If you have a chance, watch the video on the webpage below. It's a nice tribute to a hero who saved his crew. The E-2 community is a small one and although Glenn and I didn't personally know LT Zilberman, we know many people did. We're all thinking about our Bluetail family today.
Memorial service held for E-2C aviator
Lt. Miroslav Steven Zilberman died in March crash
Updated: Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 5:17 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 9:17 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 9:17 AM EDT
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The Navy held a private memorial service Thursday morning at the Naval Station Norfolk Chapel for Lt. Miroslav Steven Zilberman.
Zilberman, 31, of Columbus, Ohio, was killed in the crash of an E-2C Hawkeye aircraft on March 31st in the North Arabian Sea.
The aircraft, assigned to Norfolk-based Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Bluetails," was returning to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) following a mission over Afghanistan when the crash occurred.
It was learned at the memorial service that the starboard engine on the plane developed problems and had to be shut down.
According to the Navy, the propeller failed to feather or turn freely in the wind after the shutdown, causing unequal thrust on each wing. As a result, the plane began a descent that could not be corrected.
With the auto-pilot incapable of holding the aircraft, Lt. Zilberman ordered his crew to bailout. He stayed at the controls, allowing his three fellow crewmates to successfully exit the plane. The three were recovered uninjured.
Following an extensive three-day search involving several ships and aircraft, LT Zilberman was declared deceased.
The Navy posthumously awarded Zilberman the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary heroism."
He leaves behind a wife and two small children.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Zilberman, 31, of Columbus, Ohio, was killed in the crash of an E-2C Hawkeye aircraft on March 31st in the North Arabian Sea.
The aircraft, assigned to Norfolk-based Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Bluetails," was returning to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) following a mission over Afghanistan when the crash occurred.
It was learned at the memorial service that the starboard engine on the plane developed problems and had to be shut down.
According to the Navy, the propeller failed to feather or turn freely in the wind after the shutdown, causing unequal thrust on each wing. As a result, the plane began a descent that could not be corrected.
With the auto-pilot incapable of holding the aircraft, Lt. Zilberman ordered his crew to bailout. He stayed at the controls, allowing his three fellow crewmates to successfully exit the plane. The three were recovered uninjured.
Following an extensive three-day search involving several ships and aircraft, LT Zilberman was declared deceased.
The Navy posthumously awarded Zilberman the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary heroism."
He leaves behind a wife and two small children.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
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