Navy to Honor First Female Fighter Pilot with Female-Piloted Flyover at Funeral

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https://news.usni.org/2019/01/30/navy-honor-first-female-fighter-pilot-female-piloted-flyover-funeral

Navy to Honor First Female Fighter Pilot with Female-Piloted Flyover at Funeral

By: Megan Eckstein

January 30, 2019 12:45 PM

The Navy will say goodbye to its first female fighter pilot with its first all-female flyover, the service told USNI News on Wednesday. Retired Capt. Rosemary Mariner, who served in the Navy from 1973 to 1997, had a career full of firsts: she was among the first women to earn her pilot wings in 1974, was the first woman to fly a tactical fighter jet in 1975, and was the first woman to command a naval aviation squadron in 1990, among others achievements.

To honor not only her achievements but also her work as an educator and mentor – to female pilots in particular – during and after her naval career, the Navy will perform its first all-female flyover during Mariner’s funeral on Saturday. Naval Air Force Atlantic spokesman Cmdr. Dave Hecht told USNI News that the Navy had selected all female pilots to participate in this flyover, which is a first for the service, as well as one of two ground crew being female. Mariner had personally mentored some of the women involved in the flyover, he added.
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The following is the Navy’s statement regarding the flyover for retired Capt. Rosemary Mariner:

NORFOLK, Va. – To honor the life and legacy of a female pioneer in Naval aviation, the U.S. Navy will conduct the first ever all-female flyover this Saturday, Feb. 2 in Maynardville, TN. Officially referred to as a “Missing Man Flyover,” the tribute will be part of the funeral service for retired Navy Captain, Rosemary Mariner, who passed away on Jan. 24 following a long and brave fight with cancer.
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