Flight 6 Returns to a Heros Welcome
Just as the sun began to rise in Louisville this morning, IPA Captain Doug Lampe and F/O Matthew Bell completed their long journey home to their families.
A crowd of about 800 people (primarily UPS pilots in full uniform, retired pilots and some spouses, UPS employees and IPA EB and staff members) participated this morning in what was an emotionally wrenching repatriation ceremony inside the UPS hangar in SDF.
As you can imagine, many tears were shed as crewmembers sympathetically and silently stood behind the wives and children of the fallen crew of Flight 6.
IPA members who participated in todays event say they were deeply touched and proud of those who organized and orchestrated the ceremony.
Our men were returned home with the dignity and respect they deserved. I believe Doug and Matt would have been touched and humbled by the outpouring of love and support for them and their families, said one attendee who was moved to tears during the ceremony.
Another IPA member in attendance said, Our boys are back and the Repatriation was very well doneso incredibly poignant and sad. Everyone should be proud and pleased they were brought home in style and grace and class.
As the quiet morning showed signs of first light, the silence was broken by the distant roar and touchdown of a B747-400, the final landing for UPS Flight 6. A few minutes later, the aircraft slowly taxied just to the west of the hangar and was towed in front of the crowd as we watched in silence. Those in attendance waited for what seemed like an eternity for the crew to open the door. The families, who were waiting in silver limousines, were quickly escorted into the aircraft where they were given private time with their loved ones. An overwhelming sense of grief filled the hangar and tears began to fall as we watched the children board the aircraft which was once flown by their fathers.
As they prepared for the disembarkation, the families were escorted from the aircraft, back to the limousines and they were then taken to their seats inside the hangar. In a flawless effort, scores of UPS pilots, in full uniform and white gloves, marched in a military formation and stood by the tail of the plane. The K-Loader was raised to the cargo door and it was opened, signaling all attendees to stand.
The transfer cases which carried Capt. Lampe and F/O Matthew Bell had been carefully draped with American flags and were slowly loaded on the K-Loader, together. In what seemed to be slow motion, we watched as Carry Teams moved the transfer cases off the K-Loader and placed them on the conveyance. Slowly, they were brought front and center where numerous guest speakers offered words of condolence and prayer.
Todays speakers included:
Captain J Barnes, System Chief Pilot
Bob Lekites, Airline President
Kurt Sauder, Minister Southeast Christian Church
David Abney, Chief Operating Officer
Captain Rick Barr, Flight Operations Vice President
Captain Tim Byrd, Assistant Chief Pilot
During the ceremony, IPA President Bob Thrush presented flowers to the mothers of Capt. Lampe and F/O Bell. David Abney presented flowers to the wives of the fallen crewmembers. At the conclusion of the remarks, a bag piper began playing Amazing Grace from behind a curtain. The music grew louder as he approached the audience and the Carry Teams lifted Capt. Lampe and F/O Bells transfer cases to the awaiting hearses.
The music continued for several minutes as the Lampe and Bell families were escorted back into their limousines. Everyone stood in silence, many wiping tears as we watched their departure.
IPA Military Liason Erick Gerdes said that Carry Teams sharing in this solemn honor truly represented everyone in the IPA.
All pilots were represented, including every domicile, fleet and seat when they carried Doug and Matt, said Gerdes.
The Leader for CPT Doug Lampes Carry Team was ANC CPT Bill Mingari. The Carry Team included ONT CPT Marc Wilkins, MIA F/O Joe Elm, SDFZ CPT Mark Donovan, SDF F/O Charles Giles, ONT CPT John Jordan, SDF F/O Jeff Daus, and SDFZ F/O Vander Boudreau.
CPT Lampes Escorts onboard the return home were ANC CPT John Boyd and SDF CPT Duane McClurg.
The Leader for F/O Matt Bells Carry Team was SDF F/O Pat Cochran. This Team included ANC F/O Dana Cooper, ONT F/O John Cooper, ANC F/O Charlie Beery, SDF F/O Geoff Warren, SDF F/O Jeff Hill, ANC CPT Bob Smith, and SDF F/O Neil Campbell.
F/O Bells Escorts onboard the return home were ANC CPT Brian Duffy and SDF F/O Dan Schmidt.
F/O Bell, his Carry Team, and his escorts, at the request of the family to all travel together, joined them aboard a 737 and flew to Eau Claire, Wisconsin completing F/O Bells Dignified Repatriation Transfer ceremony. Upon arrival, they were greeted to an honor guard of more than 25 uniformed UPS pilots and a care team of IPA members who received the transfer case.
IPA CIRP Member Scott Mason said the turnout in Eau Claire was quite remarkable given such short notice.
Our crewmembers were very passionate and made a lot of last minute changes to be able to attend todays ceremony in Wisconsin. It was a tremendous show of support for the families of our fallen crewmembers, said Mason.
He added, UPS did a remarkable job of providing infrastructure and people to make sure we could do the best job possible to honor our fallen crewmembers.
Todays Repatriation Ceremony in SDF was also marked by the wonderful presence of the Honor Flight that stood at attention near CPT Lampe and F/O Bell as they disembarked the B747. Lead by ANC CP Steve Jennings and ANC Co-Domicile representative Iain Stephen, they provided an honor guard representing everyone who flies UPS Aircraft.
Visitation and Funeral information for Capt. Lampe and F/O Bell follows.
(above photos courtesy of UPS)
Obituary for Capt. Doug Lampe/Visitation Sunday, Funeral Monday in SDF
LAMPE, CAPTAIN DOUGLAS E., 48, of Prospect, KY, passed into life eternal on Friday, September 3, 2010 in Dubai.
He was a native of Cincinnati, OH. Douglas was a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL. He was a pilot for United Parcel Service, a member of the Independent Pilots' Association and a member of Southeast Christian Church.
He is survived by his loving wife of 12 years, Cindy; their children, Kelly and Andrew; stepchildren, Lee Childers (Samantha) and Vance Childers; and granddaughter, Alexis. He is also survived by his parents, Wesley and Constance Lampe of Cincinnati; and sister, Laura Richter (Philip) of Columbus, OH.
The family requests that memorial gifts be made either to the Christian Academy English Station Elementary playground project or to the newly-established Doug Lampe Tuition Assistance Fund, which will provide tuition assistance to families of current or prospective Christian Academy students in need.
Visitation will be 2-8 p.m. Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Pearson Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home, 12900 Shelbyville Road. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday, September 27, 2010 at Southeast Christian Church, with burial in Cave Hill Cemetery to follow. (Crewmembers are invited to attend all services.)
Memorial gifts may be mailed to Development Department, Christian Academy of Louisville, 700 South English Station Road, Louisville, KY 40245
Visitation/Funeral Sunday in Eau Claire for F/O Matthew Bell
Visitation for Matthew Bell will be held this Sunday at 1 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. funeral at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 3124 Golf Rd., Eau Claire, WI. Phone 715-832-7832.
Note: Visitation information previously published by UPS was incorrect. The information above is correct.
Crewmembers are encouraged to wear their full uniforms, including blazer and hat.
Discounted rooms are available for those crewmembers who would like to attend tomorrows ceremony or Sundays visitation and funeral.
To reserve a room, call the Hampton Inn Eau Claire, located at 2622 Craig Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701. The phone number is 715-833-0003. Please tell them you are attending the funeral of Matthew Bell.
If you plan to attend the visitation or funeral for Matt Bell, please RSVP with IPA CIRP member Scott Mason at
smason@ipapilot.org <mailto:smason@ipapilot.org> or feel free to call him at 262-745-4233.
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