Gentlemen,
It is my sad duty to inform you that on 16 December 2023 Golden Eagle Emeritus CAPT Robert E. “Gene” Tucker, USN (Ret), made his Last Take Off. Gene was born on 18 July 1937, in the Panama Canal Zone, the son and grandson of career Army Officers. He grew up at Army duty stations all over the world.
Gene enlisted in the Navy and reported to Boot Camp at Bainbridge, MD, in May 1955 as a Seaman Recruit. His potential was quickly recognized and after graduation in September he remained in Bainbridge at the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) until the summer of 1956. He then reported to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with an engineering degree in June 1960. The Naval Academy yearbook, The Lucky Bag, reported that “Gene was from Norfolk, Virginia, and a refugee from an Army family. Never a man to sweat over any type of difficulty, Gene floated happily over the rough spots. He could be found making use of his musical talent in the Drum and Bugle Corps, and he excelled in professional subjects. Always an individualist, Gene will undoubtedly have a good career in Navy Air.” After graduation and commissioning as an Ensign, Gene’s first duty assignment was to the USS Fletcher (DDE 445), in Pearl Harbor, HI. He became the Chief Engineer and qualified as the Officer of the Deck and Command Duty Officer, making two WestPac deployments, and participating in the Mercury space capsule recoveries.
He reported to NAS Pensacola, FL, for flight training in August 1963 and received his Wings of Gold on 18 December 1964. Replacement Air Group (RAG) training in the F-4B Phantom II, with VF-101 at NAS Key West, FL, followed and then assignment to the VF-33 Tarsiers. VF-33 was part of CVW-6 on board USS America and made the shakedown cruise and three deployments aboard America between 1965 and 1968, two to the Mediterranean Sea and a combat cruise to Vietnam. In 1967, during the second deployment America and CVW-6 team provided presence to quell potential violence against U.S. citizens in Greece when a military coup ended parliamentary rule in that country and on 5 June the Israeli-Arab War broke out. On 8 June USS Liberty was attacked with the loss of 34 lives and 173 wounded and America provided lifesaving medical support and deterrence from further attacks.
Later, VF-33 supported the Paris Air Show and Gene flew a slow speed, high angle-of-attack flight demonstration, which was described as a show highlight in Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine. Gene received a Navy Achievement Medal (NAM) for the demonstration, as well. On 10 April 1968 America left Norfolk for Yankee Station, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope to the South China Sea. During four line periods of 112 days America's aircraft pounded at roads and waterways, trucks, and watercraft, hammered petroleum storage areas and truck parks and destroyed bridges and cave storage areas in the attempt to impede the flow of men and war materials to the south. On one memorable mission Gene and his wingman engaged four Mig-17s and a Mig-21, firing two Sparrow missiles which did not guide. Gene would later say, “Everyone lived to fight another day!” He flew more than 1,000 hours and made 574 carrier arrested landings during his nugget tour with VF-33.
His next assignment was to U.S. Navy Test Pilot School (TPS) at NAS Patuxent River, MD, in January 1969, and then posted to the Carrier Suitability Branch, Flight Test Division as a Project Pilot. There, he was the second Navy pilot to fly the F-14A Tomcat, testing the new fighter’s Approach Power Compensator System (APCS) and Direct Lift Control (DLC) system among other projects. While testing the APCS, it became necessary to make the first Tomcat single engine landing when an engine failed. Gene also tested high angle-of-attack flight characteristics, as well, and achieved the highest data points in the test program to date during those flights.
In April 1972 he returned to the fleet as the Operations Officer of the VF-103 Sluggers, with CVW-3 aboard USS Saratoga. On 11 April 1972, Saratoga sailed from Mayport en route to the Western Pacific. She arrived on Yankee Station on 18 May for her first line period of seven for the deployment. Saratoga's planes attacked targets ranging from enemy troop concentrations in the lower panhandle to petroleum storage areas northeast of Hanoi. In August, the CVW-3 Operations Officer was killed in action, and Gene assumed those duties concurrently with his own. On the night of 10 August, Gene, and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) shot down a Mig-21 over North Vietnam. Over the course of the deployment, Gene led several major Alpha Strikes on heavily defended targets in the north. Saratoga and CVW-3 departed Yankee Station on 7 January 1973 and arrived in Mayport, FL, on 13 February 1973. Gene had flown a total of 275 combat missions on his two Vietnam deployments.
A one-year period of shore duty followed with an assignment as the Officer in Charge of VF-101’s Key West, FL, Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) Detachment, a permanent presence that took advantage of the consistently favorable weather there for air-to-air training. In July 1975, Gene reported to the VF-74 Bedevilers, as the Executive Officer. VF-74 was part of CVW-8 aboard USS Nimitz, the first east coast nuclear aircraft carrier, and made a Mediterranean deployment from July of 1976 until February 1977. In May, Gene fleeted up to become VF-74’s Commanding Officer, this time with CVW-17 aboard USS Forrestal, and he made another Med deployment. He logged his 1,000th carrier arrested landing, 1,000th Phantom II carrier arrested landing, and 3,000th Phantom II flight hour during this tour. VF-74 won the Clifton Award as the Navy’s best fighter squadron.
From March 1978 until June 1979 Gene served with the COMNAVAIRLANT Fighter/Recce desk in Norfolk and then assumed command of CVW-17 aboard Forrestal from June of 1979 until July 1980. Forrestal and CVW-17 deployed to the Med from November 1979 until May 1980.
Command of Fighter Wing One at NAS Oceana, VA, was next, until March of 1982. Then deep draft command of USS Sylvania (AFS 2) from April 1982 until June 1984. Sylvania won the Navy’s Golden Anchor Award for superior retention during Gene’s time as the Commanding Officer. Command of USS Coral Sea followed in June 1984. Coral Sea conducted a major overhaul under his leadership and subsequent introduction of the F/A-18 Hornet to the Atlantic Fleet with two Navy and two Marine squadrons aboard. He retired in November 1985, after nearly six consecutive years of command and more than 30 years on active duty.
Gene flew 6,186 flight hours while making 1,284 carrier arrested landings, 367 of them at night. He was a test pilot and Mig Killer who made two Vietnam combat deployments, flew 275 combat missions, and made five complete Med deployments and two peacetime WestPac deployments. Gene was the Officer in Charge of VF-101’s Key West ACM detachment and commanded VF-74, CVW-17, Fighter Wing One, USS Sylvania, and USS Coral Sea. Except for a brief time on the AIRLANT staff, he spent his entire career in the cockpit and/or aboard ship. His combat awards include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, five individual Air Medals, and four Navy Commendation Medals.
Following retirement, Gene was the Senior Vice President for Operations of Presidential Airways at Dulles International Airport, the Director of Navy Programs for Lockheed Martin in Washington, DC, and Senior Vice President for Gemini Air Cargo at Dulles International Airport. Gene’s hobbies were family and travel, and he frequently combined the two in retirement. He deeply loved his immediate and Navy families. Gene is survived by his wife Dolly, daughter Leslie, son Bob, sister Anne, Dolly’s daughter Whitney Wood, and Dolly’s son Steve Hauck. A celebration service will be held on Friday the 12th of January at 2 p.m. at Farmwell Hall, Ashby Ponds, 44734 Audubon Square, Ashburn, VA 20147. Parking is limited and valet and shuttle service are available.
Burial arrangements are planned for Arlington National Cemetery. Details will be provided as soon as they are available.
He will be missed. In sadness,
Keith Stalder Pilot |
