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Killed In Action        January 12th, 1962        Killed In Action
CREW PHOTOGRAPHS

  • Message from Adrienne Brown   [04AUG2003]
  • Message from Cheryl Millette   [15JUL2003]
  • Message from Lillian Carol Russell   [29MAY2003]
  • Message from Cheryl Millette, Nancy Brenneman, and Don Latimer   [17AUG2002]
  • Message from Cheryl Millette   [19MAR2002]
  • Message from Mike Kozak   [22AUG2001]


  • VP-5 Mishap Shipmate Photo "...LT John A. Brown, M.D. - Adrienne Brown, wife of James Brown, brother of John..." Forwarded by Bob Pettway rpettway@epbfi.com [04AUG2003]


    LT John A. Brown, M.D.
    Flight Surgeon


    John was born May 11, 1933, in Somerville, MA, son of Doris and Everett W. Brown. He was the second of four children. He was raised in Melrose, MA, was a genuinely nice, caring, intelligent young man who dreamed of becoming a doctor from his early childhood.

    As a child he was a little accident prone surviving a ruptured appendix, almost losing a finger, and being gored by a cow to name a few. He loved the drums and quickly became an excellent player. He was in several high school bands and also was associated with the Melrose and North Shore Philharmonic Orchestras for several years. He also played at the Bald Peak Colony Club on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and at several resorts in the Catskills to help with the cost of college.

    He was accepted at Tufts University pre-med program and graduated in 1955 with cum laude honors. He went on to finish Tufts med school in 1959.

    He met his wife, Ingrid, one summer while working at a resort in the Catskills, NY. They were married for four years and had no children.

    He joined the Naval ROTC to help pay college tuition and after graduation attended the Naval School of Aviation Medicine in Pensacola, FL. He was then assigned as flight surgeon for VP-5 stationed at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, in April 1961. From July 1 he was Acting Commanding Officer until the Commanding Officer arrived 2 months later. He re-opened the hospital when it was taken over from the Air Force.

    He was loved by everyone who knew him and has been sorely missed since this tragic accident. He had a great potential for doing good.

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    VP-5 Mishap Shipmate Photo "...Cheryl Millette provided a personal history on her brother Radioman ATN3 Alan P. Millette..." Forwarded by Bob Pettway rpettway@epbfi.com [15JUL2003]


    ATN3 Alan P. Millette


    Alan Patrick Millette was born to Ida and Edmund Millette on March 20, 1940. His first three years of life were spent on a farm in Minnesota before moving to Vermillion, South Dakota. He attended grade school, high school and one year of college in Vermillion before joining the Navy. He died while serving his country in the Navy, January 1962. He was 21 years old.

    Al was an easy going person with many friends. The stories his friends tell of him are fun and exciting - never a dull moment with him around. One story I would like to share is when he attended college in Vermillion, he was in ROTC. He came home from his first class in ROTC with a demerit. The demerit was for not having shaved that morning. He said he didn't have the heart to say, he'd never shaved in his life!

    Al married Virginia Stamm after joining the Navy. He became the father of a son, Scott Alan Millette, born August 24, 1960 and a second son, Jon Michael Millette, born September 18, 1961. He had been sent to Spain just before Jon was born and never had the opportunity to see him. But it is amazing how much of Al is in both of them - right down to actions and mannerisms! Scott has a son and a daughter and Jon has a daughter.

    His life was very short; he always told Mom it would be!

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    VP-5 Mishap Shipmate Photo "...A SLICE OF LIFE - Columnist: Lillian Carol Russell alr@xit.net..." [31MAY2003]

    A SLICE OF LIFE
    Columnist: Lillian Carol Russell
    Moore County News Press
    May 29, 2003 edition

    VP-5 Mishap Shipmate Photo

    Norman Royce Russell Jr.
    Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class
    United States Navy
    November 14, 1938 - January 12,1962


    Norman was born to Norman ‘Royce" and Sibyl Andrus Russell. His dad was a retired Navy Chief and so he knew the Navy life. He was born in San Diego, California while his dad was stationed there. Upon retirement Norman senior brought his wife and three children back home to the place of his roots, near Roseland, Louisiana. Norman was age 12, the family settled down to live the life of civilians.

    A sister Gayle Russell Rispone and a brother Andrus Russell survive him. He has niece and four nephews, two who were named after him. There are a total of five boys who bear part of his name in his memory. There are now eight great nieces & nephews.

    After graduating high school Norman began training in the Navy Reserve while attending Collage for a year, he then enlisted to follow the family tradition. He made many flights to various parts of the world.

    In Jacksonville, Florida he met the girl of his dreams and love blossomed. He brought Bonnie home to meet the family, wedding plans were made everyone looked forward to her being part of the family.

    May 19, 1959 he received a commendation for attaining the highest scholastic average in his class in Aviation Electronic Technician School. He was on his way and the future looked bright indeed.

    The year 1962 would see overwhelming tragedy make it's camp on the Russell's doorstep. A telegram delivered by the local law enforcement would be the beginning of sorrows. Toward the end of the month, a letter was received from the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Naval Air Force, Patrol Squadron Five. It began with; "It is with great sorrow;" words that crushed the family as they read that their son was officially missing. The intensive search had been called off. It went on to tell of the deep admiration and respect felt by his shipmates, which is evident to this day as they have kept in touch with the family.

    The community shared the heartache of the loss. Time did little to ease the pain, a pain that came from not knowing. His disappearance was shrouded in mystery. What had happened, was he really dead? The torment his family went through lasted almost four years.

    A British Geological expedition found the wreckage of the plane and later Norman was brought home. It was October of 1966, a cool autumn breeze blew as we laid his remains to rest out there in Russell Town cemetery. He was a quiet, kind and compassionate person and remains in our memories as a handsome boy of 24.

    Across the U.S. other families were going through the same grief process, a final closure to four years shrouded in mystery. Only in the past year did we learn to our sorrow that there are still remains in that lonely and desolate place; Kronborg Glacier. Families still grieve the loss and there is no closure for them. As strange as it seems to some, the only peace is have that final closure, to bring their loved ones home to rest in the family cemetery.

    By the wonders of the internet we were able to contact some of the British Geological team that discovered the plane. Our first contact was with Dr. Peter knight of the Danish Polar Center. He posted the request for information on the Geological Society's bulletin board, to be seen by about 500 members worldwide. Dr Roger J. Braithwaite saw the message and advised we contact Dr. Joergen Taagholt at the Danish Polar Commission in Copenhagen. Then Dr. Taagholt sent word that he was researching it for us. Next Dr. Kent Brooks in Copenhagen contacted us to say that he was one of the four-man team who had discovered the crash site. He offered his assistance and sent a detailed description of his memories of the experience. He also sent the names of two of the other members of the research party who were still in Oxford.

    We contacted Brian Atkins, but never heard from him. We contacted Dr. David Bell and his response was immediate. He mailed us a copy of the news clippings of the crash photo, a localized map of the area, a color photo of the general area. He also sent copies of letters he had received from the other victim's family members, thanking the team for their part in solving the four-year-old mystery. We were not been able to locate David Parrish, we are told that he is the one who actually first spotted the plane.

    We have been assured that no one suffered a lingering death. It was so cold there, they would have been almost instantly frozen had they survived the crash. It was good to communicate with those who were there. To actually look at the photo of the frozen tundra brought a final closure, it was lonely yet beautiful, it made us sad, yet it fulfilled a need.

    DEATH'S ICY HAND

    Your mother said you were so cute as a little child,
    curls so blonde and eyes so blue with laughter in your smile.

    You grew up too fast like any normal boy,
    you always were all your life a source of pride and joy.

    From high school to collage to Navy you went,
    thus all the days of your life were spent.

    You'd met Bonnie and planned soon to marry,
    we all assumed your name she would carry.

    Sometimes the book of life is short,
    and loved ones are left with a broken heart.

    Your pages were few we all soon learned,
    as the final chapter came and the pages all were turned.

    Death reached out its icy hand and snatched you from the sky,
    your plane went down and all twelve on board would die.

    Those who knew and loved you said you had the sweetest smile,
    perhaps it was because you would see God in just a while.

    We've finally talked to those who found your remains in that cold and lonely place,
    where God reached out to call you home to look upon His face.


    By: Lillian Carol Russell


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    VP-5 Mishap Shipmate Photo "...Left to Right (Below): Radioman ATN3 Alan P. Millette (photo furnished by his sister Cheryl Millette), Flight Surgeon LT John A. Brown, MD (photo furnished by his sister Nancy Brenneman), and Co-Pilot LT(jg) Anthony F. Caswick (photo furnished by Don Latimer)..." Contributed via Bob Pettway rpettway@epbfi.com [17AUG2002]



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    VP-5 Mishap Shipmate Photo "...I received this today (below) from Mike Kozak. The photo was taken on Dec. 29, 1961 at NS Rota, Spain. It was about a week before their departure from NS Rota, Spain for NAS Keflavik, Iceland, and about 2 weeks before their fatal last flight. The airman on the far right, Donald H. Latimer AT1, was not on the crew by that time. Also, some are not in the photo (Ltjg. Anthony F. Caswick was already in Keflavik; Alan P. Millette I think replaced Latimer on the crew; moving Anderson from 2nd tech to 1st tech, Russell from radio to 2nd tech, and Millette took over the radio position. Also, the passenger, Lt. John Brown, MD, is not shown and was stationed at NAS Keflavik, Iceland Hospital at the time of the photo.) Bob Pettway rpettway@epbfi.com..." [22AUG2001]



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    VP-5 Mishap Shipmate Photo "...I received this picture (below) in the mail today from Cheryl Millette, the sister of Alan Millette..." Contributed via Robert Pettway rpettway@epbfi.com [19MAR2002]

    Memorial Picture


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