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This Sailor has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in: Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California (VA):
On May 15,1969, one of VAQ-130's detachments was enlarged into a new Tactical Electronic Warfare squadron, VAQ-135, homeported at NAS Alameda, California. The new unit first deployed to Southeast Asia aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) in September, 1969. On 16 May 1970, one of VAQ-135's EKA-3B aircraft (BuNo 142657) was transiting from the Naval Air Station at Cubi Point, Philippines, to USS CORAL SEA on Yankee Station. As the aircraft approached Yankee Station it was diverted to land at Danang Air Base in South Vietnam. During the diversion radar contact was lost. Search and rescue operations found wreckage and recovered the body of one crewman. Three men died in the loss:
CDR Richard R. Skeen, pilot
LCDR Eugene F. McNally, navigator (body recovered)
The BLACK RAVENS of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron ONE THREE FIVE were established on 15 May 1969 to provide electronic warfare and aerial refueling support to carrier air wings. Association of Old Crows Outstanding Unit Award for 1986. Golden Wrench for maintenance excellence.
