USS Midway (CVA-41) 3rd VIETNAM COMBAT CRUISE, AWARDS AND CASUALTY REPORTS - 9th WestPac” Deployment (10 April 1972 to 8 March 1973)
CHAPTER XXVI
APPENDIX IV
USS Midway (CVA-41) Air Wing: Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW)-5
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DEPLOY.
DATES
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K
I
A
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M
I
A
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P
O
W
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PLANES LOST
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LINE DAYS
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LINE PERIODS
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WESTPAC
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CVW-5 (NF)
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9
4 Died
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11
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6
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25
3 Major damage
1 Minor damage
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264
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9
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9th WestPac 9th SCS
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Air Combat Victories: (9) - Two MIG 19's and two 2 MIG 17's were shot down by VF-l6l ROCKRIVER aircraft on 18 and 23 May 1972, respectively, with both engagements in the vicinity of Kep airfield. (1st to 2nd) Two MIG 19’s downed by Rockriver 110 (VF-161) on 18 May 1972. (3rd & 4th) Two MIG 17’s downed by Rockriver 100 (VF-161) on 23 May 1972. (5) “On 12 January 1973, a Midway F-4J, flown by Lt. Vic Kovaleska and R.I.O. Lt. Jim Wise, shot down the last MIG and the last aerial kill of the Vietnam War, when a Sidewinder missile brought down a North Vietnamese MiG-17. Navy and Marine Corps fighter and attack pilots bagged a total of 58 MiG-series fighters plus two An-2 biplane transports” (Ref. 1081O & 1083).
Combat Losses: (14) - (1st) A7B Champion 411 downed by enemy fire (VA-56) on 19 May 1972. (2nd) A7B Ravenjet 302 downed (VA-56) on 23 May 1972. (3rd) RF8G BABY GIANT 601 (VFP-63) downed on 16 June 1972. (4th) RF8G BABY GIANT 601 (VFP-63) downed on 22 July 1972. (5th & 6th) A7B CHAMPION 400 (VA-56) and A7B CHAMPION 414 (VA-56) downed on 23 July 1972. (7th) A7B CHAMPION 403 (VA-56) downed on 6 August 1972. (8th) VAW-115 E-2 downed enroute to Japan on 8 August 1972. (9th) F4B ROCKRIVER 100 (VF-161) downed on 25 August 1972. (10th) F4B SWITCHBOX 210 (VF-151) downed on 27 August 1972. (11th) A7B RAVENJET 307 (VA-93) downed on 8 September 1972. (12th) A7B CHAMPION 403 (VA-56) downed on 6 November 1972. (13th) A7B CHAMPION 401 (VA-56) downed on 10 November 1972. (14th) A7B RAVENJET 314 (VA-93) downed on 10 November 1972.
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Operational Losses: (11) - (1st) KA6D ARAB 516 operational loss (VA-115) on 2 May 1972. (2nd) F4B Switchbox 203 operational loss (VF-151) on 21 May 1972. (3rd) A7B Ravenjet 302 downed (VA-56) on 23 May 1972. (4th) A7B Champion 406 (VA-56) engages barrier on 28 May 1972. (5th) EAK-3B ROBY 611 (VAQ 130) wheels up landing on 15 June 1972. (6th) A7B CHAMPION 405 (VA-56) accidentally launches Sidewinder on Flight Deck on 28 August 1972. (7th) A6A ARAB 501 (VA-115) crashed on Flight deck on 24 October 1972. (8th - 10th) An A6A and one A7B were destroyed and one F4B was lost over the side. Three A7B’s and one F4B suffered major damage and one F4B suffered minor damage. A potentially disastrous fire resulting from the crash was completely extinguished within three minutes by Midway flight deck personnel. No disabling damage to the ship occurred and Midway launched strikes the following morning.” (11th) RF8G BABY GIANT 602 (VFP-63) loses wheel on landing on 4 December 1972.
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In-chop: With a full complement of crew and Air wing, Midway sailed from Naval Air Station, Alameda, California on 10 April 1972, and arrived at Subic Bay, Republic of Philippines on 22 April 1972.
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Out-chop: Midway made a port of call at Subic Bay, Republic of Philippines, mooring at Leyte Pier, NAS Cubi Point from 10 to 15 February 1973, departing for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, anchoring at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 26 February 1973, to off-load ammo and take on fuel. Commander Western Sea Frontier visited the ship prior to its departure later on 26 February 1973 for Naval Air Station, Alameda, California.
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En route Southern Station/TTY from 24 to 29 April 1972, conducting combat missions or strikes against North Vietnam targets on her first line period in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin when CVW-5 began flight operations in the Southern Stations OPS AREA from 30 April to 12 May 1972 (13), followed by operations on “Yankee Station” from 13 to 31 May 1972 (19); Yankee Station OPS from 11 June to 7 July 1972 on her second line period (27); Yankee Station OPS from 17 July to 13 August 1972 on her third line period (89); Yankee Station OPS from 24 August to 10 September 1972 on her fourth line period (18); Yankee Station OPS from 20 September to 12 October 1972 on her fifth line period (23); Yankee Station OPS from 24 October to 23 November 1972 on her sixth line period (31); Yankee Station OPS from 3 to 20 December 1972 on her seventh line period (18) (225 Days on “Yankee Station” + 13 Days in the Southern Stations OPS AREA, before “Yankee Station” totals 238 Line Days during 1972, rather then 306 days reported in the CHR Line Period Heading Dates once totaled during 1972; and after 16 January 1973 (Peace Treaty), only Laos targets, beginning her eighth line period conducting combat sorties against communist forces in North Vietnam, South Vietnam and Cambodia from 4 to 23 January 1973 (20); and her ninth and final line period and from 4 to 9 February 1973 combat missions and strikes restricted to Laos period (6). (225 Days on “Yankee Station” + 26 Days during 1973, totals 251 Days on “Yankee Station” during 1972 and 1973 Third Vietnam Combat Cruise + 13 Days conducting flight operations in the Southern Stations OPS AREA before arriving “Yankee Station” on 13 May 1972, totals 264 days on Nine Line Periods.
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Ref. 1-Midway, 72, 405, 1081O, 1083, 1178-G, USS MIDWAY Command History for Calendar Year 1965.
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“Line Period Heading Dates reported in the 1972 Ships Command History Report (CHR), is refreeing to a Group of days that include transit and or port of call periods, and does not reflect actual time on a line period, based on Schedule Dates on Yankee Station OPS also reported in the CHR) in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin when CVW-5 began conducting flight operations in the Southern Stations OPS AREA, conducting combat missions or strikes against North Vietnam targets from 30 April to 12 May 1972, arriving “Yankee Station” on 13 May 1972” (Ref. USS MIDWAY Command History for Calendar Year 1972):
CHR Line Period Heading Dates (1972), Schedule Dates (1972) and Narative Dates (1973) First to Ninth Line Periods:
|
Line Period (1-9)
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Line Period Heading Dates 1972
(1-7)
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Schedule Dates 1972
(1-7)
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Narative Schedule Days 1973
(8 & 9)
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Schedule Days Yankee Station OPS 1972/73
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Total Line Period Heading Dates 1972
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Total Line Period Schedule Days 1972/73
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1
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10/04 - 09/06
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.
|
.
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.
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61
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.
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1 -SOL OPS
AREA
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.
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30/04 - 13/05
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.
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13
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.
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13
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1
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.
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13/05 - 31/05
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.
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19
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.
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19
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2
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10/06 - 07/07
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.
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.
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.
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26
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.
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2
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.
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11/06 - 07/07
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.
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27
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27
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3
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16/07 - 13/08
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.
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.
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.
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88
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.
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3
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.
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17/07 - 13/08
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.
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89
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.
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89
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4
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24/08 - 17/09
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.
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.
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.
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25
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.
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4
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.
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24/08 - 10/09
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.
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18
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.
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18
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5
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18/09 - 21/10
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.
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.
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.
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34
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.
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5
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.
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20/09 - 12/10
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.
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23
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.
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23
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6
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22/10 - 30/11
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.
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.
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.
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40
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.
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CHR Line Period Heading Dates (1972), Schedule Dates (1972) and Narative Dates (1973) First to Ninth Line Periods:
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Line Period (1-9)
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Line Period Heading Dates 1972
(1-7)
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Schedule Dates 1972
(1-7)
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Narative Schedule Days 1973
(8 & 9)
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Schedule Days Yankee Station OPS 1972/73
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Total Line Period Heading Dates 1972
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Total Line Period Schedule Days 1972/73
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6
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.
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23/10 - 23/11
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.
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31
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.
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31
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7
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01/12 - 31/12
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.
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.
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31
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.
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7
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.
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03/12 - 20/12
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.
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18
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.
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18
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8
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.
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.
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04/01 - 23/01-73
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20
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.
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20
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9
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.
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.
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04/02 – 08/02-73
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6
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.
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6
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Total
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.
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.
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.
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264 - 13
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305
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264
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Midways 1973 Command History Report (CHR) states:
“On the 9th of February 1973, USS MIDWAY departed Yankee Station for the ninth and final time during the cruise after 205 days on Yankee Station. The following break down of math is enough evidence based on 1972 CHR Schedule, Narative and Line Period Heading Dates (305 Days – 1972) to show that 205 Days on “Yankee Station” during 1972 is not correct and doesn’t reflect the Schedule Dates of ship locations as reported in the CHR broken down below, which counts 225 Days on “Yankee Station” + 13 Days conducting flight operations in the Southern Stations OPS AREA before arriving “Yankee Station” on 13 May 1972, totaliing 238 Days on Seven Line Periods during 1972 + 26 Days during Eighth & Ninth Line Periods during 1973: 264 Line Days during 1972 to 1973” (Ref. USS MIDWAY Command History for Calendar Year 1972 & 1973):
USS Midway (CVA-41) and Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW)-5 1972/1973 Third Combat Cruise Awards
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AWARD OR CITATION
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AWARD DATES
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WEST COAST
|
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Presidential Unit Citation – Vietnam
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30 Apr 1972 to 9 Feb 1973
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9th WestPac
9th SCS
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Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Silver Star (see Note 2) Vietnamese Ceasefire Campaign
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May 1972 to Jan 1973
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same
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Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Medal with Palm)
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05 Oct 65
09 Oct 65
30 Mar to 15 Jul 72
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same
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Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
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Listed, but
without date(s)
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same
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National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam
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Jan 1961 to Aug 1974
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same
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Service outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for more than six months.
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Note 2 — 1 Silver Star = 5 Bronze Stars
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The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Medal), with Palm, was awarded to a unit cited at the Armed Forces level.
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Service outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for more than six months.
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Ref. 1-Midway, 72, 405, 1081O, 1083, 1178-G, USS MIDWAY Command History for Calendar Year 1973 & 1973.
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The Presidential Unit Citation by President Richard Nixon for outstanding performance on her eleven month deployment - Ref. 1081O
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USS MIDWAY Losses – 1972 to 1973
Ninth “WestPac” Deployment and Third Vietnam Combat Cruise
(9 KIAs + 4 killed due to operational loss and 6 POWs)
KIA/MIAs/POWs
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NAME
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RANK
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SQUADRON
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DATE of LOSS
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LOSS-COUNTRY
HOW
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COMMENT
Status in 1972:
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Aubrey A. NICHOLS
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LT
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VA-56
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19 May
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downed by enemy fire
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POW
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Charles BARNETT
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CDR
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VA-93
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23 May
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downed
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MIA
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Raymond P. DONNELLY
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LT
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VA-115
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19 Jul
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downed
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KIA/Died
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Gordon C. PAIGE
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LCDR
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VFP-63
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22 Jul
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downed
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POW
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Gary L. SHANK
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LTJG
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VA-56
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23 Jul
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downed
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MIA
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Michael G. PENN
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LTJG
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VA-56
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6 Aug
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downed
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POW
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James L. ANDERSON
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LCDR
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VAW-115
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8 Aug
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downed en route to Japan
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Lost at Sea
MIA
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Bobby D. COBB
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AZ1
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VAW-115
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8 Aug
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downed en route to Japan
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KIA/Died
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Michael W. DOYLE
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LCDR
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VF-161
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25 Aug
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downed
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MIA
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John C. ENSCH
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LT
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VF-161
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25 Aug
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downed
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POW
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Theodore W. TRIEBEL
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LCDR
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VF-151
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27 Aug
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downed
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POW
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David A. EVERETT
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LTJG
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VF-151
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27 Aug
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downed
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POW
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Donald A. GERSTEL
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LCDR
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VA-93
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8 Sep
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downed
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MIA
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Edward P. McDONALD
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AMH1
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VA-93
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13 Sep
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downed
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KIA/Died
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EVERETT E. GOODROW, USNR
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LTJG
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VA-56
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21 Oct
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Air operations
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KIA/Died
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JOT EVE, USMC
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1ST LT
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VCMJ-1,
DET 101
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21 Oct
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Air operations
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KIA/Died
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DAVID L. MOODY
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1ST LT
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VCMJ-1,
DET 101
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21 Oct
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Air operations
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KIA/Died
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GEORGE A. WILDRIDGE, USN
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LT
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HC-1, DET 2
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21 Oct
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Air operations
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KIA/Died
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WILLIAM J. BATES, USNR
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LTJG
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HC-1, DET 2
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21 Oct
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Air operations
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KIA/Died
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RICHARD H. HALL, USN
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ADJ1
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HC-1, DET 2.
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21 Oct
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Air operations
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KIA/Died
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Michael S. BIXEL
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LTJG
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VA-115
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24 Oct
|
A6A ARAB 501 of VA-115 crashed on Midway Flight deck
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Lost at Sea
MIA
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Robert A. YANKOSKI
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AA
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V-4 Div
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24 Oct
|
Same Incident
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Died
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Robert W. HAAKENSON, JR.
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AA
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V-1 Div
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24 Oct
|
Same Incident
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Died
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Daniel P. CHERRY
|
AMSAN
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VA-93
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24 Oct
|
Same Incident
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Died
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Clayton M. BLANKNSHIP
|
A02
|
VA-56
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24 Oct
|
Same Incident
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Died
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Clarence O. TOLBERT
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LCDR
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VA-56
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6 Nov
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downed
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MIA
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USS MIDWAY Losses – 1973
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NAME
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RANK
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SQUADRON
|
DATE of LOSS
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LOSS-COUNTRY
HOW
|
COMMENT
Status in 1973:
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John C. LINDAHL
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LT
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VA-56
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6 Jan
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downed
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Lost at Sea
MIA
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MICHAEL T. MCCORMICK
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LT
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VA-115
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10 Jan
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downed
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Lost at Sea
MIA
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ROBERT A. CLARK
|
LTJG
|
VA-115
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10 Jan
|
downed
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Lost at Sea
MIA
|
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WILLIAM S. STRINGHAM
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ADR3
|
VAW-115
|
3 Feb
|
En route “Yankee Station”
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Lost at Sea
MIA
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During air operations on 21 October, 6 members of Carrier Air Wing Five were killed in multiple aircraft accidents. Memorial services were held aboard on 25 October. Fatalities were LTJG EVERETT E. GOODROW, USNR, VA-56, 1ST LT JOT EVE, USMC, and 1ST LT DAVID L. MOODY, USMC, VCMJ-1, DET 101; LT GEORGE A. WILDRIDGE, USN, LTJG WILLIAM J. BATES, USNR and ADJ1 RICHARD H. HALL, USN, HC-1, DET 2.
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While in the Pacific, an A6A ARAB 501 of VA-115 attached to Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) embarked USS Midway (CVA-41) crashed on Midway Flight deck on 24 October 1972. ARAB 501 fractured the axle of the right main gear while recovering. The aircraft slipped the arresting gear, skidded up the deck into the pack forward and the BN ejected over the side. Five personnel were killed including the BN who was declared lost at sea after an intensive search terminated the following day. Twenty-three additional personnel were injured, including ten transferred to the 95th Army Evacuation Hospital Da Nang. One A6A and one A7B were destroyed and one F4B was lost over the side. Three A7B’s and one F4B suffered major damage and one F4B suffered minor damage. A potentially disastrous fire resulting from the crash was completely extinguished within three minutes by Midway flight deck personnel. No disabling damage to the ship occurred and Midway launched strikes the following morning”
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Ref. USS MIDWAY Command History for Calendar Year 1972 & 1973.
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