Search Continues For Navy Pilots

CORPUS CHRISTI - Navy officials gave an update on the search for that still missing flight Friday.

They identified the crew members as Lt. Bret Travis Miller and Lt. John Joseph Houston.

Lt. Miller is 30 years old and is from East Troy, Wisconsin. He's a pilot and has been with the training squadron at NAS/ Corpus Christi since March 2007.

Lt. Miller graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in September 2001.

His crewmate, 29 year old Lt. John Joseph Houston, is a native of Houston. He's also a pilot and just arrived at NAS/Corpus Christi in February of this year.

Lt. Houston is also a graduate of the Naval Academy in Annapolis. He graduated in August 2002.

No information was released on their marital status or their families. Both men have received several awards from the Navy and Marine Corps and were described as heroes by their commanding officer today. Finding them alive continues to be a priority for the Navy and Coast Guard.

"I can tell you they are both American heroes with combat support experience and their first tours in the navy," Cpt. Dave Price.

The two pilots flight went off the radar 3:30 pm Wednesday afternoon during a routine training mission. Captain Price says the T-34 plane flown by Lt. Miller Lt. Houston is equipped with parachute and survival equipment.

"There is a bail out potential from that particular aircraft. They do have parachutes and carry survival equipment. It's a single engine primary trainer and it's the principal primary trainer in the US Navy Marine Corp.," said Cpt. Price.

The Coast Guard hasn't found any sign of the two men or their plane in the gulf.

"We have not to date found any wreckage. We have to date found really very little in the search area at all. That is why we are continuing to search and will continue to search till we find something," said Cpt. Robert Paulson with the Coast Guard.

But they say they will continue the search for these two men.

MORE FROM KRIS-TV

KRIS-TV Section Front

Body Of One Navy Pilot Recovered Boy Scouts Make Repairs to Columbus Ships CCPD Working To Keep Kids Safe From Sex Offenders On Halloween Search Continues For Navy Pilots Halloween Fun and Safety Islander Women's Cross Country Team Wins 3 Consecutive Titles Battle of the Best Hamilton Stops Into Corpus Christi Montgomery Makes Successful Transition To Scoring Threat Mustangs, Pirates Fighting For The District Crown KRIS-TV Section Front   Add KRIS-TV headlines to your news reader: