This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
Schweitzer, Robert James, CAPT.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Pottsville
Last Address Treasure Island, California
Date of Passing Jan 24, 1974
Location of Interment Buried at Sea, Pacific Ocean
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Robert James Schweitzer, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 4 January 1968 as a pilot in Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR (VA-144), embarked in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63). As flight leader of a two-plane WALLEYE attack element, Commander Schweitzer planned a precision approach and attack to obtain optimum advantage for the weapons employed against the Haiphong Highway Bridge as the primary target and other standing major arterial bridges in the Haiphong area as secondary targets. After penetrating the intense anti-aircraft artillery and automatic-weapons fire to the target area, he ascertained that the primary target was obscured by smoke from targets previously struck by other air-wing strikes in the area. Commander Schweitzer then led his element through the continuing enemy fire to achieve a direct hit on the northernmost span of the nearby, still-standing Kien An Highway Bridge, achieving maximum destruction to this vital enemy transportation link. He then skillfully led his element through the increased enemy fire to safety without loss or damage to aircraft or injury to pilot. Commander Schweitzer's courageous actions and outstanding aerial leadership reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Vietnam War/Tet Counteroffensive Campaign (68)/ Yankee Station, North Vietnam
From Month/Year
January / 1968
To Month/Year
April / 1968
Description Yankee Station was a point in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam used by the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 to launch strikes in the Vietnam War. While its official designation was "Point Yankee," it was universally referred to as Yankee Station. Carriers conducting air operations at Yankee Station were said to be "on the line" and statistical summaries were based on days on the line.
The name derived from it being the geographic reference point "Y", pronounced "Yankee" in the NATO phonetic alphabet. In turn the term Point Yankee derived from the launch point for "Yankee Team" aerial reconnaissance missions over Laos conducted in 1964. It was located about 190 km due east of Dong Hoi, at 17° 30' N and 108° 30' E.
During the two periods of sustained air operations against North Vietnam (March 2, 1965-October 31, 1968 and March 30, 1972-December 29, 1972) there were normally three carriers on the line, each conducting air operations for twelve hours, then off for twelve hours. One of the carriers would operate from noon to midnight, another from midnight to noon, and one during daylight hours, which gave 24-hour coverage plus additional effort during daylight hours, when sorties were most effective. However at the end of May, 1972, six carriers were for a short period of time on the line at Yankee Station conducting Linebacker strikes.
The first aircraft carrier at Yankee Station was USS Kitty Hawk, which was ordered there in April 1964 for the Yankee Team missions. Kitty Hawk was joined by Ticonderoga in May and Constellation in June, two months prior to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Ticonderoga and Constellation launched the first bombing missions from Yankee Station on August 5, 1964. Constellation was also the last carrier conducting operations at Yankee Station on August 15, 1973. USS Forrestal suffered a major accident while at Yankee Station when a series of fires and explosions on her deck killed 134 men and injured another 161.
A corresponding Dixie Station in the South China Sea off the Mekong Delta was a single carrier point for conducting strikes within South Vietnam from May 15, 1965 to August 3, 1966.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1968
To Month/Year
April / 1968
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2023
Personal Memories
Memories Cruise: Nov 67-Jun 68: The "Kitty Hawk" had a fire in port Subic Bay PI, and went to GQ for 51 hours.. Had a plane crash on this cruise also, Jan 1968 lost Bill Reedy AO3 from "G" div. and two other men in that crash.