Missing Florida Pilot To Remain Listed As Missing

Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher's plane was shot down on the first night of the Gulf War. He was initially called the war's first casualty, but Speicher's remains were never found.

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG
Published: March 10, 2009

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Navy says a U.S. fighter pilot from
Florida lost nearly 20 years ago in the Persian Gulf War will
continue to be listed as missing.
Navy officials informed lawmakers and Capt. Michael "Scott"
Speicher's family of Navy Secretary Donald Winter's decision
Tuesday morning.
Speicher, from outside of Jacksonville, was initially declared
killed when his FA-18 Hornet was shot down on the first night of
the Gulf War in 1991.
Dick Cheney, then the defense secretary, went on television and
announced the U.S. had suffered its first casualty.
Speicher's remains were never found, and the Navy later changed
his status to missing.
Speicher's family has pressed to continue searching and feared
the Pentagon was preparing to declare him killed.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)