DAVID A. KNOTT, LTCOL, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTCOL David Knott '71, USMC was lost on June 19, 1991 when the AH-1 Cobra helicopter he was piloting crashed near Fallbrook, California. The other officer aboard was also killed. David was commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267.

The son of an Air Force officer, David was born in Guam but listed Dover, Delaware as his hometown. At the Naval Academy he was a Mechanical Engineering major and was active in gymnastics, boxing, and football.

David was survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, and at least one sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DAVID_A._KNOTT,_LTCOL,_USMC

RICHARD G. BEEN, LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTjg Richard Been '72, USN was lost on August 25, 1975 when an arresting cable aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42) snapped, sending his F-4 into the sea off the coast of Florida. The radar intercept officer was also killed in the accident; they were members of Fighter Squadron (VF) 101. At the Naval Academy he was a member of the football team for three years, lettering in two of them. He also played rugby and was later named to the Navy Rugby Hall of Fame. In addition, he was a Battalion Commander in the Spring of his 1/c year. Following graduation he remained at the Naval Academy to help coach the offensive line until ordered to flight training. Richard was married in 1973 and designated a Naval Aviator in August 1974. He was survived by his wife, parents, and three sisters.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/RICHARD_G._BEEN,_LTJG,_USN

GUY H. BROWN, LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTjg Guy Brown '72, USN was lost on February 10, 1977 when the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter he was piloting crashed during an at-sea replenishment in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain. Another crewman aboard was also lost. They were members of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 6, stationed aboard USS San Diego (AFS 6), and were replenishing USS Suribachi (AE 21).

From the December 1977 issue of Shipmate:

Born in Texas, he was graduated with the Class of 1972 and proceeded to sea duty in the oiler Hassayampa in Southeast Asia. He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Civil Actions Ribbon with Palm for this tour. Upon his return to the United States he took flight training and was designated naval aviator in May 1974. He thereupon joined Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Six in Norfolk and was serving with this group at the time of his death. He was a helicopter aircraft commander and post-maintenance functional check pilot in the CH-46D aircraft in the squadron and he had been awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon and the Navy Commendation Medal during this period.

He is survived by his widow, Susan L. Brown, a brother and a sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/GUY_H._BROWN,_LTJG,_USN

DENNIS P. O'MALLEY, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Dennis O'Malley '72, USN was lost on May 15, 1977 when the F-4 Phantom II he was aboard crashed into the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to land aboard USS Independence (CV 62). The pilot, Brian Hurst '71, was also killed; they were members of Fighter Squadron (VF) 102, based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

From the October 1977 issue of "Shipmate:"

Appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of New York, he was graduated with the Class of 1972. He was an excellent athlete in many company sports while a midshipman. Upon receiving his commission he reported to the fast combat support ship Detroit prior to taking training as a naval flight officer at Naval Air Station, Pensacola. Navigation and radar intercept training followed at Naval Air Station, Glynco, Georgia, and he received his wings in November 1973. He thereupon reported to Fighter Squadron One Hundred One for replacement training in the F-4 Phantom. Upon completion of training he joined Fighter Squadron One Hundred Two aboard Independence and was with this group when the fatal accident occurred.

He is survived by his widow, Joanne, a son, his parents, four brothers, and a sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DENNIS_P._O%27MALLEY,_LT,_USN

MICHAEL E. HAYES, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Michael Hayes '72, USN was lost on April 26, 1978 when the P-3 Orion patrol pane he was aboard crashed in the Atlantic Ocean near the Azores. A native of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Michael graduated from Central high school in 1968. He was a member of several clubs and societies as well as Vice President of the Concert Band.

At the Naval Academy he was involved with the Brigade Hop Committee, Squash, SCUBA club, and Concert Band. Following graduation, he was stationed aboard a destroyer for two years and had a tour with Fighter Squadron (VF) 213 at Naval Air Station Miramar, California. In 1976 he was designated as a Naval Aviator and later assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 30, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. He was a member of Patrol Squadron (VP) 23, Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine when he and his crew were killed.

Michael was survived by his wife, Karen, also of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and his parents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/MICHAEL_E._HAYES,_LT,_USN

WILLIAM D. BLANTON, JR., LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT William Blanton, Jr. '72, USN was lost on November 2, 1978 when the S-3A Viking aircraft he was aboard crashed near Cubi Point Naval Air Station, Philippines shortly after takeoff. He was the co-pilot; the other three crew members, including Randy Mikal '74, were also killed.

William was born and raised in Wallingford, Pennsylvania. Following graduation from the Naval Academy he served aboard USS Turner Joy (DD 951) off the coast of Vietnam prior to flight training. After he was winged he served in the San Diego area with Air Anti-Submarine Squadron (VS) 37 for about three years.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/WILLIAM_D._BLANTON,_JR.,_LT,_USN

DAN A. DAVIS, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Dan Davis '72, USN was lost on March 10, 1980 when the S-3 Viking jet he was aboard crashed into the ocean off San Clemente Island, California.

From Shipmate:

Appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Pennsylvania, he had attended Indiana College in Pennsylvania prior to receiving his appointment, and he was president of the Masqueraders during his first class year. Upon graduation with the Class of 1972 he was ordered to flight training in Pensacola and designated naval aviator. He later was a flight instructor at the Kingsville, Texas, Air Station for three years, and he also earned a master's degree in business administration at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Prior to reporting to duty in California he was director of the drug and alcohol rehabilitation program at the Naval Air Center in Patuxent, then was assigned to Air Anti-Submarine Squadron FORTY-ONE at North Island, with which unit he was serving at the time of his death.

He is survived by his widow Jean, of Annapolis MD; a son and a daughter; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Davis, Lewisburg PA, and a brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DAN_A._DAVIS,_LT,_USN

KENNETH J. WESSEL, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LCDR Kenneth Wessel '72, USN was lost on October 7, 1952 when the UH-1 Huey helicopter he was piloting crashed off the coast of Virginia Beach. Three others escaped. He was serving as the aircraft handling officer aboard USS Inchon (LPH 12) at the time of the crash.

A native of Alexandria, Virginia, he served on a surface ship for a time before attending flight training. He was survived by his wife, three children, parents, four brothers, and a sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/KENNETH_J._WESSEL,_LCDR,_USN

GREGORY B. LANE, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LCDR Gregory Lane '72, USN was lost on June 3, 1985 when the A-7 Corsair II he was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. He was a member of Attack Squadron (VA) 83.

From the November 1985 issue of "Shipmate":

Born in Cairo, Georgia, he was appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Georgia and graduated with the Class of 1972.

Upon graduation, he served in USS Biddle (DLG-34) in the Western Pacific. He underwent flight training and was qualified as a Naval Aviator and subsequently served with VA-174 and VA-87. His awards included the Navy Commendation Medal.

At some point he was also an exchange pilot with the United Kingdom, flying the AV-8A Harrier with the Royal Air Force.

He was survived by his wife, father, brother, sister, and maternal grandparents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/GREGORY_B._LANE,_LCDR,_USN

DAVID R. VAUGHN, CDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

CDR David Vaughn '72, USN was lost on December 5, 1986 when the A-6E Intruder he was piloting crashed near the Boardman Navy Range in Oregon. The bombardier/navigator aboard was also killed. They were members of Attack Squadron (VA) 128, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

From the April 1987 issue of "Shipmate":

Cdr. Vaughn was born in Beckley, West Virginia on 5 June 1950. He entered the Naval Academy from the State of Ohio; he spent all four of his Academy years in the 11th Company. Upon graduation in June 1972, he was granted a BS in Aerospace Engineering and served in USS WAINWRIGHT (DLG-28) before reporting to Naval Aviation Schools Command at NAS Pensacola the following February.

Receiving his wings in February 1975, he remained in Kingsville, Texas, as a flight instructor until December 1976. He then proceeded to VA-128 at Whidbey Island and qualified in the A-6 Intruder. Cdr. Vaughn then reported to the Knightriders of VA-52, completing two deployments aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63). In April 1980, he reported to Naval Programs, Grumman Aerospace Corporation in Bethpage, New York, where he served as a test and acceptance pilot for A-6 and EA-6B aircraft. In August 1983, he reported to the boomers of VA-165 and completed deployments aboard USS RANGER (CV-61) and USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63). In February 1986, he reported to the Golden Intruders of VA-128, where he headed A-6 maintenance training as Framp Officer.

Commander Vaughn is survived by his wife of fifteen years, Linda, and their four children, Jennifer (12), James (10), Jessica (6), and Jared (5), of Oak Harbor, Wash.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DAVID_R._VAUGHN,_CDR,_USN

PHILIP F. PALMATIER, JR., CDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

CDR Philip Palmatier, Jr. '72, USN was lost on December 10, 1990 when the TA-4J jet he was piloting collided with another approximately 85 miles northwest of Key West, Florida. He was the commanding officer of Training Squadron (VT) 25.

Philip only wanted to fly; even in high school he was nicknamed "Jet." After earning his wings in 1974 he went on to accumulate more than 4,000 hours of flight time and more than 600 carrier landings, mostly in A-6 Intruders. Both his father and uncle were retired Naval Aviators.

The Commander Philip F. “Jet” Palmatier Jr. Memorial Bridge on Avenue A over the Allegheny River in Coudersport Borough, PA was dedicated on August 18, 2018.

He was survived by his parents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/PHILIP_F._PALMATIER,_JR.,_CDR,_USN

FREDERICK R. MINIER, ENS, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

ENS Frederick Minier '73, USN was lost on May 30, 1975 while diving next to his ship, USS Sampson (DDG 10), at Taormina, Sicily. While conducting an underwater inspection of the ship’s hull, another officer was caught in the forward main condenser intake. Frederick succeeded in freeing him, but became stuck himself. A third diver attempted to rescue Frederick, but Frederick instead activated the other man's flotation device. He was survived by his parents -- coincidentally stationed with the State Department in Sampson's home port of Athens, Greece -- and his sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/FREDERICK_R._MINIER,_ENS,_USN

BRIAN L. CARDIFF, LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTjg Brian Cardiff '73, USN was lost on June 25, 1975 when the A-6E Intruder he was aboard collided with another aircraft near USS Forrestal (CV 59) in the western Mediterranean Sea. The other crew of both aircraft survived the incident, but Brian was lost at sea. He was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio; unsurprisingly, he was a huge Ohio State Buckeyes football fan. He was survived by his parents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/BRIAN_L._CARDIFF,_LTJG,_USN

FREDERICK W. CAESAR, III, LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LTjg Frederick Caesar, III '73, USN was lost on January 20, 1977 when the Coast Guard HH-52 Seaguard helicopter he was piloting crashed into the Illinois River after striking electrical transmission wires while on an aerial ice patrol. He was assigned to the Coast Guard as an exchange officer, flying from Glenview Naval Air Station near Chicago. A native of Clark, New Jersey, he played on his high school's soccer team as well as being involved in several different clubs. "Rick" was survived by his parents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/FREDERICK_W._CAESAR,_III,_LTJG,_USN

RANDY J. RICKEY, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Randy Rickey '73, USN was lost on October 16, 1977 after he ejected from his A-4 Skyhawk while on approach to Cubi Point Naval Air Station, Phillippines. He was born in Ohio but grew up in Pinellas Park, Florida. Randy was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, three bothers, and a sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/RANDY_J._RICKEY,_LT,_USN

JAMES B. BROWN, JR., LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT James Brown, Jr. '73, USN was lost on November 28, 1979 when the EA-6B Prowler he was aboard crashed into the Indian Ocean during a training flight. He was a member of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, operating from USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Three others were killed, including the squadron's commanding officer, CDR Peter Rodrick '64, USN.

James graduated North Kingston High School, Rhode Island, where he was on the staff of the yearbook and member of the baseball and cross country teams.

No information on survivors has been located. He has a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JAMES_B._BROWN,_JR.,_LT,_USN

JAMES C. RADNEY, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LCDR James Radney '73, USN was lost on September 28, 1982 when the SH-2F Seasprite helicopter he was piloting News-Press crashed near Fort Myers, Florida. The other men aboard were injured but survived.

From Shipmate:

Appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Texas, he was an active member of the 150 lb. football team and served as Twelfth Company commander before graduation with the Class of 1973. His academic excellence as a midshipman resulted in his assignment immediately after graduation to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, where he received a master of science degree in oceanography in 1974.

Prior to flight training, he served on board USS KENNEDY (CV-67) as engineering officer and was qualified as both engineering officer and surface warfare officer. He also had the distinction of qualifying in two warfare specialties with his designation as a naval aviator in July 1979. He was assigned to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light THIRTY-SIX (HSL-36), where he served as a helicopter aircraft commander and officer-in- charge of Det 5 at the time of his death. He had been officer-in-charge of HSL-36 detachments aboard USS JOHN HANCOCK (DD98-I), USS PHARRIS (FF-I094) and USS NICHOLSON (DD-982), and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for his role in special operations conducted while aboard PHARRIS. He was in receipt of orders to be flag lieutenant for Commander Naval Forces Caribbean at the time of his death. He was a member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association.

He is survived by his widow Cindy Salcher and son Derek Emerson, of Neptune Beach FL; his parents, Ridgley Dexter, a former Navy pilot, and Jo Ann; a brother Larry, a former Navy dentist, and sister Kelly.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JAMES_C._RADNEY,_LCDR,_USN

DEREK E. HOLMQUIST, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LCDR Derek Holmquist '73, USN was lost on April 1, 1985 when the A-6 Intruder he was piloting crashed in Panama during a training mission. The bombardier/navigator, LT Glenn Ziegler '81, USN, was also killed.

Derek graduated from high school in McLean, Virginia, where he was active in several clubs and societies, and a member of the football, wrestling, and track teams. At the Naval Academy he was on the rugby team.

He was survived by his wife, daughter, son, and parents (Carl '43 and Lavinia).

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DEREK_E._HOLMQUIST,_LCDR,_USN

ROBERT K. CHRISTENSEN, CDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

CDR Robert Christensen '73, USN was lost when the F/A-18 he was piloting crashed off the coast of Vieques on the night of July 24, 1992. He was the commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37 and was flying from USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). A native of North Babylon, New York, Robert earned his wings in December 1974.

His first operational tour was flying an A-7 Corsair II. In 1978 he began a tour as flight instructor and landing signals officer. In 1985 he was a semi-finalist pilot for NASA's astronaut group 11. He transitioned to the F/A-18 in 1991 when the squadron was re-equipped and re-designated. He had over 4,800 flight hours in 34 different aircraft, and over 900 traps on 15 different carriers.

Robert was survived by his parents.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/ROBERT_K._CHRISTENSEN,_CDR,_USN

THOMAS J. EVANS, CAPT, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

CAPT Thomas Evans '74, USMC was lost on April 6, 1977 when the AV-8 Harrier "jump jet" he was piloting crashed at Beaufort, South Carolina.

From the Lucky Bag:

Becoming a member of Mother B’s Mickey Mouse Club after spending most of his life in Ramsey, N.J., T.J. had hopes of playing ball for Navy. After trying out for basketball and baseball and becoming an instant success in neither of them, his interests quickly changed to that of survival, as he sweated through plebe year. This attitude was soon changed due mainly to two months spent on an LPD and his love for the parties and card games. Life became bearable at good ol’ USNA, thanks given mainly to a close knit group of friends and a long string of luck at the Friday night get togethers that paid for those long distance phone calls to his OAO in Florida. Forsaking Navy Air to become a member of the men in green, T has hopes that this will better his chances for flying the plane of his choice.

Thomas was a native of Ramsey, New Jersey; in high school he was co-captain of both the basketball and baseball teams. He was married following graduation, and was also survived by a two-year-old son, his parents, and brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/THOMAS_J._EVANS,_CAPT,_USMC