President Attends Farewell Ceremony for Fallen T-34C Pilots, Awards Commendation to Families

Central News Agency Report (Reporter Hung Hsueh-kuang, Kaohsiung, June 17)

The Republic of China Air Force T-34C trainer aircraft crashed during a training mission on June 2, resulting in the deaths of pilots Kuo Chun-nan and Lu Chi-yu. A joint memorial service was held today at the Air Force Academy in Kaohsiung, attended by President Lai Ching-te and high-ranking military officials. The President personally presented commendation orders and expressed condolences to the families, in a solemn and respectful atmosphere.

The crash occurred 21 minutes after takeoff on the morning of June 2. Following the incident, the military temporarily suspended all training operations for the T-34C fleet under the 'Tianan No. 4' directive to investigate the cause. After completing special inspections, the Air Force resumed flight training on June 13.

The memorial service began at 9 a.m. at the Southern Gymnasium of the Air Force Academy in Gangshan, Kaohsiung. President Lai arrived by special aircraft at Gangshan Air Base and proceeded directly to the memorial hall. A flyover by four trainer aircraft in 'missing man formation' was originally planned to honor the fallen pilots, but was canceled due to thunderstorms and hazardous weather conditions over the military airspace.

The ceremony was attended by numerous high-ranking military and political figures. The military did not publicly release obituaries and significantly heightened security. Attendees included President Lai Ching-te, Defense Minister Ku Yu-chen, Air Force Commander Cheng Jung-feng, Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, all paying their final respects to the two pilots who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

According to military sources speaking to the Central News Agency, the ceremony concluded around 11 a.m. Afterwards, the pilots' families carried their ashes aboard a military aircraft bound for the Air Force Martyrs' Cemetery in Bitan, Xindian, for their final journey. (Edited by Huang Ming-hsi)