Press
Navy Lieutenant’s Body Found
January 29, 2010 4:58 AM
The body of U.S. Navy Lt. Clinton Wermers has been found by divers.
Volunteer divers from Gulf States Dive and Rescue working in conjunction with Crowder Gulf Disaster Recovery and Debris Management recovered the body of Training Squadron SIX instructor pilot Navy Lt. Clinton Wermers shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday.
The divers were working as part of a large scale volunteer effort under the guidance of the New Orleans Urban Area Security Initiative. The T-34 Turbomentor, he and a student Naval Aviator were flying before the accident, was also located at approximately 10 p.m. last night.
Lt. Wermers was found in close proximity to vessel.
The plane was found in about 15 feet of water near where it was reported down Jan. 23. According to volunteer divers, underwater visibility was severely limited.
According to the Public Affairs Office at NAS Whiting Field the cause of death is still under investigation.
Lt. Wermers leaves behind two daughters ages two and four as well as a wife expecting their third child.
An account has been established to help the Lt. Wermers family. Anyone wishing to support this family, donations can be made to the Air Warrior Courage Foundation by going to their website at: www.airwarriorcourage.org. When you make your contribution please indicate you are donating in honor of Lt. Wermers.
Shrevport Firefighters Train on Swift Water Rescue
All week, 14 members of the Shreveport, Louisiana Fire Department (SFD) have been participating in Swift Water Rescuer Training on Caddo Lake approximately 20 miles out of the city.
The one-week course, taught by Certified Trainer Paul Fraser, consisted of one day of classroom instruction and four days of practical skills training focusing on water safety, reading water, recognizing and avoiding hazards, quick rescue techniques, boat-based rescues, dealing with boat wraps and entrapments, technical rescue systems and a variety of practical scenarios, according to a news release from SFD.
“Swift Water Rescuer Training is geared toward first responders who will participate in river and flood rescue incidents,” said Fire Chief Brian Crawford. “This is a unique opportunity for our employees to get certified in this specialized area that could affect our community.”
Nola.com / Times Picayune
Navy pilot’s body found in Lake Pontchartrain
Published: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 12:04 PM Updated: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 1:18 PM
Divers have found the body of a Navy pilot whose training airplane crashed Saturday in Lake Pontchartrain.
Lt. Clinton Wermers’ remains were located about 1 a.m., today, according to a statement released at midday by Naval Air Station, Whiting Field, Fla.
Wermers, 33, was a native of Mitchell, S.D., and a father of two daughters whose wife is pregnant with a third child, according to news reports. He was assigned to a training squadron at Whiting Field about three years, according to the Navy.
He and a Navy student aviator whose name has not been release crashed in a T-34C Turbomentor airplane about 6:30 p.m., Saturday, while on a landing approach to the New Orleans Lakefront Airport. The airplane crashed about a mile north of the airport, according to the Coast Guard, which received a report from air traffic controllers about 6:40 p.m., that an airplane dropped out of radar.
A Coast Guard boat crew rescued the student Saturday night. He has been treated and released from a hospital.
Wermers’ body was found near the airplane, which divers located about 10 p.m., Tuesday in about 15 feet of water, where “visibility was severely limited,” according to the Navy statement.
A Navy dive and salvage team is expected to arrive in the area Thursday to retrieve the airplane.
The cause for the crash has not been determined, according to the Navy.
Volunteer divers from Gulf States Dive and Rescue, working with Crowder Gulf Disaster Recovery and Debris Management found Wermers’ body, according to the Navy.
Paul Purpura can be reached at 504.826.3791 or ppurpura@timespicayune.com.
WKRG News 5
Body Of Missing Navy Pilot Found
by Jamie Burch | 8156 views Published: Wed, January 27, 2010 – 12:20 pm CSTMILTON, Florida - Divers have recovered the body of the NAS Whiting Field pilot killed in a plane crash.
Lt. Clinton Wermers had been missing since his plane crashed into Lake Ponchartrain Saturday night. The Coast Guard found his student pilot alive a few hours later.
Volunteer divers from Gulf States Dive and Rescue working with Crowder Gulf Disaster Recovery and Debris Management recovered Wermers’ body shortly after 1 a.m Wednesday.
A trust fund has been set up for Wermers’ pregnant wife and two daughters.
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