The U.S. Air Force Academy recently dedicated a memorial sculpture to honor the aircrew of the AC-130H Spectre gunship, Spirit 03. The ceremony was hosted by Lieutenant General Richard Clark, U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent, and attended by the family members of the aircrew and other distinguished guests. This event was a fitting tribute to the 14 Airmen who made the ultimate sacrifice during a combat mission on January 31, 1991, in support of Operation Desert Storm.
During the mission, the aircrew of Spirit 03 was providing close air support to U.S. Marines in the vicinity of Khafji, Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, an Iraqi surface-to-air missile struck the Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft, resulting in the largest loss of any U.S. Air Force unit during Desert Storm.
The dedication of the memorial sculpture is a powerful reminder of the importance of leadership and character development in the U.S. Air Force. Major Paul Weaver, the aircraft commander of Spirit 03 and an Academy Class of 1979 graduate, understood what it meant to be a part of that legacy. He led his crew with honor and courage, setting an example for future generations of Airmen to emulate. The sculpture will be displayed at the Academy’s publicly-accessible Honor Court among more than 10 other statues that symbolize stories of the service and sacrifice of generations of American Airmen.
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