Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary hold remembrance ceremony for fallen shipmates

united states coast guard 

Photo Release  

Jan. 17, 2018
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast
Contact: 7th District Public Affairs
Office: 305-415-6683
After Hours: 786-367-7649

Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary hold remembrance ceremony for fallen shipmates

Two Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 helicopter crews fly over a memorial remembrance ceremony in Miami, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2018. The annual ceremony honors those air crew members who've lost their lives in the line of duty in the Miami area. (Coast Guard photo by Eric D. Woodall) A Coast Guard Air Station Miami color guard presents the colors during a memorial remembrance ceremony in Miami, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2018. The annual ceremony honors those air crew members who've lost their lives in the line of duty in the Miami area. (Coast Guard photo by Eric D. Woodall)

John Hoffman speaks at a Coast Guard Air Station Miami memorial remembrance ceremony in Miami, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2018. The annual ceremony honors those air crew members who've lost their lives in the line of duty in the Miami area. (Coast Guard photo by Eric D. Woodall)

A Coast Guard Air Station Miami crew member salutes a memorial after laying a wreath during a remembrance ceremony in Miami, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2018. The annual ceremony honors those air crew members who've lost their lives in the line of duty in the Miami area. (Coast Guard photo by Eric D. Woodall) A wreath and flowers lay in front of a memorial after a Coast Guard Air Station Miami memorial remembrance ceremony in Miami, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2018. The annual ceremony honors those air crew members who've lost their lives in the line of duty in the Miami area. (Coast Guard photo by Eric D. Woodall)

 Editors' Note: Click image for high-resolution

 

MIAMI — Coast Guard Air Station Miami hosted a memorial remembrance ceremony Wednesday at Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport.

The annual ceremony honored those air crew members who lost their lives in the line of duty in the Miami area.

On Jan. 17, 1979, a Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard was involved in a midair collision during their landing descent with a civilian helicopter in a takeoff climb.  Both aircraft were cleared by the tower along parallel flight paths, but were not advised of each other. Coast Guard Lt. R.G. Ausness, Lt. R.C. Shearer Jr., Petty Officer 1st Class R.E. McClain and Petty Officer 3rd Class J.B. Case died in the collision.

On Feb. 1, 2001, Coast Guard Auxiliarists Casey Purvis and Robert Fuller were aboard a Piper PA-32 performing night intercept training with an Air Station Miami HU-25 Falcon jet crew.  During the flight, the auxiliarists entered the clouds and subsequently crashed.

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