Dear Golden Eagles,

With sadness I report that we have learned belatedly from several national news sources that Admiral Noel A. M. Gayler, USN (Ret.) made his last take-off on July 14, 2011 in Alexandria, Virginia. Survivors include his wife Jeanne; five children from his first marriage, Caroline Maness of Charlotte, Deborah Poisot of Austin, Anne Gayler of Monroe, NY, Alexander Gayler of Blacksburg, VA, and Christopher Gayler of Los Altos, CA; three stepchildren, Scott Landers of Sherman Oaks, CA, Logan Landers of Encino, CA, and Jeanne Mattison of Washington, DC; seven grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren. Funeral/internment plans will be forwarded when known.

Admiral Gayler graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1935, and from ’35-’40 served in battleships and destroyers before entering flight training. He completed flight training in ’40, and was assigned to VF-3 aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3). In’42, during a four-month span, he was awarded three Navy Crosses for valorous actions in Central Pacific actions. He was assigned to VF-2 aboard USS Lexington (CV-2) during the Coral Sea battle and shot down five Japanese aircraft, becoming an Ace. He was serving as Operations Officer for Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. at the end of WWII, and witnessed the Japanese surrender onboard USS Missouri (BB-63). He also visited Hiroshima soon after the atomic attack.

Noel held eight aviation commands during his illustrious career: VF-2, VF-3, VF-8, VF-12, VX-3, USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41), USS Ranger (CV-61), and Carrier Division TWENTY. He was a test pilot at Naval Air Test Centers Anacostia and Patuxent River where he evaluated German, British, and U.S. fighter aircraft of WW II vintage. He was the navy’s fourth jet pilot. As Commanding Officer of VX-3, he flew a low level cross-country flight from a carrier east of Norfolk, VA to Denver, CO and return nonstop, all below 200 feet, to demonstrate the feasibility of low-level penetration and attack.

Noel served variously as the head of the Fighter Design Branch at the Bureau of Aeronautics, Senior Aide to the Secretary of the Navy, Naval Attaché London, and Deputy Director of Joint Target Planning Staff. After selection to Vice Admiral he was assigned as Director of the National Security Agency from ’69-’72. Noel relieved Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. as Commander in Chief of U.S. Pacific Forces in ’72. He greeted the return of American prisoners of war from Vietnam, oversaw the U.S. evacuation from Saigon, and helped organize the waterborne transport of tens of thousands of Vietnamese refugees during his tenure. Admiral Gayler retired in 1976.

Admiral Gayler credits several Golden Eagles for his good fortunes as an aviator, including VADM Jimmy Thach (LTO 1981) who was his CO in VF-3 during WW II, RADM Pierre Charbonnet (LTO 11/24/2005), as well as RADM Whitey Feightner, his XO at VX-3.

We have lost another hero of WW II and one who served in three wars with distinction. He will be missed.

Sadly,

Bill Gureck, Pilot