Plane Raised From Lake Last Year

Residents of the central Minnesota town of Spicer hope to one day build a memorial to honor a National Guard pilot who lost his life in a city lake nearly 50 years ago, and the plane he was flying when the accident occurred.

The Associated Press reports the Spicer city council voted Wednesday to establish a fund to one day build a memorial near Green Lake, where Capt. Richard P. Carey's Cessna L-19 "Birddog" went down in fog one night in 1958. Carey's body was found in the lake two weeks after the accident... but, as Aero-News reported, his plane wasn't found until July 2004, by a local fisherman.

Largely intact, the L-19 was raised from the lake last year... and talk soon started in the town of 1,126 people about creating a memorial to honor the pilot and his aircraft. Volunteers from the local EAA chapter even stepped in and offered to refurbish the wounded Birddog.

Spicer Economic Development Authority director Jean Spaulding told the AP that as of now, no one knows how much the memorial would cost -- but the city may seek grant money from the state as the project progresses. The memorial building would house Carey's restored airplane, as well as historical information, Spaulding added.

The memorial building would be located near the Glacial Lakes State Trail, which is near the accident site. And speaking of the Birddog... residents hope the plane will be restored to flying condition by next year, taking to the skies before it's put on display at the memorial.

Sounds like a very fitting tribute for any fallen pilot.

FMI: www.spicermn.com/