THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 16, 1994 TAG: 9411160447
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: SAN DIEGO LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
The Navy has recovered the body of the first woman assigned to fly an F-14 fighter jet in combat. She died last month during a failed landing at sea.
The body of Lt. Kara Hultgreen was found about 50 miles off the coast of San Diego in 3,700 feet of water, Senior Chief Petty Officer Pat Neal said Monday.
Hultgreen, 29, died on Oct. 25, three months after she received her assignment. Her body was recovered Saturday.
Although the jet's radar intercept officer survived after ejecting from the aircraft, he has not been able to provide enough information to answer questions about why the combat jet rolled sharply as it was approaching the carrier Abraham Lincoln and crashed into the sea.
Hultgreen apparently was ejected down into the water from the aircraft moments after the radio intercept officer ejected clear of the jet.
Hultgreen was the first woman to be assigned to fly the Tomcat jet in a combat squadron after the Pentagon lifted its restrictions on female combat pilots in April 1993.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT MILITARY ACCIDENT PLANE FATALITY
WOMEN IN THE MILITARY by CNB