New group to promote R.I. textile industry Pilot shot down over Vietnam to be buried in Rhode Island
Providence (AP) — An industry group is being launched to promote textile manufacturing in Rhode Island.
Members of the state’s congressional delegation plan to meet Monday with industry leaders at the historic Slater Mill in Pawtucket to officially kick off the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and the University of Rhode Island Business Engagement Center first came up with the idea for the network in 2016. They wanted to foster collaboration among textile industry leaders, academia and government.
The new network has since received funding.
Providence (AP) — A U.S. Air Force pilot whose plane was shot down over Vietnam more than half a century ago will be buried will full military honors in Rhode Island.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency says Col. Frederic Mellor, a Cranston native, will be buried Friday at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter.
Mellor was accounted for in July after the government of Vietnam returned his remains.
The 30-year-old was on a mission to conduct photo and visual reconnaissance of a suspected surface-to-air missile site on Aug. 13. 1965 when he was shot down.
According to the Pentagon, Mellor survived his ejection and then attempted to evade the enemy.
Initial radio contact was established and later lost. Despite a two-day search, neither Mellor nor his aircraft were found.