Melvin F. Colby Jr. AO1 VP-4 1959 – 1962

Melvin flew with Crew 9 during 1959 – 1960 and with Crew 10 during in 1961

Navy Halts Search For Lost Fliers

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (UPI)

The Navy called off the search Friday for three fliers missing after the inflight collision of two aircraft and declared them lost at sea in the line of duty.

Missing were the pilot of an A3 Sky Warrior attack aircraft, LT Deighton A. Hunt, 28: his flight officer. ENS Lonnie C. Gibson, 27, both stationed at Oak Harbor, Wash.: and their crewman, PO1c Melvin F. Colby, 31, of nearby Coupeville.

The two fliers aboard the second aircraft involved, LT John K. Sutor and LTJG Peter C. Carrothers, both of Sanford, Fla., Naval Air Station, were rescued in good condition by a helicopter from the carrier USS Enterprise when their RA5c Vigilante reconnaissance plane went down.

The planes, both from the Enterprise, collided about 25 miles south of San Clemente Island.  The Navy said the collision apparently occurred about 11:40 p.m. Thursday, the time they disappeared from the carrier’s radarscope.

Published in The Argus (Fremont, CA) 9 Oct 1966

COLBY, MELVIN F. Jr., Oct 6, 1966

Husband of Katherine Colby of Oak Harbor, WA.  Father of Terri, Donald, Brenda and Melvin F. Colby III, all of Oak Harbor, WA.  Son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin F. Colby Sr. of Eureka, CA.  Brother of Roy B. Colby of Palo Alto, CA, James H. Colby of USN, Florida.  He was a Petty Officer First Class with the U.S. Navy, which he had been with for 16 years.  He attended Eureka schools.  A native of Honolulu, Hawaii.  Age 31.  Memorial services were held at Ault Field Chapel, U.S.Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, WA., Oct 11, 1966.

Published in the Humbolt Standard, Friday, Oct 21, 1966, Pg 13.

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From http://www.a3skywarrior.com/