Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci

Major Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci[note 1] (June 24, 1952 – April 15, 1986), was an F-111F pilot in the United States Air Force. He was killed in action during Operation El Dorado Canyon, the April 15, 1986, U.S. air raid on Libya.

Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci
Born(1952-06-24)June 24, 1952
Utuado, Puerto Rico
DiedApril 15, 1986(1986-04-15) (aged 33)
Gulf of Sidra
Place of burial
San Andres Cemetery
Utuado, Puerto Rico
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1975–1986
Rank Major
Unit48th Tactical Fighter Wing
Battles/warsOperation El Dorado Canyon  †
AwardsPurple Heart
Air Force Commendation Medal

Early years

Ribas-Dominicci was born in the town of Utuado, in the mountains of Puerto Rico where he received his primary and secondary education. As a child, he had always dreamed of becoming a pilot and after he graduated from high school, he entered the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez where he earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering. As a student in the university, he was a member of the campus' ROTC program and upon graduation was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.[1]

Military career

Ribas-Dominicci was assigned to Cannon Air Force Base, in New Mexico, where he received advanced training as a General Dynamics F-111 combat pilot. By 1983, Ribas-Dominicci was a captain and the recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal. In 1985, he completed his master's degree in aeronautical science at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States.[1]

Operation El Dorado Canyon
See also: 1986 United States bombing of Libya

On April 15, 1986, in response to acts of terrorism sponsored by Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, the United States attacked key terrorist training facilities in Tripoli, Libya, using 18 USAF F-111F fighter-bombers and 5 EF-111A radar jamming aircraft from bases in England. The attack was code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon.[2] This was part of a joint strike mission in coordination with US Navy aircraft which struck targets in Behghazi, Libya, at the same time. Major Ribas-Dominicci was one of the pilots who participated in the air raid as member of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. His F-111F was shot down in action over the disputed Gulf of Sidra off the Libyan coast. Ribas-Dominicci and his weapon systems officer, Captain Paul F. Lorence, were the only U.S. casualties of the mission.[1][2]

Aftermath

On December 25, 1988, after years of denying that they had the bodies of the two crew members, Gaddafi offered to release the body of Lorence to his family through Pope John Paul II. The body recovered and thought to be that of Lorence was actually that of then-Captain Fernando L. Ribas-Domminici, which was identified by dental records and returned in 1989.[3]

The Libyan government has denied that it holds Lorence's remains and the U.S government does not believe that they are hiding anything.[4] Major Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci's remains are buried in his hometown of Utuado.

Honors and legacy

Both men's names are engraved in the F-111 "Vark" Memorial Park located in Clovis, New Mexico. Ribas-Dominicci was awarded the Purple Heart and posthumously promoted to the rank of major, effective April 15, 1986.[5]

To honor his memory, the Government of Puerto Rico renamed the Isla Grande Airport in San Juan to Fernando Ribas Dominicci Airport.[6] The City of Utuado honored the pilot by naming a main avenue as Fernando Ribas-Dominicci Avenue. A monument in Ribas-Dominicci's honor, simulating an F-111, has been placed at the entrance of Utuado. Ribas-Dominicci's name is engraved in El Monumento de la Recordación (Spanish: Monument of Remembrance) dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Awards and decorations

Among Major Ribas-Dominicci's military decorations were the following:

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Badge Aviator Wings
1st Row Purple Heart
2nd Row Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal Air Force Commendation Medal
3rd Row Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal
4th Row Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon Air Force Longevity Service Award
5th Row Combat Readiness Medal
w/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster		 Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon

Notes
  1. In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ribas and the second or maternal family name is Dominicci.

See also

References
  1. "El Dorado Canyon Memorial site". United States Government. Archived from the original on October 21, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  2. William R. Doerner; David Halevy; Bruce van Voorst (April 28, 1986). "In the Dead of the Night". Time. Archived from the original on December 6, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  3. Burns, Robert. "General: U.S. seeks relations with Liby". POW Network. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  4. "Bombing of Libya (1986)". Scribd. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  5. "F-111 Aardvark Memorial". Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  6. "Fernando Ribas Dominicci Airport". Retrieved October 31, 2011.

Further reading
  • Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own; by Greg Boudonck; ISBN 978-1497421837
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