Charles Klusmann
| Captain Charles Klusmann | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Charles Klusmann |
| Nickname(s) | Chuck |
| Born |
September 7, 1933 San Diego, California |
| Allegiance |
 |
| Service/ |
 |
| Years of service | 1953-1980 |
| Rank |
 |
| Wars/Actions | |
| Awards | (See below) |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen |
| Other work | (See below) |
Captain Charles Frederick Klusmann (b. September 7, 1933)[1] is a retired United States Navy combat pilot who was shot down over North Vietnam during the Vietnam War and later escaped from being a Prisoner of war.[1] He was a navy Lieutenant (O-3) when he was shot down over Plain De Jars, Laos (Loss Coordinates: 192800N 1031500E) on 6 June 1964 flying an RF-8A Crusader aircraft from the VFP-63, USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63).[1] Klusmann, captured on June 6, 1964 escaped from his captors three months later on August 31. He is now a retired US Navy captain (O-6) living in Pensacola, Florida.[1] According to the Pensacola News Journal, he was the first airman shot down and captured by the Pathet Lao (Laotian guerillas), and the first to escape, "First in, first out".[2] This is notable because the United States government never negotiated for the release of any prisoners held in Laos, and so, not one American held in Laos was ever released.[1]
Military Career
Assignments
- 23 February 1952, Klusmann enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve.[3]
- 18 March 1953, he went on active duty, completing basic training at Naval Training Center San Diego.[3]
- He then attended Class A Aerographer's Mate School at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey.[3]
- Entered service as an Aerographer at Naval Ordnance Test Facility China Lake, California.[3]
- July 1954, accepted into the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and began flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida.[3]
- 26 July 1955, commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator.[3]
- Aug 1955, served as an AD-6 Skyraider pilot with VA-215 at NAS Moffett Field, California.[3]
- March 1957, assigned was as an F9F Panther pilot and flight instructor with ATU-202 and ATU-222 at NAS Kingsville, Texas.[3]
- July 1959, General Line School at Monterey, California.[3]
- May 1960, and Catapult School at NAS Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3]
- September 1960, served as Catapult Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31).[3]
- October 1962, served as an RF-8 Crusader pilot with VFP-63 as NAS Miramar, California.[3]
- October 1963, deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63).[3]
- 6 June 1964, he was forced to eject over Laos and was taken as a Prisoner of War.[3]
- 31 August 1964, escaped from his captors and made it back to friendly forces, after more than 80 days in captivity.[3]
- December 1964, returned to the United States, and attended Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California[3]
- November 1966, served as a test pilot with Air Development Squadron 4 (VX-4) at NAS Point Mugu, California.[3]
- August 1968, attended Naval War College and then the Military Law and Procedure Course with the Navy Justice School at Navy War College, Newport, Rhode Island.[3]
- July 1969, served as Executive Officer (XO) and then Commanding Officer of VT-22 at NAS Kingsville, Texas.[3]
- September 1971, served as Flight Training Officer for the Chief of Naval Air Training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas.[3]
- July 1973, served as Air Boss and then Executive Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CVT-16).[3]
- January 1977, served as Commanding Officer of the Fleet Coordinating Group, Western Pacific, at San Miguel, Philippines.[3]
- May 1979, served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Mines on the staff of the Commander Mine Warfare Command at Charleston, South Carolina.[3]
- October 1, 1980, retired from the Navy.[3]
Awards and Decorations
Lieutenant Klusmann's military awards and decorations include:
His Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:[3]
| “ | For extraordinary heroism and achievement while participating in aerial flight during May and June 1964. Lieutenant Klusmann, attached to and serving with Light Photographic Squadron SIXTY-THREE, Detachment C, aboard USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63) has been engaged in unarmed reconnaissance flights over Laos in the Plaines des Jarres area. On 21 May 1964, his first flight into the area, his aircraft was struck by ground fire, and burned for a period of 20 minutes. Exercising superior airmanship, he was able to return safely to his ship. On 6 June 1964, on another low-level flight, his aircraft was shot down about 10 miles south of the Pathet Lao stronghold of Ban Ban on Route 7 east of the Plaines des Jarres at noon local time. Lieutenant Klusmann ejected from his aircraft and was observed on the ground. An attempt was made to rescue him by helicopter from a clearing, but as the helicopter approached the area Lieutenant Klusmann, exhibiting heroism of the highest order, waved it off. Almost immediately, he was observed to be surrounded by Pathet Lao troops. The rescue helicopter was subjected to ground fire and one of its occupants was wounded before it could depart the area. Subsequently, the Chinese Communist radio announced that the Pathet Lao had captured Lieutenant Klusmann. Lieutenant Klusmann's unswerving devotion to duty, professional skill, and courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. | ” |
Personal Life and Retirement
Klusmann retired from the Navy as a captain in 1980. A grandfather of three, he retired with Ellen to Pensacola, where he went to flight school in 1996.[2]
See Also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Klusmann, Charles Frederic". POWNetwork.org. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- 1 2 "A Pensacolian's escape from Laos". PNJ.com. Pensacola News Journal. August 30, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "Charles F Klusmann". VeteranTributes.org. Veteran Tributes. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- 1 2 "Charles Frederick Klusmann". MilitaryTimes.com. Military Times. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
External Links
- Story of the mission where Klusmann was shot down - from POW-Network.org