This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Joe Johnston, RM2
to remember
Bartocci, John Eugene, LCDR.
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John Bartocci had a bright future when he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958. He was married the same year and began a family. His and Barbara's marriage was right out of a storybook. Barbara later said it was a "happy-ever-after dream."
John's Navy career moved the family from base to base until he was ultimately sent to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Bartocci flew the Vought F8 "Crusader". The Crusader was used exclusively by the Navy and Marine air wings and represented half or more of the carrier fighters in the Gulf of Tonkin during the first four years of the war. The aircraft was credited with nearly 53% of MiG kills in Vietnam.
LCDR John E. Bartocci perished while attempting to land aboard the USS Hancock (CVA-19) of the coast of Vietnam, 31 August 1968. Flying the F-8H (tail no. 147897), assigned to VF-24, his aircraft struck the aft ramp, broke into two pieces, and exploded.His body was never recovered.
Other Comments:
Has 2 Memorial Headstones. One at Ft Rosecrans in San Diego CA and on in Arlington National Cemetery.
Fighter Squadron 24 was originally commissioned as Fighter Squadron 211 in June 1955 at NAS Moffett Field. The unit flew the FJ-3 Fury aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard. The squadron transitioned to the F8U Crusader in 1957. Then on 9 March 1959, the Squadron was redesignated VF-24 Fighter Squadron 24
While deployed aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (Carrier Air Wing Twenty One), Lieutenant Commander Bobby C. Lee and Lieutenant Phillip R. Wood became the first VF-24 pilots to shoot down MiG aircraft over North Vietnam on May 19, 1967,. The MiGs were shot downed withAIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Then on July 21, 1967, Commander Marion H. Issacks (XO) and Lieutenant Commander Robert L. Kirkwood made the 3rd and 4th MiG kills for their Squadron with 20 mm guns and Sidewinder missiles. The MiG-killing "Fighting Renegades" became one of the Navy's first "Ace" squadrons
The MiG KILLS
Lt Phil Wood: MIG-17, 19 May 1967
LCDR Bobby Lee: MIG-17, 19 May 1967
CDR Marion Isaacks: MIG-17, 21 July 1967
LTJG Phil Dempewolf: MIG-17, 21 July 1967
LCDR Robert Kirkwood: MIG-17, 21 July 1967
