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Home Town Rice Lake, Wisc.
Last Address Weems, VA Interment in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington; however, he also has a marker at: Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Weems in Lancaster County, Virginia.
Date of Passing May 24, 2009
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Vice Admiral Richard C. "Sweetpea" Allen, United States Navy (Retired), 69, of Weems, VA transferred to eternal life on May 24, 2009. A native of Wisconsin, he entered naval service in 1959 as a Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD). He served as a carrier based A4 Skyhawk and A6 Intruder jet pilot until 1971 when deteriorating eyesight forced re-designation as a Naval Flight Officer and transition to bombardier navigator in the Intruder. He saw Vietnam combat service in 67/68, served in 5 aviation squadrons, several staff assignments, and six commands including: VA-85; Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6); USS Detroit (AOE-4); USS America (CV-66); Carrier Group Six (CCG-6); and Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He was the first Naval Flight Officer to serve as a Carrier Air Wing Commander.
During operational assignments, he participated in a number of crisis responses and combat operations. They included the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), the Vietnam War (1967-68), Cyprus Conflict (1973), Libya Gulf of Sidra Operations (1981), Lebanon operations (1983), Libya combat operations (1986), and Caribbean counter drug operations (1990).
Awards included the Distinguished Service Medal (x2), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (x3), Distinguished Flying Cross (x2), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (x2), Air Medal (2 individual and seven strike flight awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, National Defense Medal, Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with 3 bronze stars, and several other campaign and unit awards.
He worked in the corporate world until 1998, was President of the Association of Naval Aviation until 2001, then worked as a private consultant for companies supporting Department of Defense programs. Moving to Northern Neck in 1998, he was President of the Northern Neck Military Officers Association of America (NNMOAA) in 05-06. He was an elder at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Weems, Va.
He attended Stout State College in Wisconsin for two years prior to joining the Navy, received a BS degree in Engineering Science from Naval Postgraduate School in 1971, and had graduate study in Computer Systems Management. He was also a graduate of Flag Officer Capstone training at National Defense University.
He is survived by his wife Peggy (mn: Margaret Fricks Hall of Marietta, GA) of 45 years of Weems; daughter Laura Hall of Weems; sisters Barbara Frey and husband Ernie of San Bernardino, Cal.; Kathy May of San Bernardino, Cal.; Marilyn Jackson of Highland, Cal.; and brothers Everett Allen Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona; and Robert Allen and wife Temmi of Coon Rapids, Minn.
A service of celebration was held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church with Rev. W. Clay Macaulay officiating. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 9 at Fort Myers Chapel with interment in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington with Full Military Honors.
There is also a Family Grave Marker at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, at Weems in Lancaster County, Virginia.
Re-designated Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VA-34) on 7 August 1948 Re-designated Attack Squadron THIRTY FIVE (VA-35) on 15 February 1950
Second VA-34
Established as Fighter Squadron TWENTY (VF-20) on 15 October 1943 Re-designated Fighter Squadron Nine A (VF-9A) on 15 November 1946 Re-designated Fighter Squadron NINTY ONE (VF-91) on 12 August 1948 Re-designated Fighter Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VF-34) on 15 February 1950
Re-designated Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VA-34) on 1 July 1955 Disestablished on 1 June 1969
Third VA-34
Established as Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VA-34) on 1 January 1970
VA-34 adopted the insignia and Blue Blasters nickname used by the previous VA-34 squadron (the second VA-34). Colors for the insignia are as follows: blue diamond background outlined in black, red stylized wings outlined in blue and white, black and white machine gun in the shape of a cigarette, with a yellow ammunition belt and red bullets, white skull and skeleton with black markings and outline, red teeth, and red markings on the paddles (eyes).
·January 1, 1970:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR (VA-34) Blue Blasters re-established at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
·April 1970:
VA-34 was assigned the Grumman A-6A Intruder.
·September 14, 1970 to March 1, 1971:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6A/B Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 3 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Caribbean/Mediterranean/NorLant cruise.
·September 14, 1970:
VA-34 boarded the United States Ship Kennedy CVA 67 for its Operational Readiness Inspection prior to its scheduled November deployment to the Mediterranean. While sailing to the Caribbean, the Kennedy and VA-34 were ordered to deploy to the Mediterranean after Syria invaded Jordan.
·December 1, 1971 to October 6, 1972:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6A/B/C Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean/NorLant cruise.
·September 1972:
A VA-34 A-6 Intruder conducted cross-decking operations on HMS Ark Royal while operating in the Norwegian Sea.
·April 16, 1973 to December 1, 1973:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6A/B/C Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean/NorLant cruise.
·October through November 1973:
During the Yon Kippur War VA-34 and United States Ship Kennedy departed the Norwegian Sea and reentered the Mediterranean, conducting surveillance operations south of Crete.
·June 28, 1975 to January 27, 1976:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean cruise.
·September 2, 1976 to November 9, 1976:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a NorLant cruise.
·January 15, 1977 to August 1, 1977:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean cruise.
·June 29, 1978 to February 8, 1979:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean cruise.
·August 4, 1980 to March 28, 1981:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship John F. Kennedy CVA-67 on a Mediterranean cruise.
·August 23, 1982 to October 30, 1982:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a NorLant/Mediterranean/Caribbean cruise.
·September through October 1982:
During the deployment to the North Atlantic, United States Ship America CV 66, was diverted to the Mediterranean due to the continuing crisis in Lebanon.
·December 8, 1982 to June 2, 1983:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a Mediterranean/IO cruise.
·January and May 1983:
While in the Eastern Mediterranean VA-34 conducted air operations from United States Ship America in support of the multinational peace-keeping forces in Beirut, Lebanon.
·April 24, 1984 to November 14, 1984:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a Caribbean/Mediterranean/IO cruise.
·August 24, 1985 to November 9, 1985:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a NorLant cruise.
·March 10, 1986 to September 10, 1986:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 1 embarked in United States Ship America CV-66 on a Mediterranean cruise.
·March 24, 1986:
Libyan missiles were fired at United States Navy forces operating in the Gulf of Sidra. As a result retaliatory strikes were initiated against Libya by the American naval forces. VA-34's A-6E Intruders, operating from United States Ship America, attacked and damaged a Libyan Combattante II G-class fast attack missile craft with a Harpoon missile. A follow-up attack by VA-85 aircraft with Rockeye bombs resulted in the sinking of the Combattante II. The Harpoon firing was the first use of this missile in combat and the squadron's first combat action since its re-establishment in 1970.
·April 14, 1986:
Due to continued Libyan sponsorship of terrorist activity the United States initiated Operation Eldorado Canyon. VA-34 participated in this operation with its A-6Es, conducting a night, low level high speed attack against terrorists targets at the Benina airfield and military barracks in Banghazi, Libya.
·February 29, 1988 to August 29, 1988:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 7 embarked in United States Ship Eisenhower CVN-69 on a Mediterranean cruise.
·March 8, 1990 to September 12, 1990:
Attack Squadron THIRTY FOUR flying the A-6E & KA-6D Intruder with Carrier Air Wing 7 embarked in United States Ship Eisenhower CVN-69 on a Mediterranean/Red Sea cruise.
·August 1990:
The squadron flew missions in support of Operation Desert Shield, the build up of American and Allied forces to counter a threatened invasion of Saudi Arabia by Iraq and as part of an economic blockade of Iraq to force its withdrawal from Kuwait.
·September 1990:
The squadron returned to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
·September 1991 to April 2, 1992:
The Blue Blasters deployed to Southwest Asia. The squadron participated in North Star.
·May to November 1994:
The Blue Blasters' deployed in United States Ship GEORGE WASHINGTON CVN 73 for her maiden cruise. In June, the Blasters performed a "missing man" formation over Omaha Beach to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of D-Day.
·1994 and 1995:
The Blue Blasters were awarded the Commander, Naval Air Force, United States Atlantic Fleet Battle "E" for 1994 and 1995.
·1995:
VA-34 operated over Bosnia and Southern Iraq. Operational sorties were flown in both theaters enforcing United Nations mandates. Missions included Close Air Support over the former Yugoslavia, working closely with multi-national Forward Air Controllers and UN forces on the ground, and strike familiarization missions to targets below the 32nd parallel in Iraq.
·January to September 1996:
The Blue Blasters had their last deployment flying the venerable A-6E Intruder aboard United States Ship George Washington CVN 73. VA-34 flew in support of Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR over Bosnia Herzegovina and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH over Iraq
