Fred Bardshar

Vice Admiral Frederic Abshire Bardshar (20 October 1915 – 13 September 1993) was an American World War II air ace,[1] who later became Commander of United States Navy Task Force 77 and Carrier Division Five during the Vietnam War.[2]

Frederic Abshire Bardshar
Born(1915-10-20)20 October 1915
Seattle, Washington
Died13 September 1993(1993-09-13) (aged 77)
La Jolla, San Diego, California
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1934–1972
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldTask Force 77
Carrier Division Seven
USS Constellation
USS Pawcatuck
Air Transport Squadron 32
Air Group 27
VF-27
Battles/warsWorld War II
Vietnam War
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (4)
Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
Air Medal (6)

Military career

World War II

During World War II, Lieutenant Commander Bardshar piloted a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, and was credited with eight kills at the Philippines during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in 1944. He was made commander of Air Group 27, based aboard USS Princeton.[3]

1960s

From November 1963 to November 1964, Captain Bardshar was the third Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation.[4] In 1969, Rear Admiral Bardshar led an investigation into the fire aboard the USS Enterprise when a Zuni rocket misfired, resulting in the deaths of 27 crew, and 314 more injured.

Vietnam War

Bardshar commanded the Constellation during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident from which he led the first U.S. attacks on Vietnam. Later he served two tours with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As Vice Director of Operations he led the planning for Operation Duck Hook to escalate U.S. involvement, eventually denied by President Nixon.[5] As commander of Task Force 77 he was involved in Operation Ivory Coast, to liberate 55 American pilots from Son Tay POW camp. On 20 August 1970, Vice Admiral Bardshar hosted the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, aboard the aircraft carrier USS America.[6]

Bardshar died at La Jolla, San Diego, on 13 September 1993.[7]

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References
  1. "United States Navy and Marine Corps Aces". Naval Historical Center. Archived from the original on 1997-02-06. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
  2. "USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63) Command History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
  3. Karig, Walter. Battle Report – the End of an Empire By Karig. READ BOOKS. p. 302. ISBN 1-4067-5405-6.
  4. "Commanding Officers of the United States Ship Constellation (CVA/CV-64)". U.S.S. Constellation CVA/CV-64 Association. Archived from the original on 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
  5. http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb517-Nixon-Kissinger-and-the-Madman-Strategy-during-Vietnam-War/
  6. "America". Naval Historical Center. Archived from the original on 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
  7. "Social Security Death Index". Retrieved 2007-10-10.
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