Body of Leominster Marine killed in Norway helicopter crash returns home Saturday
A Leominster Marine killed last month in a helicopter training drill in Norway will be honored today with a procession and a vigil as his body returns to his hometown.
The body of Capt. Ross Reynolds is expected to arrive between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday after being flown to Logan International Airport in Boston, according to the Leominster Department of Veterans’ Services.
A candlelight vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Leominster City Hall, where a public wake will be held on Monday afternoon. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Cecilia’s Church on Tuesday morning and will be broadcast live at city hall. Reynolds’ burial at the Massachusetts Memorial Veterans’ Cemetery in Winchendon will be private.
The 27-year-old pilot joined the Marines in 2017 and was one of four Marines killed when their aircraft crashed during a NATO drill on March 18 in Norway.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but Norwegian police reported bad weather in that part of the Arctic Circle.
All of the men were assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at the Marine Corps Air Station in New River, N.C.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.