The Region - News from July 17, 1986

Military charges were filed against an El Toro Marine aircraft mechanic who allegedly took an unauthorized predawn joy ride in an A-4M jet fighter on July 4 without proper training and without concern for condition of the plane. Lance Cpl. Howard A. Foote Jr., 21, of Los Alamitos, who as a civilian had been a record-breaking glider pilot, also was charged with unlawful entry and wrongfully appropriating government property, the vehicle he allegedly drove to the parked aircraft. In addition, Foote was accused of inflicting minor damage to the jet plane, taking off when the airfield was closed and using the El Toro runway without clearance.