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UNDER THE C OL ORS

Us Navy Conducts First-Ever All-Female Flyover
To Honor Female Naval Aviation Pioneer

NORFOLK, Va. - To honor
the life and legacy of a female
pioneer in Naval aviation, the
U.S. Navy conducted the first
ever all-female flyover, Sat-
urday, Feb. 2 in Maynardville,
Tennessee. Officially referred to
as a “Missing Man Flyover,” the
tribute was a part of the funeral
service for retired Navy Captain,
Rosemary Mariner, who passed
away on Jan. 24 following
a long and brave fight with
cancer.
After completing flight
training in 1974, Mariner was
designated a naval aviator and
received her Wings of Gold to
became the Navy’s first female
jet pilot, flying the A-4E/L
“Skyhawk” and the A-7E “Corsair
II”. She also was the first female
military aviator to achieve
command of an operational air
squadron. During Operation Naval aviators participating in a flyover to honor the life and legacy of retired Navy Capt. Rosemary Mariner
Desert Storm, Mariner com- pose for a photo in a hangar bay at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Jan. 31, 2019. The
manded Tactical Electronic U.S. Navy is scheduled to conduct the first ever all-female flyover Feb. 2 in Maynardville, Tennessee as part of
Warfare Squadron Thirty-Four the funeral service for Mariner, a female Naval aviation pioneer. Back row, from left to right: Lt. Christy Talisse,
(VAQ-34). In 1982, she reached Lt. Emily Rixey, Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Hesling, Lt. Kelly Harris, Lt. Amanda Lee. Front row from left to right: Lt. Cmdr.
yet another milestone by Danielle Thiriot, Cmdr. Stacy Uttecht, Cmdr. Leslie Mintz, and Lt. Cmdr. Paige Blok. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass
being among the first females Communication Specialist 3rd Class Raymond Maddocks/Released)
to serve aboard a U.S. Navy
warship, USS Lexington, and
qualifying as a Surface Warfare
Officer. The maneuver features four The participants were:
Mariner retired from the U.S. aircraft flying above the funeral
Navy in 1997 after obtaining service in formation as one of • Cmdr. Stacy Uttecht, Commanding Officer, Strike Fighter
the rank of Captain and logging the aircraft leaves the formation Squadron Thirty-Two (VFA-32)
seventeen carrier arrested land- and climbs vertically into the • Cmdr. Leslie Mintz, Executive Officer, VFA-213
ings, or “traps,” and completing heavens. • Lt. Cmdr. Paige Bloc, VFA-32
over 3,500 flight hours in fifteen All of the aviators that • Lt. Cmdr. Danielle Thiriot, VFA-106
different aircraft. participated in the flyover are
The Missing Man Flyover is from squadrons based at Naval • Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Hesling, NAS Oceana
a special tribute honoring the Air Station (NAS) Oceana and • Lt. Christy Talisse, VFA-211
service of aviators who have were flying F/A-18E/F “Super • Lt. Amanda Lee, VFA-81
died serving their country. Hornets.” • Lt. Emily Rixey, Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic
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