STATUS:
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Awarded:
February 27,
1976
Laid
down: April 2, 1979
Launched: November 3, 1979
Commissioned: January 10, 1981
Decommissioned: April 3, 2003
Fate: stricken April 3, 2003
transferred
to Turkey on April 3, 2003
renamed
TCG Goksu (F-497); in service in Turkish Navy
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Estocin
was from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and joined the Navy from Akron, Ohio, in
1954. By April 20, 1967, he had reached the rank of lieutenant commander and
was an A-4 Skyhawk pilot in Attack Squadron 192, operating off of the USS
Ticonderoga (CV-14) in the Gulf of Tonkin. On that day, he supported a
bombing mission over Haiphong, North Vietnam.
Six days later, on April 26, he supported another strike aimed at Haiphong's
thermal power station, with John B. Nichols acting as his escort in an F-8
Crusader. Estocin and Nichols flew ahead of the main attack and were charged
with suppressing any surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) in the area. The strike
on the power plant went off without incident, and the two pilots were about
to head back to the Ticonderoga when Estocin detected an active SAM site. A
single missile was launched from the site and exploded near his A-4, knocking
it into a barrel roll. Estocin was able to regain control and pulled the
aircraft, burning at the belly and wing roots, into a 30 degree dive.
Estocin's wingman, John Nichols, immediately called for a helicopter rescue.
He flew beside the stricken plane, getting close enough to see Estocin in the
cockpit with his head bent forward slightly, not moving. He tried to contact
Estocin by radio but received no response. As the A-4 lost altitude and
entered a cloud bank, Nichols continued to follow it, even as a second SAM
exploded nearby. After reaching 600 feet (180 m), he leveled off and watched
as Estocin's plane impacted with the ground. He circled the area, looking for
a parachute, but saw nothing. Nichols called off the rescue mission and
returned to the Ticonderoga.
Although Nichols was certain Estocin had been killed in the crash,
intelligence from Hanoi indicated that he had ejected and been captured. The
U.S. military declared him a prisoner of war, causing Nichols to feel deep
guilt for having called off the rescue mission. When the prisoners were
released in 1973 and Estocin was not among them, it was presumed that he had
died in captivity.
For his actions during the missions over Haiphong on April 20, and April 26,
1967, Estocin was promoted to captain in absentia and awarded the Medal of
Honor. In 1976, his parents ran him as a write-in candidate for President of
the United States to bring attention to prisoner of war/missing in action
issues. The U.S. Navy named the guided missile frigate USS Estocin (FFG-15),
launched in 1979, in his honor.
In 1993, a committee investigating the cases of missing U.S. military
personnel determined that Estocin was never captured and had indeed died in
the crash of his plane. Estocin's disappearance and presumed death occurred
one day before his 36th birthday. A marker in his memory was placed in Fort
Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California.
The Michael J. Estocin Award was created by the U.S. Navy to recognize
meritorious achievement by a strike fighter squadron. The award, originally
sponsored by the McDonnell Douglas corporation, is a trophy with a polished black
stone base and an 18 inch (46 cm) stainless steel ribbon topped with a
stylized model of a strike fighter aircraft. It is awarded annually to the
strike fighter squadron with the greatest professional reputation,
aggressiveness, and operational performance.
Congressional Medal of Honor:
Rank and organization: Captain (then Lt. Cmdr.), U.S. Navy, Attack Squadron
192, USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14);
Place and date: Haiphong, North Vietnam, 20 and 26 April 1967
Entered service at: Akron, Ohio, 20 July 1954
Born: 27 April 1931, Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty on 20 and 26 April 1967 as a pilot in Attack Squadron
192, embarked in USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14). Leading a 3-plane group of
aircraft in support of a coordinated stake against 2 thermal power plants in
Haiphong, North Vietnam, on 20 April 1967, Capt. Estocin provided continuous
warnings to the strike group leaders of the surface-to air missile (SAM)
threats, and personally neutralized 3 SAM sites. Although his aircraft was
severely damaged by an exploding missile, he re-entered the target area and
relentlessly prosecuted a SHRIKE attack in the face of intense antiaircraft
fire. With less than 5 minutes of fuel remaining he departed the target area
and commenced inflight refueling which continued for over 100 miles. 3 miles
aft of Ticonderoga, and without enough fuel for a second approach, he
disengaged from the tanker and executed a precise approach to a fiery
arrested landing. On 26 April 1967, in support of a coordinated strike
against the vital fuel facilities in Haiphong, he led an attack on a
threatening SAM site, during which his aircraft was seriously damaged by an
exploding SAM, nevertheless, he regained control of his bunting aircraft and
courageously launched his SHRIKE missiles before departing the area. By his
inspiring courage and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of grave
personal danger, Captain Estocin upheld the highest traditions of the U.S.
Naval Service.
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After her
commissioning, ESTOCIN was assigned to Destroyer Squadron Eight, homeported
in Mayport, FL. While there, she made deployments to the Mediterranean, the
Indian Ocean, and participated in Special Operations off the Central American
coast.
Throughout 1986, ESTOCIN served as the Navy's testbed for the Mk-92 Fire
Control System improvement project (CORT). The Mk-92 "CORT" program
was a CNO Priority-1 Project, one of the only four in the entire Navy at that
time. These tests had ESTOCIN tracking and engaging a variety of surface and
air targets. Fifteen SM-1MR missiles and nearly 1000 rounds of 76mm
ammunition were fired in the course of the test cycle. By the end of 1986, ESTOCIN
had logged nearly 15,000 underway miles in support of this project.
On October 1, 1986, ESTOCIN officially became part of the Naval Reserve Force
(NRF) reported to Naval Surface Warfare Group Four, homeported in
Philadelphia, PA. Upon joining the NRF, ESTOCIN operated primarily in the
western Atlantic in support of Naval Reserve Training (NRT) and active fleet
commitments. She logged frequent underway weekends devoted entirely to
Selected Reserve crew training, as well as periodic underway periods of 2
week duration to enable reservists to complete their active duty training
requirements. These operations took ESTOCIN as far north as Nova Scotia and
south to the Caribbean. ESTOCIN was chosen to conduct a Great Lakes Cruise in
1991 in support of U.S. Navy recruiting efforts and to promote public
awareness in America's heartland, through port calls to U.S. and Canadian
cities on the Great Lakes. In the fall of 1991 and the spring of 1992,
ESTOCIN participated in Canadian Fleet Operations conducted with U.S. Navy
and Canadian Maritime Command units in the area south of Nova Scotia.
On August 17, 1992, ESTOCIN changed homeport to Newport, RI. ESTOCIN
completed Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Caribbean and in December
of 1993 operated off the coast of Haiti during Operation Support Democracy.
In January of 1994, ESTOCIN again changed her homeport moving to Naval Base,
Norfolk, VA. ESTOCIN was again selected for a Great Lakes Cruise in the
summer of 1994. Upon completion of this cruise, she underwent a four month
drydock period to inspect and overhaul numerous shipboard systems. After
completion of this drydocking, ESTOCIN was sent in the fall of 1995 to the
Caribbean in support of Counter Drug Operations. During this cruise, ESTOCIN
transited the Panama Canal to conduct Counter Drug Operations in the eastern
Pacific as well.
In 1996, after completing a work-up cycle, which included recertification of
her propulsion plant and cruise missile tactical qualification, ESTOCIN
deployed with Destroyer Squadron Eighteen in support of Operation Northern
Light-Bright Horizon 96. During this fast paced month and a half commitment,
ESTOCIN participated in a variety of maneuvering and training exercises with
over 53 ships and submarines from 13 European nations. Upon her return to
Norfolk, ESTOCIN entered an availability period to prepare ship's systems for
her next commitment, Joint Task Force Exercise 97-1 (JTFEX 97-1). During this
exercise ESTOCIN was the flagship for the Opposing Forces (OPFOR), whose
mission was to train the deploying carrier battle group. Although composed of
U.S. ships, the OPFOR simulated a variety of patrol boats found throughout
the world. Successfully training the battle group, ESTOCIN prepared for her
next deployment.
Assigned to Cruiser Destroyer Group Eight, ESTOCIN deployed for Baltic
Operations 97 (BALTOPS 97) in May of 1997. The deployment entailed at-sea
operations with ships from NATO countries as well as non-NATO countries such
as Russia, Poland and Lithuania. BALTOPS 97 also included goodwill visits to
former Eastern-Bloc nations. During this deployment, ESTOCIN had the unique
opportunity to become the first U.S. warship to visit two Russian ports in
the same deployment, with stops in Baltiysk and Severomorsk, Russia. In addition,
ESTOCIN had the distinct privilege of hosting the Admirals of the Russian
Baltic and Northern Fleets during her port calls.
January of 1999 found ESTOCIN deploying for the Caribbean. Once again in
support of Counter Drug Operations, ESTOCIN set the standard in curbing the
flow of drugs into the United States. After four and a half months in the
Caribbean, including a cocaine seizure of over 400 kgs, ESTOCIN returned home
on May 15.
ESTOCIN was underway once again at the end of June 1999 to participate in
INDEX 99-2 with the John F Kennedy Battle Group. During this exercise,
ESTOCIN simulated Opposing Forces during Harpoon, Anti Air Warfare, and Anti
Submarine Warfare exercises. ESTOCIN proved her battle readiness in all areas
as she conducted multiple PACFIRES with her 76mm gun, launched two Mk 46
Torpedoes and fired three successful SM-1 engagements. After achieving her
best battle readiness condition in over four years, ESTOCIN returned to
Norfolk in July to conduct a nine week Restricted Availability (RAV).
After this maintenance period and successful training cycle workups, ESTOCIN
sailed late November 1999 to support preparing the EISENHOWER Battle Group
for deployment as an Opposition Force in JTFEX 00-1. She also participated in
INDEX 99-3, which allowed training in all warfare areas for the crew. At the
completion of the JTFEX, ESTOCIN was chosen by Commander, Second Fleet to
perform a bilateral exercise with two French Navy ships, the FS JEANNE D’ARC
and FS GEORGES LEYGUES. This exercise provided valuable training for the
midshipmen embarked on JEANNE D’ARC and helped to further strengthen the
strong Naval ties with this NATO ally.
2000, ESTOCIN is in homeport, Norfolk VA, preparing for upcoming exercises
including: a group sail under the command of Commander, Destroyer Squadron
Fourteen; a UNITAS exercise with ships from the U.S., Venezuelan and
Colombian Navies; and participation with Brazilian and other nation naval
units in honor of the 500th anniversary of the founding of Brazil in April 2000.
The USS Estocin was decommissioned on April 3, 2002 and began preparations
for its transfer to the government of Turkey. The ship has been renamed to
TCG Goksu (F 497).
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