BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – The Maine Army National Guard held a memorial service today to honor the life of Houlton pilot Billy Hogan.
The memorial service took place at around 1 p.m. at the Maine Air Museum.
Billy Hogan was 28 years old when he disappeared during a flight from Danbury, Connecticut to Houlton, Maine in May 1972.
In honor of Billy’s achievements, a memorial stone will be placed in the museum’s memorial path.
Billy’s brother, Jerome Hogan, was presented with a US flag by the National Guard.
The search for Billy Hogan began in 2015 and was organized by Jerome with the help of coordinator Malcolm Brydon and a team of volunteers from across the state.
“I couldn’t believe the overwhelming support for the search for Billy and the Hogan family’s desire for closure,” Brydon said. “Today is a stamp of approval, you know. It shows that the military appreciates Billy’s service and the public appreciates everything Jerome does.”
“He and I were very close. That’s why I do it. I know he would have done it for me. I do it for him and I do it for my youngest brother and my two sisters in Houlton,” says Jerome Hogan. “I started this and I’m not giving up.”
Brydon hopes the event will attract further support for the ongoing search.
Suggestions and tips can be sent to the Facebook page “Hogan’s Citabria”.
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