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October 16, 1968 as USS FORRESTAL CVA-59 steamed with USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2 in the Ionian Sea. Commanding Officer is Captain Robert B. Baldwin,
> > Crash, Three Deaths. > The crash began at 2220 hours, as a routine night launch of an E-2A Hawkeye from VAW-123 Side Number 733 led the way as usual for all launches aboard FORRESTAL. The flight was routine as well. All aircraft recovered as usual until the Hawkeye, which was the last aircraft to recover. The aircraft boltered and went off the angle deck and into the water, nose first. When it hit the water, the aircraft flipped over onto its back, breaking its radar dome off and sank within minutes. The dome floated began floating. Immediately, helicopters moved into the area for search and rescue operations. At 2222 hours, USS DYESS DD-880 reports sighting two men in water. Maneuvering to remain in vicinity of crash. At 2222 hours, USS DYESS reports sighting two men in the water. At 2230 hours, recovered one helo with ATN-2 Carpenter aboard. At 2232 hours, USS DYESS reports picking up LTJG Frederick. Launching one helo. At 2235 hours, launched one helo. At 2257 hours, USS DYESS reports Radome still intact. Efforts to recover radome unsuccessful. At 2321 leaving impact area to recover one aircraft. USS DYESS and USS FISKE DD-842 remain on scene to continue search. At 2333 hours, recovered one aircraft. At 2334 hours, returning to crash scene to continue search. > AT1 David E. Carpenter and LTJG Frank J. Frederick were rescued with serious injury. LCDR Paul Martin Wright Operations Officer, LCDR James Leo Delaney, and LTJG Howard Booth Rutledge were lost at sea.
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Navy Recovers C-2A from Fatal 2017 Crash from 3 Miles UnderwaterBy: Sam LaGrone
June 5, 2019 10:20 PM A year and a half after a fatal crash in the Philippine Sea, the Navy has recovered the wreckage of the missing C-2A Greyhound from more than three miles below the surface, USNI News has learned. The aircraft was recovered from near its Nov. 22crash site about 500 miles from Okinawa in late May, a U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesman confirmed to USNI News on Wednesday. “A Navy salvage team embarked on a contracted vessel and completed the recovery of the C-2A aircraft on May 21,” Cmdr. Nate Christensen, a Navy spokesman, told USNI News. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families, friends, and shipmates of our three fallen sailors.” The Greyhound’s pilot Lt. Steven Combs, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Matthew Chialastri and Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Apprentice Bryan Grosso are presumed to have died following the crash. A Navy official told USNI News that the families of the sailors have been notified of the recovery. The service is not discussing yet if remains were found aboard the aircraft. The C-2A, assigned to the “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30, was headed to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) with four aircrew and seven passengers aboard the aircraft when the crash occurred just miles from the carrier. While the investigation into the incident has yet to be officially closed, accounts from survivors point to Combs performance as the reason eight sailors survived the crash. He had to ditch the aircraft following a mechanical failure in 10-foot to 12-foot seas, according to an account in Military.com. Combs “flew the hell out of that airplane,” his copilot told service officials after the rescue.
After graduation, Admiral Highfill completed the Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1967, later receiving his Wings of Gold as a Naval Aviator, his lifelong ambition. He spent the next 33 years in the Naval Service, retiring in 2000 at the rank of Rear Admiral. During that time, Admiral Highfill accumulated over 1000 carrier landings, made two combat tours completing 350 combat missions in Vietnam, participated in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort for Kurdish Refugees in Northern Iraq, commanded two carrier aviation squadrons (VAW-117 and RVAW-110), two ships (USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7 and USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)), and was Operation Officer on USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and Aide to Commander Strike Group SIXTH Fleet in Naples, Italy. As a Flag Officer, he was Vice Director for Command, Control, Computers and Communications (J-6) on the Joint Staff, and Commander Amphibious Forces Seventh Fleet out of Okinawa, Japan. During this period he was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (4), the Air Medal (6) and 55 other decorations, medals, and campaign ribbons. Admiral Highfill was a Distinguished Graduate of the Naval War College earning a Master of Arts degree in International Security and Foreign Affairs.
Upon retirement from the Navy in 2000, Admiral Highfill settled in Great Falls, VA, where he was appointed as a Vice President for SAIC. Later, he was appointed as a Vice President for C4ISR at the Titan Corporation. He then was appointed as the President and CEO of Base Technologies where, under his leadership, the company was recognized as one of the Top 100 Information Technologies companies in the US. Admiral Highfill was recognized by all who worked for him for his depth of knowledge, attention to detail, focus, hearty laugh, and love of life. He was generous with his time and talents and mentored many along the way. Upon his second retirement, he settled in the Grand Strand region of South Carolina where he worked in real estate, fished, played golf, told tall tales of his many adventures, some of which were true, and, most of all, enjoyed to the fullest his many friends and family. Admiral Highfill was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jenny, his daughter, Cheryl Highfill Woods, her husband, CDR Jeffrey Woods and their three children, Connor, Keira and Kendall of New Freedom, PA; his son, Dr. Jeffrey Scott Highfill, his wife, Dr. Jessica Colburn and their two children, Madeline and Liam of Silver Spring, MD; and his step-daughter, Lauren Jordan Perry of Charleston, SC. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Kristin Leigh Highfill, in 2005 and his faithful companion Boxer, Lucy, in 2015. Admiral Highfill's family will receive visitors on Sunday, October 14, 2018 from 2-4pm at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, SC. Burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Ronald McDonald House and The LilaBean Foundation. |
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