Team Beale remembers one of their own

  • Published
  • By Airman Tristan D. Viglianco
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs

The 9th Reconnaissance Wing held a memorial service here to honor the late Lt. Col. Steve “Shooter” Eadie Sept. 29, 2016.

Eadie was a U-2 Dragon Lady pilot assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron. He passed away after a U-2 incident which occurred near the Sutter Buttes Sept. 20, while on a routine training mission.

Eadie was married to his wife Ashley Eadie for 27 years. He was a father of six children and grandfather to one granddaughter.

Eadie was a 20 year veteran who initially commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy. He was a naval aviator for 13 years flying various aircraft before applying to become a U-2 pilot in the Air Force.

In 2009, Eadie moved to Beale and began training as a U-2 pilot. As a U-2 pilot he went on several deployments. He eventually went on to become an instructor on the U-2 and had a hand in shaping the U-2 training program and its pilots.

“Shooter is irreplaceable,” said Lt. Col. George Adams, 9th Reconnaissance Wing Director of Staff. “He directly impacted those pilots and the missions they preform around the world, but more than that, his positive impact will continue to be felt in the future students they instruct.”

The service concluded when pilots assigned to the 1st RS and the 99th RS preformed a flyover in T-38 Talons. The pilots flew a missing man formation as an aerial salute to Lt. Col Eadie.

“Steve loved his family immensely and he showed it. He set an amazing example,” said Adams. “Those of us fortunate enough to have been his friend will miss him very much.”