SAN DIEGO — La Jolla resident David Everett hopes people remember his dad.
"Oh, he was a very humble man, very humble," said David. "We weren't overly proud or we didn't go around bragging because it was just part of our life."
David's father, Lou Everett, was a famous test pilot for Ryan Aeronautical who died on April 27, 1965, when David was nine years old.
I met Dave at his La Jolla home where he shared pictures and old newspapers that reported on the tragedy with front page headlines.
"This is the day. 'Ryan's XV-5A Crashes. Evening Tribune,'" said David.
His father was flying at Edwards Air Force base in front of a live crowd.
It was a national news story, but David, his mother and three siblings were among the last to know about the tragedy.
"It was on the news and we didn't watch the news before going to school," said David.
That evening on News 8, Harold Keen, KFMB's anchor, made a long lasting impression on David.
"He did a really, really nice commentary on my dad and he had [known] and had talked to my dad," said David.
David recently reached out to News 8 for footage.
"I think Barbara Nielsen responded to me that weekend," said David.
Barbara, our archives editor, was able to find the film of the crash not seen in more than 50 years.
Lou Everett was an Army Air Corps pilot. After the Korean War, he became a test pilot. He died flying an experimental plane that took off vertically. Since his death, he has missed out on two generations of his family.
Test pilots and aviators like Lou Everett were national heroes.
"This is your dad, and that is Neal Armstrong?" I asked.
"Yeah, isn't that a great picture?" said David. "He was amazing. I wish I could be more like him [my dad]," said David.
It's a chapter in military history David treasures.
"He died with his boots on doing exactly what he wanted to do," said David.
All he asks for in return is for San Diego to remember his father's sacrifice.
"It was a tragic thing that happened to our family, " said David. "We shouldn't forget about it."