Posted on 09/21/2005 8:01:39 PM PDT by nypokerface
LINCOLN, Neb. - Former Navy pilot Shane Osborn, who became a national hero in 2001 when he guided a damaged surveillance plane to a safe landing on a Chinese island, said Wednesday he will seek the Republican nomination for Nebraska state treasurer.
Osborn had been considering a run for the U.S. Senate but said his wife and two young children weighed on his decision to seek a state office instead.
Osborn, 31, will face Republican Treasurer Ron Ross in the May 2006 primary. There are no other announced candidates.
On April 1, 2001, Osborn was flying over the South China Sea when a Chinese fighter plane got too close and the two aircraft collided. Osborn's plane plunged 7,500 feet before he gained control and landed in Chinese territory.
None of the 24 crew members were hurt, but they were held prisoner for a tense 11 days while the U.S. government worked to persuade the Chinese to free them.
When they returned to American soil, they got a flag-waving welcome in Hawaii from a cheering crowd and a brass band playing "God Bless America."
Osborn said he had no qualms about challenging an incumbent Republican.
"That's the great thing about a democracy: People get a choice," he said.
Osborn graduated from high school in Norfolk and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1996. He moved to Omaha earlier this year after leaving the Navy and works as an aviation insurance broker.
Ross did not immediately return a call seeking comment. He was director of the state Health and Human Services System when then-Gov. Mike Johanns named him in late 2003 to succeed former Treasurer Lorelee Byrd, who quit amid an investigation into financial irregularities in the office.
They didn't necessarily have to commit suicide at sea, but not destroying it on the ground is doubleplusungood IMHO.
What is his stance on New orleans method of escape Row vs. wade
The Chinese pilot that hit him was a reckless idiot named Wong Wey, which caused more than a few chuckles in the aviation community. He was hailed as a Chinese national hero, of course.
I was impressed by this man from NE and his KS copilot who managed to fly and land that crippled ship.
Sorry, but I have very strong feelings about this. I am a former military pilot with lots of flight time in that part of the world. I believe that Osborne should have been court martialed and I've talked to several Navy P-3 pilots who feel the same way. He did a good job of recovering the aircraft - but that's his job - that's why he gets flight pay.
He then failed to exercise leadership as the aircraft commander and turn away from China to protect a highly classified national security asset. There is a good chance he could have flown the aircraft to (a secure airfield), or he could have ditched at sea a long way from China. At the very LEAST he should have torched the airplane after landing.
I guess all the media attention scared the Navy out of a courtmartial, so they gave him a medal instead. Kinda like Tailhook in reverse.
Any relation to Tom Osborne?
I meant he DID NOT ensure the classified documents were all destroyed or disabled-- typo.
I'm personally glad we got PR-32 back and bilked the PRC's bill of a million bucks.
Of course some lefty Dems said the accident was Bush's fault at the time. Just like that submarine that mistakenly crashed into a Japanese research vessel and killed several people. The sub was directly under Bush's control. Ha ha.
Anyway, it looks like he is challenging and incumbent Republican. I wonder what his reasoning is for wanting a fellow party member out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.