(9 Jun 1995) English/Nat
An emotional Captain Scott O'Grady was given a rousing welcome by about 200 pilots, their families and friends at Aviano airbase in Italy Friday, a week after his F-16 was shot down by a Bosnian Serb missile.
Babies in strollers clutched tiny American flags and servicemen and women cheered as the pilot, who was rescued from Bosnia Thursday, arrived at the hangar on this base near the foothills of the Alps.
An American jet-fighter flew low over the base to welcome the returning pilot.
U-S pilots, their families and friends gathered in one of the hangars waving the Stars and Stripes and holding up banners.
As Captain O'Grady entered, the crowd cheered and applauded wildly.
U-S President Bill Clinton has already declared O'Grady and his rescuers "American heroes".
Despite his ordeal, O'Grady appeared fit.
He only sustained superficial injuries and a nights' rest on board the USS Kearsarge had visibly refreshed him.
In a short emotional statement, O'Grady thanked those who had saved him.
SOUNDBITE:
"I thank my family, I thank all my friends, everybody in the United States, all the NATO countries. When I was out there I knew you were all behind me and I knew it. I know that everything that could possibly done was being done. I had no doubt in my mind about that. I have got a lot of respect for everybody who serves in a uniform either in the United States or other NATO countries or allies. I appreciate everything you did to get me back to stand here at Aviano. But at the pointy end of the spear, I would like to thank the people that came in there and risked... They say they just doing their job. They risked their lives to get me out. That is the people on the USS Kearsarge, the men and women of the navy, the marines that came in there and saved me and if you want to find some heroes that is where you should look because those are the biggest heroes in the world, as far as you asked who the hero was."
SUPER CAPTION: Captain Scott F. O'Grady - rescued USAF pilot
After his short statement the pilot left the stage with a large bottle of champagne.
Meanwhile, his "wing man", who flew next to O'Grady when he was shot down, described the strong bonds between the pilots.
SOUNDBITE:
"When he goes down, as flight-lead, your wing man is actually a part of you. You're a teamed element and when you lose your wing man, or he gets shot down, a part of you goes with him and that stays with him the whole time."
SUPER CAPTION: Captain Bob Wright - USAF and O'Grady's wingman
According to the officers at the base, the patrols over Bosnia to enforce the no-fly rule will continue despite the dangers.
No new orders had been given and U-S jets would continue to assist NATO.
SOUNDBITE:
"It has always been dangerous flying over the top of Bosnia-Hercegovina and that is not changed at the result of anything that happened over the last week. It has always been like that and we have tried to take every precaution to protect our aircrews who fly in that environment. There are no assurances from any sides that our aircraft will not be targeted and particularly from the Bosnian Serb side who have actively targeted our aircraft since the beginning of this operation."
SUPER CAPTION: Captain Chuck Ehlert, USAF
Pilots in Aviano believe that Scott O'Grady was shot down in a trap laid by the Bosnian Serbs
SOUNDBITE:
SUPER CAPTION:Captain Chuck Ehlert, USAF
O'Grady is now expected to take a few weeks off, return to the United States and visit his family.
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