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On Tuesday, April 11th, military and community leaders will gather to dedicate the Martin PM Mariner-5 Memorial at Patrick Air Force Base at 10:00 AM. The Memorial honors the service of the 13 men who lost their lives in a rescue mission supporting the 1945 disappearance of Flight 19.

“I’m pleased to see our community come together to dedicate this memorial which honors the service and courage of the brave Naval officers and crew members who were lost in the line of duty,” said Congressman Bill Posey. “I commend and thank Mike Gaffey and Jon Myhre, along with all those who helped raise the funds for this tribute, for their diligence in assuring that the lives of these heroes who were dispatched years ago on a rescue mission from the Banana River Naval Air Station are memorialized.”

On December 5, 1945, crew members of the Martin PBM-5 Mariner Sea Plane took off from NAS Banana River (now known as Patrick Air Force Base) with a rescue mission to assist their fellow Naval Servicemen in the disappearance of Flight 19. However, they never returned from their mission. After 72 years, these brave heroes will be honored with a memorial paid for through private contributions by members of the NAS Fort Lauderdale Historical Association & Museum.