remains buried. The Iraqi citizens led US Marines to the site who searched the area. Remains were recovered over several days during the past week and flown to Dover Air Force Base for scientific identification by the AFIP’s Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner.
The recovered remains include bones and multiple skeletal fragments. Positive identification was made by comparing Captain Speicher’s dental records with the jawbone recovered at the site. The teeth are a match, both visually and radiographically.
While dental records have confirmed the remains to be those of Captain Speicher, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology DNA Lab in Rockville, Maryland is running DNA tests on the remains recovered in Iraq and comparing them to DNA reference samples previously provided by family members. Results will take approximately 24 hours.
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9286 posts, RR: 13 Reply 5, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 3247 times:
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3248 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 3209 times:
AA=Anti Aircraft weapon
Legal considerations provided by: Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9286 posts, RR: 13 Reply 7, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 3181 times:
Quoting Jackonicko (Reply 4): RIP Cdr Speicher, the only allied A-A loss of the war.
JohnM From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 310 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 3093 times:
Glad his family has closure. Anyone know of the lat/long of where his remains were found? I heard Al Anbar, but would like some more detail. Was wondering if I had been near where the crash site....
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (3 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 3091 times:
Quoting Jackonicko (Reply 8): Not AAA, A-A. Air-to-air. Shot down by a MiG-25.
Correct. It was the only Iraqi Air Force kill of Desert Storm. Even though the USN says he was shot down by AAA or a SAM, other members of his flight confirmed he was shot down by a Mig-25, who was later shot down by a USAF F-15C flying CAP.
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3248 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 2861 times:
The Navy announced today additional details regarding the recent discovery of the remains of Navy Capt. Michael “Scott” Speicher in Iraq. Speicher was shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet over west-central Iraq on Jan. 17, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm.
Acting in part on information provided by an Iraqi citizen in early July, Multi National Force – West’s (MNF-W) personnel recovery team went to a location in the desert which was believed to be the crash site of Speicher’s jet. The Iraqi, a Bedouin, was 11 years old at the time of the crash and did not have direct knowledge of where Speicher was buried, but knew of other Bedouins who did. He willingly provided his information during general discussion with MNF-W personnel and stated he was unaware of the U.S. government’s interest in this case until queried by U.S. investigators in July 2009.
The Iraqi citizens led MNF-W’s personnel recovery team to the area they believed Speicher was buried. The area where the remains were recovered was located approximately 100 kilometers west of Ramadi, in Anbar province. There were two sites that teams searched. One site was next to the downed aircraft that was discovered in 1993 and the other site was approximately two kilometers away. The second site was where Speicher’s remains were recovered.
The recovery personnel searched two sites from July 22-29. The personnel recovery team consisted of approximately 150 people, mostly Marines and other forces under MNF-W.
The recovered remains include bones and multiple skeletal fragments. Based on visual examination of the remains and dental records at the site, a preliminary assessment was reached that the remains were that of Speicher. After searching the site another day, no further remains were recovered.
On July 30, the remains were turned over from the recovery team to MNF-W mortuary affairs at Al Asad. The remains were then transported to the Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del. They were examined by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology’s (AFIP) Armed Forces medical examiner who positively identified them as those of Speicher on Aug. 1.
Positive identification by AFIP was made by comparing Speicher’s dental records with the jawbone recovered at the site. The teeth were a match, both visually and radiographically. AFIP’s DNA Lab in Rockville, Md., confirmed the remains to be Speicher on Aug. 2 via DNA comparison tests of the remains by comparing them to DNA reference samples previously provided by family members.
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2856 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 10): Correct. It was the only Iraqi Air Force kill of Desert Storm. Even though the USN says he was shot down by AAA or a SAM, other members of his flight confirmed he was shot down by a Mig-25, who was later shot down by a USAF F-15C flying CAP.
Unfortunately for Capt Speicher his RWR gear failed early on in his flight. Which of course left him effectively blind to threats.
Confuscius From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 3634 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 2422 times:
Will he remain a captain or will it revert back to the rank when he was shot down? I believe he was promoted twice because of his then status as an MIA.
AGM100 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 5407 posts, RR: 17 Reply 14, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 2412 times:
This is a incredible story , and a incredible effort by the DOD recovery teams and investigators. RIP Lt Speicher ...
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