Body of man killed in Navy crash arrives in S.D.

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) — The body of a South Dakota native who died when his Navy plane crashed in Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain has arrived in the state in preparation for his funeral.

A funeral service for Lt. Clinton Wermers is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. His body arrived in Sioux Falls on Friday afternoon.

The 33-year-old Wermers was a native of Mitchell. He and a Navy student aviator crashed in a T-34C Turbomentor airplane Jan. 23 while on a landing approach to the New Orleans Lakefront Airport.

A Coast Guard boat crew later rescued the student.

Gov. Mike Rounds has asked that all flags be flown at half-staff Monday in Wermers' honor.

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