LeRoy W. Homer Jr.

LeRoy W. Homer Jr.
Name	LeRoy W. Homer Jr.
Birth date	November 10, 1963
Birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death date	September 11, 2001
Death place	Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Pilot
Alma mater	United States Air Force Academy
Rank	Captain
Awards	Purple Heart (posthumous)

LeRoy W. Homer Jr. was an American aviator and United Airlines pilot who served as First Officer on United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and United States Air Force officer, he transitioned to a career with United Airlines and was among the passengers and crew who resisted the hijackings on September 11, 2001. His actions and legacy have been commemorated by numerous memorials and honors across the United States.

Early life and education

Homer was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania and Newark, New Jersey. He attended Lafayette College preparatory programs and completed secondary education at local schools before receiving an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the Academy he studied subjects leading to a commission as a United States Air Force officer and trained alongside classmates destined for service in units such as the United States Air Force Air Combat Command and the United States Air Force Reserve. He completed flight training programs that connect to bases like Sheppard Air Force Base and Columbus Air Force Base.

Military and civilian aviation career

After commissioning from the United States Air Force Academy, Homer served as an officer and pilot, assigned to operational units that have histories tied to the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the C-141 Starlifter communities. He attended advanced training at institutions such as the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and completed flight instructor duties reminiscent of roles at Vance Air Force Base or Randolph Air Force Base. Transitioning from active duty, he entered the civilian aviation sector, where pilots often move between carriers like United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and international carriers such as British Airways and Lufthansa. Homer accumulated flight hours on turbine aircraft similar to types operated by flag carriers and regional operators, integrating procedures aligned with the Federal Aviation Administration and Air Line Pilots Association standards.

United Airlines career

Homer joined United Airlines as a pilot and progressed through ranks typical within major U.S. carriers, operating aircraft types comparable to the Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 737, and other models from manufacturers like Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. He flew routes within networks spanning hubs such as Newark Liberty International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. As First Officer, he worked with captains and crew organized under United Airlines Flight Operations and subject to regulatory oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration and carrier protocols influenced by groups like the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and associations such as the Air Transport Association.

September 11, 2001 and Flight 93

On September 11, 2001, Homer served as First Officer on United Airlines Flight 93, a scheduled departure from Newark Liberty International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. Flight 93 became one of four airliners hijacked in coordinated attacks executed by operatives affiliated with al-Qaeda and planners such as Osama bin Laden and conspirators linked to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. During the hijacking, passengers and crew organized a counterassault informed by communications with relatives and authorities at facilities including New York City, The Pentagon, and Air Traffic Control centers. Flight 93 ultimately crashed in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew attempted to regain control, preventing the aircraft from reaching reported targets in Washington, D.C. such as United States Capitol or The White House. The event is central to accounts alongside incidents at American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, and American Airlines Flight 77.

Honors and memorials

Homer received posthumous recognitions including awards presented by organizations like the United States Congress and acknowledgments from aviation bodies such as the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). His name is inscribed on national memorials including the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, and local commemorations at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Memorial services and dedications invoking federal and state entities featured participants from the United States Air Force, United Airlines, and civic leaders from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Scholarships and endowments in his honor have been established by institutions like the United States Air Force Academy association networks and alumni groups, while museums and exhibits referencing the September 11 attacks and aviation security display artifacts and educational materials in venues such as the National Air and Space Museum and regional historical societies.

Personal life and legacy

Homer was married and maintained family ties in the Northeast United States, with relatives and friends connected to communities in Philadelphia and surrounding counties. His legacy is frequently cited in discussions by organizations including United Airlines, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Victims of Terrorism Advocacy Groups, and commemorative efforts by civic organizations across the United States. His story appears in books, documentaries, and congressional statements alongside figures and authors who have chronicled the September 11 attacks and the responses by first responders, lawmakers, and communities such as those in Somerset County, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.. His memory endures in annual observances on Patriot Day and in educational programs addressing aviation security and emergency response.

Category:1963 births Category:2001 deaths Category:Victims of the September 11 attacks Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni Category:United Airlines people