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NOTAM 8-2013 (Hanecak)
Dear Golden Eagles, It is my sad duty to report that CAPT Richard G. Hanecak, USN (Ret), age 90, made his Last Take-Off on 4 October 2013 in San Diego, CA. He is survived by his daughters, Janice, Ronnie, and Shelly, and two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife Delores, and by his second wife, Betsy, who predeceased him in 2008. Information in regard to a memorial service in his honor will be passed by separate correspondence. CAPT Hanecak was born on 31 October 1923 and was raised in Pennsylvania. He briefly attended Purdue University in the early forties, enlisted in the Navy for flight training in 1942, and received his wings in July 1943. In WWII he served in the Pacific flying the F6F with VF-7 embarked on USS Hancock from September 1944 to February 1945. He participated in numerous air and sea battles in the Philippine area of operations, and during this tour he shot down a Japanese A6M5 ZERO fighter. At the second Battle of the Philippine Sea he participated in strikes against the combined fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy and was actively engaged in the first fighter sweeps over Okinawa, Formosa, Hong Kong, and the coast of what was then called French Indo-China. In February 1945 he was detached from VF-7, returned to the US, and reported to VF-44 where he served until the end of the war. Various training and operational tours followed including assignment in 1950 to VC-11 embarked on USS Valley Forge when he was again involved in combat operations during the Korean War. He was an AD-3 Skyraider pilot at the time and flew forty-one combat missions in support of US operations in that theater. In late 1950 after transfer from VC-11 he served in additional training, staff, and operational billets including command of VA-146 flying the FJ-4B Fury embarked on USS Lexington. Other command assignments followed including command of the Navy Photo Center in Anacostia, command of NAS Cubi Point, and command of the USS Haleakola ( AE-25) aboard which he made two deployments in support of operations against North Vietnam. His final assignment on active duty was on the staff of COMNAVAIRPAC from which he retired in 1974. For his superior leadership and aviation achievements in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam he was awarded the Legion of Merit, two DFC’ s and other service and campaign medals. Dick Hanecak’s dedicated service in three of our Nation’s wars is a true testament to the characterization applied to him by his brothers-in-arms who refer to him as a “true warrior”. He was a fighter in the air, but on the ground he was a thoughtful and understanding human being who did not require harsh words or strong language to stir men to action. It is sad to know that yet another member of the “Greatest Generation” has left us behind. He will be missed. In sadness, Fred Lewis-Pilot |
Golden Eagle NOTAM