Advisory years (1961 - 1965) by Linh Yoshimura Via Flickr: In the wake of the August 1964 Tonkin Gulf Incident, Zuni rockets are mounted on the fuselage of an F-8 Crusader on board the USS Ticonderoga. F-8 Crusaders would have an important role in the Vietnam air war.

Charles E. Barnett by Linh Yoshimura Via Flickr: March 1967 – US Navy Pilot Lt. Commander Charles E. Barnett, pictured in the cockpit of his A-4 Skyhawk before flying a mission over Vietnam. Notice, LCDR Barnett served as an A-4 pilot with VA-195 at NAS Lemoore, California, and deployed to Southeast Asia with his unit aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) from October 1966 to May 1967. During this time, he was forced to eject from his stricken A-4 and was rescued on December 13, 1966. His next assignment was as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy from September 1968 to July 1970, followed by A-7 Corsair II Replacement Air Group training from August 1970 to June 1971. CDR Barnett served as an A-7 pilot with VA-93 at NAS Lemoore and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41) from June 1971 until he was killed in action on May 23, 1972. He was officially listed as Missing in Action until being declared dead on June 16, 1975. His remains were returned to the United States on November 3, 1988, and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

View On WordPress