U.S. Navy aviation electronic reconnaissance squadrons VQ-1 and VQ-2 were commissioned in the mid 1950s and were preceded by specially equipped aircraft and trained crews in small detachments with an Officer in Charge (OIC), administratively attached to other squadrons and units under operational control of the local theatre commanders, CINCNELM and CINCPAC, and responsible to the Special Project Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). Some of these squadrons were VC-11, VP-26, VW-1 Detachment. A, VW-2 Detachment A, NCU-32G, and NCU-38N. Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons One and Two (FAIRECONRON ONE and TWO), VQ-1 and VQ-2, were initially designated Electronic Countermeasures Squadrons (ECMRON ONE and TWO) until re-designated in 1960. - Following is a listing of fatalities from 1950 through 1987. - 08 APR 50 - PB4Y-2 Privateer Buno 54645, based in Port Lyautey, French Morocco, staging out of Wiesbaden, West Germany. Administratively attached to VP-26 (NCU-32). Shot down off Latvia in the west Baltic Sea by 4 Soviet LA-11s. Fatalities: Lt. John H. Fette, Lt. Howard W. Skeschaf, Ltjg. Robert D. Reynolds, Ens. Tommy L. Burgess, AD1 Joe H. Danens, Jr., AD1 Jack W. Thomas, AT1 Francis Beckman, CT3 Edward J. Purcell, AL3 Joseph J. Bourassa, AT3 Joseph N. Rinnier, Jr. - 06 FEB 52 - P4M-1Q Mercator Buno 124371, based in Port Lyautey, French Morocco, staging out of Nicosia, Cyprus. Operationally attached to NCU-32G. Returning from the Black Sea made an open ocean dead-stick landing east of Cyprus. Fatality: Lt. Robert Hager. Fourteen survivors were rescued by HMS Chevron. - 22 AUG 56 - P4M-1Q Mercator Buno 124362, staging from Iwakuni, Japan. Squadron VQ-1. Shot down off Wenchai, China. Fatalities: Ltjg. James B. Deane, Ltjg. Francis A. Flood,Jr, Lcdr. Milton Hutchinson, Lcdr. JamesW.Ponsford, AT2 Donald Wayne Barber, AO2 Warren Edgar Caron, AT3 Jack Albert Curtis, AT1 William Frederick Haskins, AO3 William Michael Humbert, AD1 H.E. Lounsbury, AT1 Albert Perry Mattin, AT2 Carl Edwin Messinger, AE2 Wallace Powell, AT3 Donald Eugene Sprinkle, AT2 Leonard Strykowski, AD3 Lloyd Lewayne Young - 04 JAN 58 - P4M-1Q Mercator Buno 124373 (JQ-3), ferrying from Port Lyautey, French Morocco, via Lajes, Azores, via Bermuda to Norfolk, Va. Squadron VQ-2. Crashed on final approach at 22 St. and E. Ocean Ave., Norfolk, Va. Fatalities: PHC Richard Demoss, AQ1 Robert Danner, AD1 William Peter, AA Thomas Hinton. - 16 OCT 58 - A3D-1Q Skywarrior Buno 130356 (JQ-1), based in Port Lyautey, French Morocco, staging out of Incirlik AB, Adana, Turkey. Squadron VQ-2. Fatalities: Lcdr. Charles M. Moore, Ltjg. Charles B. Lynch, Ltjg. Carl W. Buckenhauer, AQ1 Charles S. Stomski. - 28 MAY 59 - A3D-1Q Buno 130362 Skywarrior. Squadron VQ-1. Fatalities: Lcdr. Burton W. Decker, Jr., Ltjg. Allan F. DeWitt, AT1 Lawrence A. Coburn, AT2 Charles F. Stickels. - 27 NOV 59 - A3D-1Q Buno 144853 Skywarrior. Squadron VQ-1. Fatalities: Cdr. Francis J. Suhare, Ltjg. Donald L. Schillinger, AD1 Robert C. Taylor, AM1 Joseph D. Dulany. - 19 JAN 60 - P4M-1Q Mercator, Buno 124365 (JQ-16), Squadron VQ-2, staging from Incirlik AB, Adana, Turkey. Crash site 41 NM from Incirlik AB. Crashed into ravine on mountain top. Fatalities: Lcdr. Franklin B. Moore, Lcdr. Warren J. Hampton, Lt. Thomas H. Edgerton, Ltjg. Donald C. McIntyre, Ltjg. Robert E. Ogden, ATC John M. Boling, AD1 Joseph A. Cote, AT1 Marvin A. Radtke, AE1 Murph J. Martinez, Jr., AO2 Richard C. Nuzum, AT2 John M. Criswell, AT2 Harold L. Berg, AQ2 Richard D. Crittenden, AT3 Francis E. Tomkousig, AM3 Rex Gregory, AN Billy C. Sullivan. - 13 JAN 61 - A3D-1Q Buno 146456 Skywarrior. Squadron VQ-1. Lost in flight. Fatalities: Lcdr. Ashley R. Hodges, Lt. Hugh P. Sams, AM1 Edward Taylor, AO3 James O. Clardy. - 22 MAY 62 - WV-2Q (EC-121) Super Constellation, Buno 131390 (JQ-15). Squadron VQ-2, based at Rota, Spain; staging out of Wiesbaden, West Germany. Fatalities: Lcdr. Conner M. Petrie Jr., Lt. Jack L. Duvall, Ltjg. Marvin R. Armstrong, Lcdr. Charles A. Patschke, Ltjg. Robert Poole, ADRCA Eugeno George, ADR2 Michael Kostiuk, ATCA Jared M. Rose, ATCA Thomas E. Young, AT1 Gene P. Bartram, AM1 Martin J. Brennan, AMH1 Gerhard K. Heimerl, AT2 Donald R. Ballard, AT2 Gerald R. Carlton, AT2 Jamos W. Tyler, AT2 Ronald P. Wajda, ATR3 Edward N. Hawkins, ATS3 Orville R. Malone, AE3 Timothy D. Steward, ATN3 Lee P. Strong, ATR3 Joseph H. Watkins, ATRAN Gilbert J. Austin. [ARMY Fatalities:] SP5 F.L. Breshears, SP5 R.J. Hoos, SP4 E.M. Mcgreal, SP4 R.A. Lewis. - 28 MAY 66 - EA-3B Skywarrior Buno 142257 (R-3). Squadron VQ-2, staging out of Cubi Point, Philippines. Encountered typhoon, and four ECM crew bailed out - flight crew successfully returned to base. Fatalities: Lt. Lindsey, ATC Aubin, ATR3 Richard Hunt, ATR3 Rich Stocker. Rich Stocker's body was found on 31 May - apparently died 8 hours prior to recovery, based upon forensic evidence; Lt. Lindsay's Mae West was found with note: "We are in the water and OK." - 03 NOV 66 - EA-3B Skywarrior, Buno 146458 (R-9). Squadron VQ-2, home base Rota, Spain, deployed on USS Independence. Crashed in-bound for carrier landing on Independence off Sicily. Fatalities: Lcdr. Monard L. Lilleboe, Ltjg. James H. Stilz, Ltjg. Victor C. Vogel, AT1 Lawrence Gallagher, ADJ2 Keith A. Kleis, ATR3 David W. Mccusker - 04 JUN 68 - EA-3B Skywarrior, Buno 142670 (R-11). Squadron VQ-2, home base Rota, Spain. Crashed on takeoff from Rota. Fatalities: Cdr. Theodore E. Daum, Lcdr. Charles L. Best, Lcdr. Bruce P. Ford, Lcdr. James W. Frazee. - 14 APR 69 - EC-121M Super Constellation, Buno 135749 (PR-21). Squadron VQ-1. Shot down by two MIGs over North Korea. Fatalities: Lcdr. James H. Overstreet, Lt. John N. Dzema, Lt. Dennis B. Gleason, Lt. Peter P. Perrottey, Lt. John H. Singer, Lt. Robert F. Taylor, Ltjg. Joseph R. Ribar, Ltjg. Robert J. Sykora, Ltjg. Norman E. Wilkerson, ADRC Marshall H. McNamara, CTC Frederick A. Randall, CTC Richard E. Smith, AT1 Richard E. Sweeney, AT1 James Leroy Roach, CT1 John H. Potts, ADR1 Ballard F. Conners, AT1 Stephen C. Chartier, AT1 Bernie J. Colgin, ADR2 Louis F. Balderman, ATR2 Dennis J. Horrigan, ATN2 Richard H. Kincaid, ATR2 Timothy H. McNeil, CT2 Stephen J. Tesmer, ATN3 David M. Willis, CT3 Philip D. Sundby, AMS3 Richard T. Prindle, CT3 John A. Miller, AE3 LaVerne A. Greiner, ATN3 Gene K. Graham, CT3 Gary R. DuCharme, SSGT Hugh M. Lynch,(US Marine Corps). - 26 FEB 70 - EA-3B Skywarrior Buno 144851 (R-2). Squadron VQ-2. Fatalities: Lcdr. Roger Blaine Thrasher, Lt. Thomas L. Walls, AO1 Floyd Russ Bond. - 16 MAR 70 - EC-121M Super Constellation Buno 145927 (PR-26). Squadron VQ-1, crash at DaNang Vietnam after flight from Tainian, Taiwan. Fatalities: Lcdr. Harvey C. K. Aiau, Lcdr. Harry C. Martin, Lt. George L. Morningstar, Lt. Robin A. Pearce, Ltjg. James M. Masters, Jr., Ltjg. Charles E. Pressler, Ltjg. Jean P. Souzon, ADRC William John Risse, ADR1 Arthur Simmons, ADR1 Donald W. Wilson, AT1 Larry O. Marchbank, AE2 Floyd E. Andrus III, ADR3 Gregary J. Asbeck, AMS2 William P. Bletsch, ATN2 Guy Thomas Denton, ATR2 Joseph S. Saukaitis, ATN2 John S. Schaefer, ADR2 Stuart J. Scruggs, ATN2 Barry M. Searby, ATN3 John Macy Birch, ATN3 Thurle E. Case, Jr., ATN3 Ben Allen Hughes, Jr., ATN3 Ralph S. Purhum. - 09 JUL 74 - TA-3B Skywarrior Buno 144863 (R-00). Squadron VQ-2, crashed at Naples, Italy on flight originating at home base Rota, Spain. Fatalities: Lcdr. Dwight I. Worrel, Ltjg. Douglas N. Davis, AQ2 John G. Pauljohn, AE2 William P. Beuler, AMH2 Roberts F. Carney, ADJ2 Robert S. Cherrington, AE3 Carl F. Swartz. ADJ3 Orval T. May - 04 AUG 82 - EA-3B Buno 146450 Skywarrior. Squadron VQ-1. Lost in flight. Fatalities: Lt. Michail F. Brown, Lt. Frank N. Kertscher, Ltjg. David A. Pies, Terry D. Smith (NPO), PO2 William B. Snider, PO3 Brian S. Watson. - 23 JAN 85 - EA-3B Buno 142672 (PR-111) Skywarrior. Squadron VQ-1. Lost in flight 134 miles NE of Guam. Fatalities: Cdr. John I. Mitchell, Cdr. Robert E. Delateur, Lt. Marshall M. Laird, Lt. Carlos A. Miller, Ltjg. Richard A. Thomson, AMSC John T. Clark, AEC David K. Nichols, AT3 Thomas J. Jorgenson, AD3 Thomas J. Degryse. - 25 JAN 87 - EA-3B Skywarrior Buno 144850 (R-12). Squadron VQ-2, home based at Rota Spain, crashed landing on board USS Nimitz. Fatalities: Lcdr. Ronald R. Callender, Lt. Stephen H. Batchelder, Lt. A. Levine, Lt. James D. Richard, AT2 Richard A. Herzing, CTI3 Patrick R. Price, CTI3 Craig R. Rudolf. - 01 JUN 87 - EA-3B Buno 144854. Squadron VQ-1. Skywarrior. Crashed during night FCLP'S at NAS Miramar. Fatalities: Lt. Dan Smith, Lt. David Madison, AT3 Herb Plath ==== UPDATED 01 JAN 11 ==== Compiled by Chuck Huber - cerebralhush@gmail.com - VQ-2 data courtesy of AMHC(AW) John D. Herndon (retired), VQ-2 member 1980 - 1991, 1996 - 1999, whose website "In Memoriam of VQ-2 Shipmates Lost" is at http://www.portlyautey.com/ECM-2.htm; and shipmate' submissions. - VQ-1 data courtesy of researchers at http://www.a3skywarrior.com; and shipmates' submissions. bieramar's blog http://community.webtv.net/bieramar/bieramarsblog