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

SHELDON J. NORRIS, 2LT, USMC

Sheldon Norris '72 was a "true hulk of a man," according to the Lucky Bag. "Shelly's cheerfulness, sincerely and loyalty are sure to leave an impression as big as the man himself."

On March 27, 1974 he was lost when his TA-4J Skyhawk crashed near Yuma, Arizona while on a training flight. He was posthumously designated a Naval Aviator.

Sheldon was survived by his wife, Suzanne.

http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/SHELDON_J._NORRIS,_2LT,_USMC

ROBERT P. VESSELY, LCDR, USN

LCDR Robert Vessely '72 was lost in a mid-air collision on August 31, 1983. He "always excelled, whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, or at a party." As a midshipman, he was active in the scuba and skydiving clubs; as an officer, he received the distinguished student award at the Naval Test Pilot School.

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and unborn son.

To Honor!