Co-Pilot of United Flight 93 - Leroy Homer
78In memory of LeRoy Wilton Homer Jr.
The First Officer
Little known history fact: LeRoy Wilton Homer, Jr. United Airlines (First Officer) Pilot of ill fated flight 93. LeRoy Homer Jr. survived the Persian Gulf War. He was a 1987 graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He and a brother were the only males out of nine children. The family lived on Long Island in New York. A male bonding event for LeRoy and his father were trips to McArthur Airport Ronkonkoma, NY to watch the planes take off and land. The airport is named for General Douglas MacArthur and is also known locally as Islip Airport. Those trips may have fostered LeRoy Homer’s love of flying. Around age 16, Homer obtained his first pilot’s license. He obtained his private pilot's certificate in 1983.
Air Force Pilot
LeRoy Homer, Jr. served on active duty at the 18th Military Airlift Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. He was within driving distance of where he grew up. During the Gulf War he flew C-141B Starlifters transport planes to the Middle East from European bases. He left active duty as a Captain and joined the Air Force Reserves reaching the rank of Major. In 1995 Homer joined United as a flight engineer and then a first office on Boeing 757’s.
Unsung Heroes
On September 11, 2001 LeRoy Wilton Homer Jr. at the age of 36 died along with 40 crew members and passengers of Flight 93. They courageously took control of their destiny and stopped the hijackers from using the plane to crash into another American building. A permanent memorial of the crash site is due to begin September 11, 2011. On the day he died, LeRoy left behind his wife Melodie who he married in 1998 and a baby girl.
According to the National Park Service responsible for the crash site and future site of the permanent memorial, the National Park Service has gathered oral histories from over 500 families of the passengers and crew, first responders, eyewitnesses, air traffic controllers, and so many more people, including students who were in the Shanksville-Stonycreek School near the crash site that day.
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This article focuses on civilian federal workers who showed up for work, and kept the government going the days after 9-11. There were many civilian and military personnel killed that day as well. There... - Flight 93 Transcript with CARTC - Wikisource
This is a transcription of the recording of the CARTC's conversations surrounding the errant flight, and subsequent discovery of hijacking, of United Airlines Flight 93 as part of the September 11th attacks. It references the announcement of a bomb, - Flight 93 Cockpit Transcript - Wikisource
This is a transcript of a cockpit voice recorder from United Airlines Flight #93, one of four airlines hijacked on 11 September 2001
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Thanks for bringing that to my attention, I had no Idea.
creativeone59
Thank you for your comments. Please pass on the information so others will know. Thanks again.
My prayers go out to this man's family. I can only imagine how hard it has been for them. Thanks for sharing. I also knew nothing about this man, til now.
Like every American on this day , there has certainly been alot of reflection by me and I am sure just about everybody who lived through this day. Thank you for the story of First Officer Leroy Homer . And for putting a name and a face to one of the many I pray for today . Great job on this !
all hopes and memories always go towards all the flight member's who had died on 9/11 and i'll support it all da way......drinks up and solute to all....!
I hope one day his family can read this - a touching memorial for him and all the others who died. Thanks. Jamie.
Thank you all for your warm comments. People give their lives everyday but some of them we will never know by name or face. It's too bad it has to be that way.
Glad to have read this great story of a wonderful man. RIP
It is sad to the point of me wanting to puke that I am just learning about Major Leroy Homer. It is December 24, 2010. All of the web site referrals mysteriously disappeared or are closed. Please, please somebody see that this young man's story be told. My prayers are for all who perished. However, it is sad that 9 yrs have passed and I had never even heard of the co pilot Leroy Homer, Jr.
Yes b.crain it is quite unfortunate that there are omissions in news coverage. Unless individuals take the time to search for information, a lot of information is missed.
Amazing I live in Ny and have never read about LeRoy Homer Jr. - so I thank you for sharing this. We all need to chip in and remember all who was lost on that dreadful day. xoxo
The names of the heroes of 9-11 are read every year. We need to put a person with the name. 10 years and we still don't know the people who died. Thanks wavegirl22 for the comment
Thank you for sharing the courage and dedication of a true hero.
Every life has a story. Every family has a mournful time. Everyone is entitled to be told the true story, we also are included in the heroic fate of our fallen brothers and sisters of this country. It is a shame we had to wait so long to know the role the Tuskegee Airmen played in the 2nd World War. History is all of our story, and as we pass this story on it gives all our children something to hold onto, be proud of and try to emulate. We take great pains in telling about the adverse lifestyles, useless shooting in our cities, drug use, and gang members activities. No death should be desensitized.
Sometime I wonder just how sick America still is.
"God Bless America" I pray He continues to Bless us. Red, WHite, & Blue. My alliance is definitely with
"My country T's of Thee," however I have my doubts of the records kept. Selah!!
There are many stories of brave men and women such as Co- pilot Homer. Thank you for keeping his story alive to bless his family and those of us who care. May his daughter grow up knowing her father was A Brave Hero.
Dr. Joyce Jones thank you for your comment. There are so many unsung heroes who deserve to be known and appreciated. Hopefully we will find more unknowns and bring them into the light.
Has anyone ever uncovered the reason why a white actor was used to play LeRoy Homer in the movie?
Gray Therapy I have lots of personal ideas, but no official explanation. If I find out I'll post. Thanks
Waren E 2 years ago
I think It's terrible that this information on LeRoy Homer is not well known internationally:(
Thank you for this sharing this sensitive hub,God Bless!