Fallen Iceman honored in dedication ceremony

  • Published
  • By compiled by staff reports
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Personnel from the 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron will hold a dedication ceremony April 23 in the squadron's main conference room.

The ceremony dedicates the conference room to Maj. Jonathan "Cosmo" Scheer, who died in an A-10 crash in 2004. Major Scheer's parents will make the trip to Alaska to attend the ceremony.

While training for an upcoming deployment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Major Scheer was leading a four-ship night vision goggle upgrade mission the night of Feb. 25.

Just after taking off from Eielson, Major Scheer's aircraft crashed.

"The idea for naming the 354th AMXS conference room in honor of Major Scheer was born within the mind of the previous 354th AMXS commander, Maj. Timothy Kirk, a close friend to Major Scheer," said Ms. Chalmarie Bridges, 354th AMXS commander's secretary.

A specially framed photo of Major Scheer was originally placed in the squadron's conference room along with an above-the-door sign unofficially designating it as the Scheer Conference Room.

"From there, the idea has grown into an official Air Force memorialization of the room, built upon by our current commander, Lt. Col. Rick Petito," said Ms. Bridges.

After the ceremony, the room will additionally adorn a hand-painted canvas of Major Scheer's jet and a 3-D model of his A-10 to accompany his photo, along with specially arranged fixed lighting.

"Our Iceman family lost a greatly respected and admired teacher, friend, Airman, and warrior who immeasurably touched our family," she said. "Major Scheer will be forever remembered by those who had the opportunity to meet him, befriend him, and be family to him. For those people who did not have the chance to meet "Cosmo," they at least will get to know of the awesome aviator who brightened the world for a time with his presence. Major Scheer made the ultimate sacrifice to his country and the 354th AMXS takes great pride in memorializing a room in his honor," she said.

Outside of the doorway to the conference room will be a specially-cast bronze plaque with an inscription dedicated to Major Scheer.

Major Scheer entered the Air Force in 1995 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering.

He later graduated from EURO-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, with orders in hand to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

Major Scheer's performance earned his selection as one of only three A-10 pilots in the world to attend the Air Force Weapons Instructor Course.

Upon graduating pilot training in 1996 from Sheppard AFB, Major Scheer was assigned to Osan AB, Korea, and in 1998, he was reassigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron at Pope AFB, North Carolina.

In 2001, Major Scheer took another assignment to Osan, this time as the 25th Fighter Squadron's Weapons Officer. In February of 2003, he was assigned as an "Arctic Hawg" weapons officer with the 355th Fighter Squadron at Eielson, and in 2004, he joined the 354th Operations Support Squadron as the Wing Weapons Officer.

Major Scheer was a senior pilot with 1,882 flying hours in the A-10; having flown 23 combat and 18 combat support sorties during Operations ALLIED FORCE and SOUTHERN WATCH.