Co-Pilot of United Flight 93
70In memory of LeRoy Wilton Homer Jr.
The First Officer
Little known history fact: LeRoy Wilton Homer, Jr. United Airlines (First Officer) Pilot of ill fated flight 93. LeRoy Homer Jr. survived the Persian Gulf War. He was a 1987 graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He and a brother were the only males out of nine children. The family lived on Long Island in New York. A male bonding event for LeRoy and his father were trips to McArthur Airport Ronkonkoma, NY to watch the planes take off and land. The airport is named for General Douglas MacArthur and is also known locally as Islip Airport. Those trips may have fostered LeRoy Homer’s love of flying. Around age 16, Homer obtained his first pilot’s license. He obtained his private pilot's certificate in 1983.
Air Force Pilot
LeRoy Homer, Jr. served on active duty at the 18th Military Airlift Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. He was within driving distance of where he grew up. During the Gulf War he flew C-141B Starlifters transport planes to the Middle East from European bases. He left active duty as a Captain and joined the Air Force Reserves reaching the rank of Major. In 1995 Homer joined United as a flight engineer and then a first office on Boeing 757’s.
Unsung Heroes
On September 11, 2001 LeRoy Wilton Homer Jr. at the age of 36 died along with 40 crew members and passengers of Flight 93. They courageously took control of their destiny and stopped the hijackers from using the plane to crash into another American building. A permanent memorial of the crash site is due to begin September 11, 2011. On the day he died, LeRoy left behind his wife Melodie who he married in 1998 and a baby girl.
According to the National Park Service responsible for the crash site and future site of the permanent memorial, the National Park Service has gathered oral histories from over 500 families of the passengers and crew, first responders, eyewitnesses, air traffic controllers, and so many more people, including students who were in the Shanksville-Stonycreek School near the crash site that day. Watch a video clip of what the students have to say.
- 9-11 The Days After
This article focuses on civilian federal workers who showed up for work, and kept the government going the days after 9-11. There were many civilian and military personnel killed that day as well. There... - Flight 93 Transcript with CARTC - Wikisource
This is a transcription of the recording of the CARTC's conversations surrounding the errant flight, and subsequent discovery of hijacking, of United Airlines Flight 93 as part of the September 11th attacks. It references the announcement of a bomb, - Flight 93 Cockpit Transcript - Wikisource
This is a transcript of a cockpit voice recorder from United Airlines Flight #93, one of four airlines hijacked on 11 September 2001
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Comments
Thanks for bringing that to my attention, I had no Idea.
creativeone59
Thank you for your comments. Please pass on the information so others will know. Thanks again.
My prayers go out to this man's family. I can only imagine how hard it has been for them. Thanks for sharing. I also knew nothing about this man, til now.
Like every American on this day , there has certainly been alot of reflection by me and I am sure just about everybody who lived through this day. Thank you for the story of First Officer Leroy Homer . And for putting a name and a face to one of the many I pray for today . Great job on this !
all hopes and memories always go towards all the flight member's who had died on 9/11 and i'll support it all da way......drinks up and solute to all....!
Waren E says:
3 months ago
I think It's terrible that this information on LeRoy Homer is not well known internationally:(
Thank you for this sharing this sensitive hub,God Bless!