Eight days in captivity

Rigel Steinnecker sat quietly at the table, hand under his chin, listening intently to a story he was part of 24 years ago but had never heard. It was a story his mother and her fellow aircrew were told to never tell.

On July 12, 1988, the crew’s T-39 was ditched in the South China Sea. The plane was piloted by Lt. Liz Steinnecker, along with Lt. Richard Mauer and Aircraft Mechanic First Class Mike Neel. 

Watch this news clip of ABC News' coverage following the aviators' return. It starts at 1:39 into the video clip.

For the complete story, see the Sept. 20 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe online.