New Piece Of History In Mobile

By Steve Alexander Reporter

Plane that attacked base in Libya now on display in Battleship Park New Piece Of History In Mobile

Published: Fri, December 14, 2007 - 6:06 pm Last Updated: Fri, December 14, 2007 - 6:15 pm

Steve Alexander

Another piece of American history is now on display at Mobile's Battleship Park.
It's an F/A-18 Hornet aircraft that fired two missiles at radar installations at Benina air base in Benghazi, Libya.
Mike Thompson, Battleship Park's aircraft manager, says the attack was in "retaliation for the bombing of the night club in Berlin that killed some soldiers and wounded a bunch of others."
The Hornet arrived Friday after being towed in from a Navy base near Atlanta.
Park Executive Bill Tunnell said, "This particular plane just became available to us. This plane, a little bit later version, is the same plane the Blue Angels fly."
The new addition comes almost two years after Battleship Park re-opened in the wake of damages suffered in another historical event: Hurricane Katrina.
Tunnell said, "It's been a real struggle. The attendance was down 40 percent the first 12 months. And it's come back up to where we are only down about 25 percent now, so we really need the support of the local community."
After the first of the year, officials say an F-15 Eagle aircraft will be added to the park.