| Charles R. Gillespie, Jr. |
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| Rank, Service |
| Captain O-6, U.S. Navy |
| Veteran of: |
U.S. Naval Academy 1947-1951
U.S. Navy 1951-1983
Cold War 1951-1983
Vietnam War 1966-1973 (POW)
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| Tribute: |
Charles Gillespie was born on February 24, 1929, in Meridian, Mississippi. He was commissioned through the U.S. Naval Academy on June 1, 1951, and completed flight training, earning a designation as a Naval Aviator in 1952. He served in numerous flying assignments before flying combat missions in Southeast Asia with Fighter Squadron 151 off the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64) from June to November 1966 and then off the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) from August 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on October 24, 1967. After spending 1,969 days in captivity, Capt Gillespie was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized for his injuries and then served as a Test Pilot, Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs of the Naval Air Test Center, Commanding Officer of NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and as Deputy Commander of the Naval Air Test Center at Pax River, from June 1975 through October 1982. Capt Gillespie's final assignment was as Director of the Range Directorate, Pacific Missile Test Center, in Point Mugu, California, from October 1982 until his retirement from the Navy on June 30, 1983. He died in the crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2 on February 28, 1989.
His 3rd Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:
For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight on 26 September 1967 as a pilot in Fighter Squadron ONE FIVE ONE, embarked in USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43). As the strike leader of a thirty-two-plane, air-wing strike on the strategic Kien An railroad/highway bridges at the heavily defended city of Haiphong, North Vietnam, Captain (then Commander) Gillespie displayed exceptional competence and aggressive leadership in the planning and execution of this strike. En route to the target, he expertly navigated the entire strike group above a cloud layer that completely obscured the coast line and the vital coastal entry point, utilizing his aircraft weapons system radar for navigational purposes. Arriving in the target area, he deployed the two elements of the main striking force, and accelerated his division ahead of the attacking aircraft to initiate devastating runs on four active flak sites at the target. Despite continuous and accurate artillery fire, Captain Gillespie courageously and daringly maneuvered his division in a second attack on four additional sites. By his brilliantly planned and professionally led strikes, he contributed in large measure to the heavy damage inflicted on both targets, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. |
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