Ladies and Gentleman,

My name is Jeff Kruger, brother to fallen US Air Force Captain Paul F. Lorence, who's F-111F bomber was reportedly shot down during the raid on Libya on April 14, 1986 .  To this date, Paul's remains are still in the custody of the Libyan government.  Our family would very much like his remains returned home where they belong.  After almost 20 years, it's long overdue.  Paul was a San Francisco / Bay Area native who graduated from Skyline High School in Oakland and majored in history at San Francisco State University .  Paul was 31 years old when his jet was downed.  Paul left behind a wife and 8 month old son who live in England to this day.

The F-111F contains 2 flight crew, the pilot and the Weapons System Operator (WSO).  Inside this aircraft the pilot and the WSO sit side by side in the cockpit.  The cockpit they sit in is structurally reinforced to withstand high impacts.  This particular mission was designated " Operation El Dorado Canyon ".  Paul Lorence was the WSO and Captain Fernando Ribas-Dominicci was the pilot.  Their airplane's callsign was designated as "Karma-52".  In the early morning hours of April 15, 1986 , Karma-52 was reportedly shot down over the Mediterranean Sea while flying inbound, only a few miles off the coast of Tripoli .  Karma-52 went down fully armed.    

Days after the raid,  Libya claimed publicly to possess bodies affiliated with the fallen aircraft.  Paul's mother and I personally remember watching TV footage during this time of someone in Libya holding up what I remember to be a white helmet with the name "Lorence" stenciled on the back.  In early January 1989, almost 3 years after the raid and under pressure from the US government, Qaddafi reluctantly released one of the bodies, that of Fernando Ribas-Dominicci, to the  Vatican in Rome .  An autopsy conducted in Spain confirmed the cause of death was drowning.  There were no internal injuries or broken bones to his body.  Weeks later, in an interview with Barbara Walters, Qaddafi denied knowing the whereabouts of Paul Lorence. 

In 1995 a book was authored by an individual who claims to have seen not only the wreckage of Karma-52 but the engraved names of Lorence and Ribas-Dominicci on the flight suits and  helmets of BOTH Paul Lorence and Fernando Ribas-Dominicci.  The book is named "Pan Am 103 The Lockerbie Cover Up" authored by William C. Chasey, ISBN 0-9640104-1-0.  Chapter 18 details what Mr. Chasey saw first hand as he and the members of his party toured the Bab Azizzia Barracks in downtown Tripoli and ultimately meet with Qaddafi himself.  Another good reference is "Raid on Qaddafi, the untold story of history's longest fighter mission by the pilots who directed it" by Col. Robert E. Venkus 1992.  ISBN 0-312-07073-X

In summary, our family strongly believes  Libya still has possession of the remains of a US military officer who some may consider to be the first U.S. serviceman to die in the defense against terrorism.  The United States is still at war against terror today.  Let's celebrate the long overdue homecoming of an airman who fought the very first battle!   April 14, 2006  will mark the 20 year anniversary of Paul and Fernando's death in defense of this country.  Fernando was returned home in 1989.  It's long overdue for Paul's return home.

I have been designated by my family as the spokesman for this matter.  Since Paul was from the Bay Area and since most if not all of the local radio and television stations covered this story in 1986, I will be contacting local Bay Area media as well.  The only motive our family has is to bring Paul's remains back to the United States for burial at the Arlington National Cemetery . 

Thank you for your attention in this very important matter.

Jeff Kruger