Tribute for Lt. Col. Morris Fontenot held in Longmeadow, Mass.

Lt. Col. Morris Fontenot

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The community of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, turned out Saturday to honor one of their own. Lt. Colonel Morris Fontenot, 41, was killed Wednesday morning when his F-15C Eagle slammed into a mountainside in western Augusta County, Virginia. He had reported an emergency situation five minutes before the crash.

At a memorial gathering, Fontenot’s wife Kara spoke to her friends and neighbors (see Longmeadow pays tribute to hometown hero):

Day 3: Air National Guard pilot killed in Virginia crash identified

By Lynn R. Mitchell

After releasing the sad news Thursday night that the Massachusetts Air National Guard pilot died on impact when he crashed in the mountains of the George Washington National Forest in western Augusta County (see F-15 pilot killed in Augusta County, Va, crash), the 104th Fighter Wing released his identity on Friday: