April 25, 2024
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Gallery: 40th anniversary of deadly military jet explosion near Woodstock

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Former Wonder Lake Fire Protection District first responder Pete Diedrich on Saturday embraces Brian Nicosia, left, near the scene of a 1982 midair military jet explosion that happened over the small, rural area northeast of Woodstock. Nicosia’s father and 26 others were killed as the plane exploded midair at 9:11 p.m. Diedrich was among the first on the scene, and had the grim task of pulling the deceased crew from the wreckage. Nicosia’s father, Co-pilot Capt. Robert J. Nicosia of Algonquin, was among the crew. In all the years since the explosion, Saturday was the first occasion Diedrich had to visit with any of the crew’s loved ones.

Former Wonder Lake Fire Protection District first responder Pete Diedrich on Saturday embraces Brian Nicosia, left, near the scene of a 1982 midair military jet explosion that happened over the small, rural area northeast of Woodstock. Nicosia’s father and 26 others were killed as the plane exploded midair at 9:11 p.m. Diedrich was among the first on the scene, and had the grim task of pulling the deceased crew from the wreckage. Nicosia’s father, Co-pilot Capt. Robert J. Nicosia of Algonquin, was among the crew. In all the years since the explosion, Saturday was the first occasion Diedrich had to visit with any of the crew’s loved ones. (Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local)