This page is an attempt at cataloging all awards and citations earned by the LITTLE ROCK during her lifetime.
This includes awards received by the ship and individual crew members during their tour(s) on LITTLE ROCK.
Your input is important to making sure that all such recognition is displayed here.
This section lists theUnit Awards & Campaign Medals earned by the U.S.S. Little Rock. The official document that details all Navy Unit Awards and Campaign Medals is OPNAVNOTE 1650. From this document we
know the USS Little Rock received the following two awards: #1. Navy Expeditionary Service Medal (Cuba)
Qualifying dates: 03 Jan 1961 - 23 Oct 1962 U.S.S. Little Rock's participation dates: 20 Jan 1962 through 26 Jan 1962 #2. Navy "E" Ribbon 0l Jul 1974 through 30 Jun 1975 (See Notes 1. and 2.)
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Campaign and
Expeditionary Medals A campaign / expeditionary medal is a military decoration awarded to a member of the military who serves in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theater. These medals are similar to service medals but carry a higher status in that the award usually involves deployment to a foreign region or service in a combat zone. |
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The Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy which was first created on 05 Aug 1936 by Navy Department General Order (N.D.G.O.) #84 of the Department of the Navy. The Navy Expeditionary Medal is awarded to Navy personnel who have operated in foreign territory to engage in operations, both combat and non-combat, for which no other campaign medal has been awarded. Two service medals have been authorized for Navy and Marine Corps personnel who served in Cuban waters during the period of tension that culminated in the Cuban quarantine of 1962. The Navy Expeditionary Medal was authorized for service performed between 03 January 1961 and 23 October 1962 Personnel who were attached to Little Rock, and who actually participated in the given operation, are eligible for the Navy Expeditionary Medal. This includes personnel attached to a squadron or unit embarked. (Members of rear echelons, transients, observers and personnel assigned for short periods of Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) or Training Duty (TD) are not normally eligible for the award.) USS Little Rock personnel who were aboard for the period 20 Jan 1962 through 26 Jan 1962 are authorized to wear the medal. Multiple awards of the Navy Expeditionary Medal to an individual are denoted by service stars. One bronze star is added for each subsequent award after the first, with a silver star used in lieu of five bronze stars. Note: The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was also authorized for service in the Cuban quarantine from 24 October through 31 December 1962. The USS Little Rock did not qualify for this award. |
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Command Excellence Awards |
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Command Excellence Awards indicate that the ship that bears them has proven to be superior in a certain field of operations. |
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The Battle Efficiency Award (now called the Battle Effectiveness Award), is awarded annually to U.S. Navy ships and other units that win their battle effectiveness competition. The award signifies the overall readiness of the command to carry out its assigned wartime tasks as determined over the course of a yearlong evaluation. The competition measures the ship's overall ability to meet all its mission objectives. Ships and units winning a Battle "E" are authorized to paint a white "E" on their stacks or elsewhere. The E is twice as large as the other E's and is the only award with shadow. For each subsequent consecutive award a "hashmark" is painted below the white E. Winners of five consecutive E's replace the white E and four hashmarks with a Gold "E" with a silver star above the "E". The "E" and any hashmarks are removed in the year the ship or unit first fails to win the award. Prior to 1976, personnel of ships and units that won the Battle "E" were authorized to wear a small cloth "E" on their uniform sleeve, with hashmarks and color corresponding to that displayed on their ship or unit. Starting in 1976 personnel were authorized to wear the Navy "E" Ribbon and Battle "E" Device (See below.). The U.S.S. Little Rock won the Battle
"E" in FY61 (01 Oct 1960 - 31 Sep 1961) with a score of 91.26.
Personnel aboard the Little Rock during that period are entitled to
wear the Battle E Ribbon. |
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Medal (None Authorized) |
Navy "E" Ribbon
The Navy "E" Ribbon was established in July of 1976 by Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf. The award, commonly known as the Battle "E" is based on a year-long evaluation of individual Navy ships, submarines, aviation and other units, and is awarded annually to units that win their battle efficiency competition. The criterion for the Battle Efficiency Award is overall readiness, and recognizes sustained superior performance in an operational environment within a command. Personnel of ships and units that win the Battle "E" are authorized to wear the Navy "E" Ribbon and Battle "E" Device. Before 1976, they wore a small cloth "E" on their uniform sleeves, with hashmarks and color corresponding to that on their ship or unit. The ribbon denotes permanent duty on U.S. Navy ships or in squadrons that have won a battle efficiency competition. For each award of the Navy "E" Ribbon, one Battle "E" device is authorized for wear on the Navy "E" ribbon, up to the third award. For the fourth and all subsequent awards, the E with wreath device is worn, with no further devices added to the ribbon. The ribbon, itself, is also commonly referred to as the "Battle E" ribbon. |
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Medal (None Authorized) |
Navy "E" Patch
Prior to July 1976 the Battle "E" the crew of ships winning the Battle "E" competition wore a small cloth "E" patch on right sleeve of their uniform, with hashmarks and color corresponding to that displayed on their ship or unit. |
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Other Common Command Efficiency Awards
In the case of the above awards, an "E" of the stated color is painted on the ship, with a hashmark of the same color to signify consecutive awards. In the case of five consecutive awards, a star of the same color will be painted, replacing the service hashmarks. All awards, except the Battle E, are 20 inches in length and 25 inches in height without shadow. Command Excellence Awards are painted and displayed on the port and starboard side of the bulwark aft of the Battle "E" Additional
Common Command Awards
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Ribbons & Medals Awarded to Individuals |
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This section lists Official Ribbons & Medals presented to crew members while they were aboard the U.S.S.
Little Rock. This list includes only Ribbons and Medals that
were actually earned while
on board the Little Rock. The list is in the order of precedence. That is, the order in which the medals/ribbons are to be worn. The see the complete order of precedence for all military awards, go to "Grunts Military". |
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Medal (Picture not available) |
On 18 August 1963 the USS Little Rock's helo rescued an Italian woman after the boat in which she was a passenger capsized. Helo Detachment members Lt(jg) Leif A. Elstad, the pilot, received a Silver Commendation of Naval Valor Medal (Italy), Crewman Charles R. Adams ADR3 who jumped to rescue the woman received a Bronze Commendation of Naval Valor (Italy), and crewman G.C. Woody ADJ2 received a Commendation of Naval Valor (Italy). The awards were presented on behalf of the Italian government by Italian Vice Admiral Francesco Baslini at the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, Italy when the Little Rock was in La Spezia. (Note: The ship's newspaper "Talosman" stated that the awards received
were as follows: Lt(jg)
Elstad, Bronze Medal of Naval
Valor, ADR3 Adams Silver Medal of Naval
Valor, and ADJ2 Woody a Commendation of Naval Valor.) |
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Medal (Picture not available) |
On 18 August 1963 the USS Little Rock's helo rescued an Italian woman after the boat in which she was a passenger capsized. Helo Detachment members Lt(jg) Leif A. Elstad, the pilot, received a Silver Commendation of Naval Valor Medal (Italy), Crewman Charles R. Adams ADR3 who jumped to rescue the woman received a Bronze Commendation of Naval Valor (Italy), and crewman G.C. Woody ADJ2 received a Commendation of Naval Valor (Italy). The awards were presented on behalf of the Italian government by Italian Vice Admiral Francesco Baslini at the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, Italy when the Little Rock was in La Spezia. (Note: The ship's newspaper "Talosman" stated that the awards received were as follows: Lt(jg) Elstad, Bronze Medal of Naval Valor, ADR3 Adams Silver Medal of Naval Valor, and ADJ2 Woody a Commendation of Naval Valor.) Click HERE for picture of the Helo Detachment. |
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Medal![]() |
The Navy Good Conduct Medal was established by SECNAV on 26 April 1869 to recognize the "all-around" good Navy enlisted person, well qualified in all phases of conduct and performance......... Eligibility Requirements: After 1 November 1963 any 4 years of continuous active service as an enlisted person in the Regular Navy or Naval Reserve. Per NAVADMIN 305/95, After 1 January 1996, the qualifying period of eligibility is 3 years vice 4 years for service terminating after that date........ Attachments. A bronze star, 3/16 inch in diameter will be worn on the suspension ribbon and bar to denote subsequent awards. |
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Medal (None Issued) |
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (SSDR) is a decoration of the United States Navy established in May 1980 and retroactively authorized to 15 August 1974. It is awarded to officer and enlisted personnel of the United States Navy and Marine Corps The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is granted to any member of the U. S. Navy or U. S. Marine Corps assigned to a deployable unit (e.g. a ship, aircraft squadron, detachment, battalion, or other unit type that operates away from its assigned homeport) and is forward-deployed for a period of either 90 consecutive days or two periods of at least 80 days each within a given 12-month period. When a ship's crew qualifies for the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the ship is authorized to paint and display the ribbon and award stars on the port and starboard side of the bulwark aft to designate the number of deployments conducted throughout the commissioned life of the ship. This is one of few Naval service awards that has no corresponding medal. The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon will be awarded retroactive to 15 August 1974. However only one award may be earned for the period 15 August 1974 to 1 January 1979 regardless of the number of years of sea duty or number of deployments made. |
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Medal (None Issued) |
On 18 August 1963 the USS Little Rock's helo rescued an Italian woman after the boat in which she was a passenger capsized. Helo Detachment members Lt(jg) Leif A. Elstad, the pilot, received a Silver Commendation of Naval Valor Medal (Italy), Crewman Charles R. Adams ADR3 who jumped to rescue the woman received a Bronze Commendation of Naval Valor (Italy), and crewman G.C. Woody ADJ2 received a Commendation of Naval Valor (Italy). The awards were presented on behalf of the Italian government by Italian Vice Admiral Francesco Baslini at the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, Italy when the Little Rock was in La Spezia. |
Ribbon (None Issued) |
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PURPLE HEART MEDAL
TO LITTLE ROCK MM3c IN NTS CEREMONIES "For wounds received in action" while serving on board an aircraft carrier in the Philippines, Robert E. King, MM3c, USS Little Rock, was presented the Purple Heart Medal in ceremonies at the Area II Drill Hall last Saturday. Participating in the invasion of the Philippine Islands on 25 October 1944, King's ship, the escort carrier St. Lo was attacked by a desperation Japanese aerial assault. One suicidal son of Nippon - bent on immortal glory to his emperor, crash dived into the flat-deck of the baby-flat-top, scattering blazing fragments in all directions. King, with the rest of the crew, abandoned the vessel, and while drifting in his "Mae West" suffered a chest concussion from a piece of the flying shrapnel off the sinking St. Lo. After two-hours in a semiconscious state, he was finally rescued by an Allied destroyer escort. A native of Broken Arrow, Okla., he attended the Murray State School of Agriculture prior to enlisting in the Navy in September 1943. He reported to NTS in April for duty aboard the Little Rock, a new light cruiser soon to be commissioned. From THE NEWPORT NAVALOG, Vol. 45, Saturday, 19 May 1945 No. 20. Ed. note: "NTS" was the abbreviation for the U.S. Naval Training Station, Newport, RI |
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Special Awards and Recognition to
USS Little Rock |
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The following are
special awards and special recognition made by the US Navy, and by
others, to the U.S.S. Little Rock. |
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All Hands magazine announced in its February 1962 edition that the U.S.S. Little Rock was one of the seven ships in the Atlantic Fleet to win the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for FY 1961. That year the award was presented by the U.S. Navy's Chief of Naval Operations to seven ships in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and to seven ships in the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award was established in 1917 by the (New York) Tribune Association. It was initiated by a contribution which accompanied the following letter:
Prior to World War II income from this fund was used to pay prizes annually to turret and gun crews making the highest scores in short-range battle practice, and to submarine crews making the highest scores in torpedo firing. Since the end of World War II, the Navy has emphasized readiness and fitness of the ship rather than competition between individual departments. Accordingly, the income from the trust fund has been used to promote battle efficiency by its payment to ships which stand first in the intra-type battle efficiency competitions. It has been the policy to rotate eligibility for the award annually among the various type commands. The award includes a small monetary stipend (about $1500 in 2004). Commanding officers receiving the award must put the money into the ship's recreation fund, where it can be spent on athletic equipment, prizes for athletic or marksmanship competitions, recreation room furniture, dances, parties, and similar recreational activities. |
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In June 1976 the USS Little Rock received the Commander Sixth Fleet "Shipshape and Sharp in 76" award, for best maintained ship in Sixth Fleet during Bicentennial Year. |
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Special Awards and Recognition to Individuals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following are special awards and special recognition made by the US Navy, the U.S.S. Little Rock, and by others, to individual crew members while they were assigned to the Little Rock. |
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Bronze Man Award ![]() Bronze Man Certificate (Sample) The Bronze Man Award was unique to the U.S.S. Little Rock. Nothing specific is known about its origin. However, Captain J. R. Payne in the August 1962 issue of "The Talosman" says "Within the next few weeks I will announce a procedure whereby deserving men of the Little Rock will be recognized for outstanding job performance." It seems that the award was given out at the discretion of the Captain, and that there was no designated quantity of awards to be given in a particular time frame. Likewise only one crew member, and at other times the award was presented to severalcrew members at the same time. Each award had a "Serial Number", and from that we know that there were at least 35 Bronze Man awards made over its life.
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Letters of Commendation
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Certificates (Official) |
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"Course
Completion". "Course
Completion" certificates were issued to US Navy personnel who
had sucessfully completed a course (or class) in a specific subject.
Many of these certificates were a required part of the qualifications
necessary to advance in rate. The certificate shown at the left was one
such certificate. This certificate was required for advancement to
Seaman 1st Class and for Petty Officer Third Class. It was issued to: "R. Ellis" on 25 July 1947. |
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Certificates (Non-official) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Plankowner"
Certificate.
This certificate was issued to USS Little Rock crew members who were on
the commissioning
crew of the USS Little Rock when the ship
was commissioned on: 17 Jun 1945 (as CL 92), or 03
JUN 1960 (as CLG 4) or 16 Dec 2017 (as LCS 9). Click HERE to see wallet certificate. |
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The "Last Cruise" Certificate. This certificate certifies a USS Little Rock crew member as being on the decommissioning crew of the USS Little Rock when the ship was decommissioned on either: 24 Jun 1949 (as CL 92), or 22 NOV 1976 (as CG 4). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The "Spanish Main" certificate commemorates cruising the Caribbean Sea. It does not appear that this certificate was ever issued while the Little Rock was in service, although tradition has it that all crew members who were deployed anywhere in the Caribbean are eligible. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Equator Crossing" Certificate. The "Neptuni Regis" certificate is issued as a means of com- memorating the crossing of the Equator either north-bound or south-bound. Eligible crew of CL 92 during the South America cruise. Eligibility dates are: 05 November 1945, or 09 March 1946. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rounding Cape Horn"
Certificate. Sometimes called the "Mossback" certificate commemorates
rounding (or "doubling" Cape Horn, South America. USS Little Rock
CL 92 crew on board on 23 Jan 1946 received this certificate. (See Note 2. below) |
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"Panama Canal Transit" Certificate. Referred to as the "Order of the Ditch" certificate commemorates a crewman's transit through the Panama Canal from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean (or vice versa). Eligible date for CL 92 crew is 15 Mar 1946. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Straits of Gibraltar
Transit" Certificate, frequently referred to as the "Order of
the
Rock" certificate is issued in commemoration of a sailor making a transit
through the Strait of Gibraltar. The transit only needs to be made
in one direction, ie: from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean or from
the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. The known dates of transit by USS Little Rock CL 92 and CLG 4 / CG 4 are listed in Note 3 below. If you can help us with specific dates, please contact the Webmaster. |
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"Suez Canal Transit" Certificate, usually referred to as the "Safari to Suez" certificate commemorates a transit through the Suez Canal. USS Little Rock CLG 4 crew members who were aboard for the re-opening of the Suez Canal ceremonies on 05 June 1975 are eligible for this certificate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Arctic Circle
Crossing" Certificate. This certificate, sometimes referred to
as the "Blue Nose" certificate commemorates the crossing
of the Arctic Circle at 66 deg. 32' North latitude. Eligible "Blue Nose" LITTLE ROCK crew members
would
have been on board for crossings on any of the following dates:
30 Nov
1946, 03 Dec 1946, 29 Sep 1965 or 14 Sep 1972. (See Note 1. below.) |
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![]() "Salty Helohopper" Certificate (Click image to enlarge.) |
"Order of the
Salty Helohopper". This certificate was awarded to individuals
who flew as passengers in the Little Rock's helicopter. The certificate
reads in part: "Be it known by all
these present that (passenger's name) sucessfully and with suave (nay,
foolish !) intrepidity did transfer by HELICOPTER from USS Little Rock
at sea, to (place or ship name).... "
"I took the helo ride over to the Stickell to repair their crypto receiver, but I did come back after 3-4 hours or so. While I really was a "radar" guy, I attended a crypto repair school in Portsmouth while the ship was in Norfolk earlier in 1964. I did luck out that they had all of parts and was able to fix their gear--it wasn't a wasted trip. I think that was why I was given that joking award for the helo ride. I hate to think what would have happened if their receiver was beyond repair." |
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![]() "Honorary Crew Member" Certificate (Click image to enlarge.) |
The "Honorary Crew Member"
Certificate shown at the left (click
image to enlarge) was issued to Lynn Olsen, wife of shipmate
Stephan Olsen RM1 1967-1970. The text on the certicate reads:
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: THAT Lynn Olsen SAILED THIS DATE 18 August 1967 ON THE GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER USS LITTLE ROCK CLG 4 AND IS HENCEFORTH TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN HONORARY CREW MEMBER Signed: John J. Mitchell CAPTAIN U.S.N. COMMANDING Lynn
Olsen is the wife of OR Division shipmate Stephen R. Olsen RM1
1967-1970. Do you or a member of your family
have a similar certificate? If so, let us know. We'd like to get
a list
of as many recipients of this "award" as possible. Please contact the Webmaster.
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L. The certificate issued for the final cruise of USS Little Rock CG 4, as shown at left, was issued to ETN2 Ronald R. Hosle. This such certificate is technically the last "official" certificate to
be issued from the LITTLE ROCK. The certifcate reads as follows( click
image to enlarge)"
A BICENTENNIAL DECOMMISSIONING CREWMEMBER
NOW HEAR THIS: ETN2 R. R. HOSLE HAVING SERVED ON-BOARD USS Little Rock CG 4 DURING HER FINAL CRUISE FROM YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA IS HEREBY AWARDED THIS CERTIFICATE IN RECOGNITION OF HIS EFFORTS IN BRINGING THIS PROUD LADY TO HER LAST PORT. |
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U.S.S. Little Rock's Helo Detachment (ca. 1963)
U.S.S. Little Rock Helo Pilot Lt. Leif A. Elstad... had a special knack for finding rescue opportunities. Below are several articles pertaining rescues in which he was involved: I. Helicopter Utility Squadron Two (HU-2) played a major role in the rescue operations (by rescuing 8 people) following the collision between the Israeli liner SHALOM and the Norwegian tanker STOLT DAGALI early Thanksgiving morning 26 November 1964. Before day break HU-2 had a plane in the air and on its way to the scene of the collision. By day break LT George Gilpin, his crew consisting of LTJG Philip Lehrfeld, Charles Beasley AMH1, and John Pelto AE3, had spotted a partly submerged life boat in the choppy seas off the coast of New Jersey. An approach was made to a hover and four survivors were hoisted into the helicopter. The men were taken to NAS LAKEHURST for examinations at the hospital. The helicopter was immediately refueled and returned to continue the search for survivors. By this time three other squadron helicopters were launched and they too joined in the search. A cluster of people were seen on the bridge of the STOLT DAGALI and the helicopter crew of LTJG George Benoit, LTJG Leif Elstad, Christopher Valentine ATN3, and Clyde S. Harting AD3, motioned for the people to walk to the ship's bow. Two of these people were then picked up by LTJG Benoit and his crew. From: THE WHIRLYBIRD of HC-2, NAS Lakehurst, NJ http://twaintimes.net/hu-2/wbdec64.html - - - - - - -
II. While on a practice instrument approach to Lakehurst NAS West
Field
Tuesday August 31, 1965, LT Leif
Elstad, flying as co-pilot, of a UH-2A
Seasprite, spotted a Navy A-4 Jet about to crash after its engine quit
just after take off. The plane came to a stop in a marsh a few hundred
yards off the end of runway 24.By this time, the pilot Howard Cobb who had been on instruments and the air crewman, Howard Humphrey, ADJC and a passenger LTJG James Hitch who assisted as an air crewman, had the plane in sight and the crewmen were preparing the hoist and rescue equipment. The helicopter was on the scene in seconds hovering over the downed airman, LT J. S. Bull, from Naval Air Test Center, Patauxent River, Maryland. LT Bull climbed into the rescue sling and was hoisted into the helo. At 2:10PM, just 3 minutes after the plane crashed, LT Bull was discharged from the Helicopter at Lakehurst West Field, put aboard a waiting ambulance and taken to the Station Hospital From: THE WHIRLYBIRD of HC-2, NAS Lakehurst, NJ http://twaintimes.net/hu-2/wbsep65.html - - - - - - -
III. On 28 December 1965, aircraft from Enterprise CVA(N)-65
and
carriers Hancock (CVA-19) and Ticonderoga flew missions in I and II
Corps areas against VC supply and rest areas, and against company and
battalion-strength troop concentrations.As many as 80 structures, including seven bunkers, were reported destroyed, and heavy bombing caused the collapse of at least four tunnels, together with numerous fox holes and fire positions. Aircraft from the "Big E" flew 31 of these sorties, including 27 Skyhawks and four Phantom IIs, receiving small arms fire from the area of 14 deg 58 min N, 108 deg 53 min 40 sec E, but the aircrews "silenced" the enemy on their first bombing run. At approximately 0150 on the 28th, Show Time 607, an F-4B (BuNo 151438), Lieutenant Dean H. Forsgren, pilot, and Lieutenant (Jg) Robert M. Jewell, RIO, VF-96, while landing on board Enterprise following an armed reconnaissance over Laos, was waived off for being too low. Coming around for a second pass they reached "bingo" fuel status - which was 0 at the time of flameout - and ejected, disappearing from radar about 15 miles from the ship. The crew of a Douglas KA-3B Skywarrior marked the area of ejection, the ship giving "a good vector" toward 607's last known position, 350 deg. Angel 4, a UH-2A (BuNo 149769) from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC)-2 Det 65, Lieutenant Leif A. Elstad, pilot, Lieutenant (jg) Michael A. Johnson, co-pilot, ATN3 D.A. Larson and Airman M.P. Laws, were flying plane guard approximately 10 miles from the ship when they received the message announcing the crash. Coming about, they flew to the scene, "easily" locating the survivors in the water by visual sighting of .38 cal. tracers and Mk-13 Mod 0 distress signals, barely 30 minutes into the search. Although both of the Phantom II's crewmembers were carrying PR 49A radios, they were unable to "home in" accurately on their signals, most probably due to the two-three miles separating the survivors. The sea state was greater than initially reported (four foot swells), the rescue being "complicated" by high seas and gusty winds, as well as the reluctance of the two officers to leave their respective life rafts, but both were brought back on board via the rescue sling. Above is from the Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e4/enterprise-viiia.htm |
What's Missing? Do you know of an award, or special recognition,
presented either tothe ship or to one or more of her crew?
Send us the details and we'll see that it gets added.