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Aircraft dedicated to fallen Navy aviator

By Joel Fortner, AEDC/PA / Published March 30, 2007

Col. Arthur Huber, commander of Arnold Engineering Development Center at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., speaks here March 30 at the F-14 Tomcat Dedication Ceremony in honor of the late Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the Navy’s first female carrier-based combat fighter pilot who was killed in a crash in October 1994 in the F-14 she was piloting. Seated, left to right, are Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Martin Nutter, AEDC Vice Commander Navy Capt. Bob Roof, retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, James Spears, Lt. Col. Kim Nelson and John Lominac. (Photo by Joel Fortner)
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Col. Arthur Huber, commander of Arnold Engineering Development Center at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., speaks here March 30 at the F-14 Tomcat Dedication Ceremony in honor of the late Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the Navy’s first female carrier-based combat fighter pilot who was killed in a crash in October 1994 in the F-14 she was piloting. Seated, left to right, are Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Martin Nutter, AEDC Vice Commander Navy Capt. Bob Roof, retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, James Spears, Lt. Col. Kim Nelson and John Lominac. (Photo by Joel Fortner)

The F-14D Tomcat static display aircraft at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., was dedicated March 30 in honor of the late Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the Navy’s first female carrier-based combat fighter pilot. She was assigned to the Black Lions of Fighter Squadron 213 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The F-14 dedicated in her honor was assigned to the same squadron. (Left to right) Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Martin Nutter, AEDC Vice Commander Navy Capt. Bob Roof, retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, James Spears, AEDC Commander Arthur Huber, Lt. Col. Kim Nelson and John Lominac applaud after the dedication plaque is unveiled. (Photo by Joel Fortner)
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The F-14D Tomcat static display aircraft at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., was dedicated March 30 in honor of the late Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the Navy’s first female carrier-based combat fighter pilot. She was assigned to the Black Lions of Fighter Squadron 213 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The F-14 dedicated in her honor was assigned to the same squadron. (Left to right) Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Martin Nutter, AEDC Vice Commander Navy Capt. Bob Roof, retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, James Spears, AEDC Commander Arthur Huber, Lt. Col. Kim Nelson and John Lominac applaud after the dedication plaque is unveiled. (Photo by Joel Fortner)

Retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, the first military woman to command an operational fleet squadron, speaks at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., March 30 at the F-14 Tomcat Dedication Ceremony in honor of the late Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the Navy’s first female carrier-based combat fighter pilot who was killed in a crash in October 1994 in the F-14 she was piloting. (Photo by Joel Fortner)
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Retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, the first military woman to command an operational fleet squadron, speaks at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., March 30 at the F-14 Tomcat Dedication Ceremony in honor of the late Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the Navy’s first female carrier-based combat fighter pilot who was killed in a crash in October 1994 in the F-14 she was piloting. (Photo by Joel Fortner)

(Left to right) Navy JROTC Cadet Lieutenant Commander Amber Stocks and Cadet Seaman Apprentice Jane Luca listen to retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, the first military woman to command an operational fleet squadron, speak at Arnold Air Force Base., Tenn., March 30 at the F-14 Tomcat Dedication Ceremony in honor of the late Lt. Kara Hultgreen. Lt. Hultgreen was the Navy’s first female carrier-based combat fighter pilot who was killed in a crash in October 1994 in the F-14 she was piloting. (Photo by Joel Fortner)
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(Left to right) Navy JROTC Cadet Lieutenant Commander Amber Stocks and Cadet Seaman Apprentice Jane Luca listen to retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, the first military woman to command an operational fleet squadron, speak at Arnold Air Force Base., Tenn., March 30 at the F-14 Tomcat Dedication Ceremony in honor of the late Lt. Kara Hultgreen. Lt. Hultgreen was the Navy’s first female carrier-based combat fighter pilot who was killed in a crash in October 1994 in the F-14 she was piloting. (Photo by Joel Fortner)

Navy Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the first Navy's first carrier-based combat fighter pilot, stands in front of an F-14. The lieutenant was killed in a Tomcat crash in 1994. (Courtesy photo)
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Navy Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the first Navy's first carrier-based combat fighter pilot, stands in front of an F-14. The lieutenant was killed in a Tomcat crash in 1994. (Courtesy photo)

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Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. -- In observance of Women's History Month, base officials dedicated the F-14D Tomcat static display aircraft at the main gate Friday, March 30, in honor of a fallen female Navy aviator. 

Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the Navy's first female carrier-based combat fighter pilot, was killed in a crash in October 1994 in the F-14 she was piloting. 

She was assigned to the Black Lions of Fighter Squadron 213 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The F-14 dedicated in her honor was assigned to the same squadron. 

The unit was conducting training operations in preparation for deployment to the Persian Gulf when the crash occurred. The Tomcat she piloted experienced engine failure on final approach and crashed in the Pacific Ocean. Her crewman survived. 

She is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. 

The guest speaker was retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner, the first military woman to command an operational fleet squadron. During her 24 years of military service, Captain Mariner logged more than 3,500 military flight hours in 15 different naval aircraft and made 17 carrier landings.