Dedication of Memorial to the Last Intruder Crew Lost in Vietnam
9:00 AM - Friday, April 23, 2010
The sacrifice of the last A-6 Intruder aircrew lost during the Vietnam War is now commemorated in a lasting memorial on the flight deck of the USS MIDWAY Museum in San Diego, California.
On the night of 10 January 1973, LT Michael T. "Mondo" McCormick and LT(jg) R. Alan "Arlo" Clark of VA-115 launched from the deck of USS MIDWAY (CVA-41), and were lost amid heavy AAA and SAM activity northwest of the heavily defended city of Vinh. Both crewmen were carried as MIA and later declared Killed in Action. Their remains were eventually recovered and identified, and in January of 2009 were laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. In attendance were their family members and many comrades from Attack Squadron 115.
Now, six years later, their heroism and sacrifice have been memorialized on the flight deck that they launched from nearly 37 years ago. The A-6A Intruder on board the USS MIDWAY Museum in San Diego now carries the names of "Mondo" and "Arlo" on the starboard cockpit, along with a legend that denotes the details of their last mission. The aircraft is painted in VA-115 markings from the Vietnam era, and now has the side number "511" to commemorate their flight.
Once again, family members and comrades will gather to remember Mondo and Arlo at a dedication ceremony scheduled on the MIDWAY flight deck for 9:00 AM on Friday, April 23, 2010. The observance will include tours of the Intruder Ready Room, where exhibits honor the memory of all those who built, maintained, and flew the venerable A-6. All members of the Intruder Community are invited to attend.
9:00 AM - Friday, April 23, 2010
The sacrifice of the last A-6 Intruder aircrew lost during the Vietnam War is now commemorated in a lasting memorial on the flight deck of the USS MIDWAY Museum in San Diego, California.
On the night of 10 January 1973, LT Michael T. "Mondo" McCormick and LT(jg) R. Alan "Arlo" Clark of VA-115 launched from the deck of USS MIDWAY (CVA-41), and were lost amid heavy AAA and SAM activity northwest of the heavily defended city of Vinh. Both crewmen were carried as MIA and later declared Killed in Action. Their remains were eventually recovered and identified, and in January of 2009 were laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. In attendance were their family members and many comrades from Attack Squadron 115.
Now, six years later, their heroism and sacrifice have been memorialized on the flight deck that they launched from nearly 37 years ago. The A-6A Intruder on board the USS MIDWAY Museum in San Diego now carries the names of "Mondo" and "Arlo" on the starboard cockpit, along with a legend that denotes the details of their last mission. The aircraft is painted in VA-115 markings from the Vietnam era, and now has the side number "511" to commemorate their flight.
Once again, family members and comrades will gather to remember Mondo and Arlo at a dedication ceremony scheduled on the MIDWAY flight deck for 9:00 AM on Friday, April 23, 2010. The observance will include tours of the Intruder Ready Room, where exhibits honor the memory of all those who built, maintained, and flew the venerable A-6. All members of the Intruder Community are invited to attend.