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http://www.stripes.com/news/us/air-force-pilot-missing-off-italy-coast-is-from-california-1.205735

Air Force pilot missing off Italy coast is from California

By Kevin Valine and Patty Guerra

Published: January 29, 2013

An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off from Aviano Air Base in this file photograph. An aircraft similar to this went missing Jan. 28, 2013, over the Adriatic Sea.

U.S. Air Force

TWAIN HARTE, Calif. — An Air Force pilot reported missing Monday night when his F-16 fighter jet disappeared over the Adriatic Sea off the Italian coast is from Tuolumne County, Calif.Search teams recovered debris Tuesday believed to be from the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Rescuers continued to search for the pilot, Capt. Lucas “Luc” Gruenther, who grew up in Twain Harte and is a 1999 graduate of Summerville High in Tuolumne.

His wife, Cassy, is expecting their first child in a few weeks. The Gruenthers were high school sweethearts at Summerville.

Twain Harte resident Chance Hildreth, one of Gruenther’s brothers, said family and friends have been praying for his safe return. Hildreth asked community members to keep Gruenther in their prayers as well.

Family members learned Monday that Gruenther, 32, was missing.

“I thought, ‘They will find him,’ ” said Gruenther’s father-in-law, Randy Williams of Tuolumne. “But we haven’t heard anything.”

Williams said his wife and Gruenther’s mother are on their way to Italy to be with Cassy Gruenther. He said he last saw his daughter and son-in-law over Thanksgiving when they were home for about three weeks.

Gruenther was a standout athlete, leader and student at Summerville who played varsity soccer, was involved in more than a half-dozen campus clubs and served as student body president.

“He had the personality — ‘I’m going to make this a better place,’ ” said Mitch Heldstab, Gruenther’s grade-level coordinator at Summerville. “When he believed in something, he went after it.”

Heldstab said Gruenther and the student body vice president were so successful in tackling the campus’ litter problem that the state fire marshal used Summerville as an example of keeping high schools free of trash.

Gruenther came back to Summerville in April to give two presentations to students.

Heldstab said Gruenther comes from an athletic family and that one of his grandfathers is Olympic champion Bob Mathias, who won the gold medal in the decathlon in 1948 and 1952.

Gruenther is an Air Force Academy distinguished graduate. He is the 31st Fighter Wing’s chief of flight safety at the Aviano Air Base in Italy. He was performing a training mission when the base lost contact with him about 8 p.m. Monday, according to an air base news release.

U.S. military officials are coordinating search and rescue efforts with Italian military and civilian teams. U.S. military resources joined the search including an Air Force HC-130 from U.S. Africa Command and a rotation of Navy P-3s from U.S. Naval Forces Europe.

“We are dedicating all available resources to the search and rescue operation,” said Brig. Gen Scott J. Zobrist, 31st Fighter Wing commander. “I’m grateful to the many Italian and U.S. professionals who are executing this mission. I am hopeful that we will bring him home safely.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Capt. Gruenther and his family. I personally appreciate the efforts of the many people who are supporting the Gruenthers in this difficult time.”

http://www.stripes.com/body-of-missing-aviano-f-16-pilot-found-in-adriatic-sea-1.205953

Body of missing Aviano F-16 pilot found in Adriatic Sea

By MATT MILLHAM

Published: January 31, 2013

Capt. Lucas Gruenther, 31st Fighter Wing chief of flight safety and stationed at Aviano Air Base in northern Italy is pictured mountain climbing in Italy. Gruenther was declared missing during a nighttime training mission Jan. 28, 2013. Courtesy Gruenther family

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The body of an Air Force F-16 pilot who went missing during a night training flight late Monday was found Thursday off the coast of Italy, according to statements issued by his family and his unit, the Aviano-based 31st Fighter Wing.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that the body of Captain Lucas Gruenther was found in the Adriatic Sea this afternoon,” the family's statement said.

Gruenther and his F-16 Fighting Falcon went missing about 8 p.m. Monday roughly 150 miles south of Aviano. A massive search effort ensued, including Italian coast guard and navy ships, fishing vessels and an assortment of planes, including other F-16s from the wing.

Italian news site Romagna Noi reported Gruenther’s body was found around 2 p.m. about 15 miles off the coast of Pesaro, where it was recovered by an Italian coast guard patrol boat.

According to Romagna Noi, Gruenther was wearing his flight suit, but a family member had to officially identify the body before news of the discovery could be released.

In its statement, the family gave thanks for the outpouring of support it received over the nearly four days since Gruenther went missing.

“We especially want to extend our deepest gratitude to the many people who volunteered their time and resources to help bring Luc home,” the statement said.

"Captain Gruenther was an outstanding officer who epitomized what it means to be an Airman," Brig. Gen. Scott J. Zobrist, 31st Fighter Wing commander, said in a news release issued Thursday evening. "He was not only a first-rate pilot; he was an exceptional leader whose presence will be sorely missed.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gruenther family during this difficult time. Words cannot adequately express how sorry we are for your loss."

Earlier, the family released a statement indicating searchers recovered Gruenther’s helmet, which was reportedly in good condition, and his drogue parachute, a sign that he’d ejected.

That statement expressed optimism that the 32-year-old pilot would be found alive. Cassy Gruenther, who is weeks away from giving birth to the couple’s first child, said in that statement her husband “… is a self-reliant outdoorsman who would sleep every night under the stars if he could. He’s a skydiver, he’s a rock climber and he’s a certified scuba diver. He is a health nut and in great shape.”

Thursday’s much shorter message called Gruenther, “A compassionate husband, a loving son, and a devoted brother” who “leaves behind a family who loves him dearly and a legacy of achievement.”

“We will never fully recover from our loss, but take heart in the knowledge that during his all-too-short time in this world, he made a significant difference in the lives of all whom he met.”

Gruenther, chief of flight safety for the wing, lost contact with the base and the rest of his formation as they flew Monday night over the Adriatic.

Italian personnel found debris believed to be from his jet Tuesday.

The pilot’s grandfather, Army Gen. Alfred Gruenther, served as supreme allied commander Europe from 1953 to 1956. His brother, Alexander Gruenther, is also an Air Force captain, stationed in Brussels, according to a local newspaper.

“Luc has wanted to be a pilot since he was a little boy,” his mother, Romel Mathias, was quoted as saying in the earlier family statement. “And he did everything he had to get there. That’s what he does with everything in his life. If he wants to do something, he finds a way to do it.”

Cassy Gruenther said her husband picked up Italian quickly and the couple has been leading the Maniago chapter of the Vicini Americani, a program started by the base and Italian communities to foster friendship and cooperation.

“He served six months in Afghanistan, where his mission was to support ground troops,” Mathias said. “We remember Luc saying that the greatest day on deployment was when he got to meet the soldiers he supported with air cover during an operation.”

Stars and Stripes’ Sandra Jontz contributed to this report.

millhamm@estripes.osd.mil

http://www.aviano.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123335298

1,000 supporters pay respects during memorial service for fallen pilot
by Senior Airman Jessica Hines, 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/6/2013 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Service members, civilians, family and friends honored the life and memory of a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and combat veteran during a memorial service today at Aviano Air Base.

Maj. Lucas "Gaza" Gruenther, a pilot assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, went missing during a nighttime training mission over the Adriatic Sea Jan. 28. In the days that followed, Italian and U.S. authorities collaborated as part of in an immense search effort to locate Gruenther. The search ended Jan. 31 when Gruenther's body was recovered by an Italian vessel.

During the memorial service, many spoke of his inspiring nature and enthusiastic spirit, recalling his selfless and admirable qualities that he exemplified in his everyday life.

"Nothing I can say can put the emotional stress on the life and the hope and the ambition that he has given everyone he's known," said Maj. Travis Winslow, 555th Fighter Squadron pilot. "He is the quintessential role model."

A California native, Gruenther, 32, is survived by his wife Cassy and daughter Serene. He also leaves behind an inspiring body of accomplishments, many of which were shared before a crowd of about 1,000 supporters from around the Air Force and Italian communities who came to pay their respects.

"He'd want nothing more than for us to get together celebrate his life," said Capt. Nicholas Krajicek, 555th FS pilot. "I think we can offer Gaza no greater tribute than to look at his life and just be inspired."

One of Gruenther's many aspirations was to become a flight commander in his home squadron, the "Triple Nickel." Lt. Col. John Peterson, 555th FS commander, explained how Gaza had been selected not only to be a flight commander, but an instructor pilot as well; however, he never had the chance to perform the role.

"Even though Gaza did not become an instructor pilot in the Triple Nickel, he sure did teach us a lot, and even though he didn't become or hold the position or title of flight commander in the Triple Nickel," said Peterson, "he was a flight commander of life."

Among his many achievements, Gruenther completed more than 2,640 hours of flying time to include 400 combat hours. He taught himself Italian, which he used to help cultivate bonds between the Americans and Italians living in his community and on base.

In a recent interview, Gruenther described his enthusiasm for his host country, "I love being a part of the Italian culture. The more time I spend in Italy, the more I realize how much this region and its residents have to offer."

Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, approved the posthumous promotion of Gruenther to major, which the pilot was already waiting to officially pin on this year after he was selected for major during a December 2011 promotion board.

During the ceremony, his wife was presented two medals on the major's behalf. The Aerial Achievement Medal was awarded for efforts during Gruenther's deployment to Afghanistan, where he performed 17 Operation Enduring Freedom combat missions, providing U.S. and coalition ground forces with close air support. The Meritorious Service Medal was presented for distinguished service as 31st Fighter Wing chief of flight safety and as 555th Fighter Squadron assistant chief of training.

"He was clearly a special man, just take a look around," said Brig. Gen. Scott Zobrist, 31st Fighter Wing commander as he gestured to the brimming hangar. "He was a professional Air Force officer and a wonderful human being.

"As wing commander I must thank the hundreds and thousands of Italians and Americans involved in the intensive search and rescue that took place last week," Zobrist continued. "It was one of the most impressive search and rescue efforts I've ever seen. I know Gaza would be proud of the relationship between Italy and America, and he was a part of that."

"He lived a live full of adventure and full of love," his wife said. "If he were here, he would challenge each and every one of you to go climb that mountain you've been waiting to climb, he would tell you to plan that trip you haven't planned, he would tell you to call that friend you've been thinking about, and he would tell you to be sure to tell your loved ones you love them every day.

"So I challenge you now, for him, and in his memory," she concluded.


"As per usual, life is good," - Maj. Lucas "Gaza" Gruenther.

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