NOTAM 5-2013 (Wynn Foster)

Captain Wynn F. Foster, USN (Ret)

Golden Eagle Emeritus

Dear Golden Eagles,

It is my sad duty to report that CAPT Wynn F. Foster, USN (Ret), age 86, made his Last Take-Off on 9 June 2013 in Prescott, AZ. He was predeceased by his wife, Marilyn, on 10 July 2012. His wishes were that his services be conducted at the Chapel at NAS North Island and that his ashes be scattered at sea. Additional details will be provided at a later time.

Everyone knew him as " CAPT Hook " because of the prosthesis he wore in place of his right arm which had been severely injured while flying an A4 during a 1966 strike mission in North Vietnam. That remarkable incident was fully detailed in his autobiography, " Captain Hook: A Pilot's Tragedy and Triumph in the Vietnam War" published in 1992. His words describe the AAA hit he took that shattered his cockpit severing his right arm and further described his heroic and superhuman efforts in maintaining control of his aircraft in spite of his traumatic injury, flying it to an area off the coast of Vietnam to a position overhead a US Navy destroyer, and then initiating ejection to be recovered by that ship's motor whaleboat crew. What he accomplished was the stuff of legend for which he was awarded the Silver Star. VADM Jim Stockdale called him a man with a "tremendous sense of purpose and uncommon tenacity". In fact during an earlier strike mission launched from the deck of the USS Oriskany in 1965, CAPT Foster had been on Admiral Stockdale' s wing when Admiral Stockdale was shot down and captured.

CAPT Wynn Foster was born in 1926 in Minnesota, and after high school, like many his age seeking to serve their country in WWII, he enlisted in the Navy in 1944. With the conclusion of that war he was released from active duty, attended the University of Minnesota, subsequently rejoined the Navy, and entered flight training in 1949 receiving his wings in 1950. He trained in the F9F-2, deployed to Korea and flew 75 combat missions during that conflict. A series of shore and sea duty assignments followed his service in Korea to include a tour with VX-4, tours as a flight instructor, and service as a ship' s company officer aboard USS Forrestal. In 1960 he transitioned to the A4 serving as XO of VA-76 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was in 1966 while embarked on the USS Oriskany and assigned to VA-163 as Commanding Officer that the incident described above occurred. His recovery from his injury took about a year, and after a 2-3 year battle, the Navy granted his request and allowed him to remain on active duty. Thus, he continued to serve his Navy and the Nation at sea and ashore until his retirement in 1972.

After retiring from the Navy, CAPT Foster continued to chronicle historical events important to Naval Aviation to include his second book, " Fire on the Hangar Deck" a retelling of the circumstances of the disastrous fire on board the USS Oriskany. Further, he authored and contributed to several articles published in " Hook" magazine and other aviation related journals. Much of his time in retirement was devoted to support for the Tailhook Association where he provided inspiration to all involved in the resurgence of that important association.

CAPT Wynn F. Foster was a gentleman of the first order, a man who never complained about his fate, a man determined to serve his country as long as he was able, and a man to whom the honorable way was never out of focus. We have lost another member of the Greatest Generation.

He will be missed.

In sadness,

Fred Lewis-Pilot

flewis@ndia.org • The Golden Eagles