I appreciate your e-mail back. I was University of Virginia and intelligence. Not to belabor the point, but you should have the facts on Spike's flight. From the official incident report on Speicher's accident, his flight began at 1:35:39:5 on 17 January (ZULU). Weight off wheels was 1:36:18:44. The mishap was roughly two and a half hours into the flight. The Wetzel/Zaun incident occurred later that day, 17 January, at 2000Z, which would have felt like the next night to those of you on the first strikes, some of which went weight off wheels near midnight on 16 January.
For several years--and to this day--I am a frequent visitor to the U.S. Naval Academy.
I appreciate your response. I salute your goal and wish you best of luck. If it brings some peace to the family then that is good.
Your citing from records, I'm was citing from memory. As you said, it certainly 'felt' like the next night. But again, no point in sea lawyering it.
I will be interested in seeing how this concludes.
Regards