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In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Thomas C. “Tom” Watson Jr., USN

Nov. 26, 2024

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Thomas Campbell “Tom” Watson, Jr., on 1 November 2024 at age 93. Rear Admiral Watson entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1950 and served as a naval aviator until his retirement in December 1982 as deputy director of planning and resources (J4) on the staff of the Joint Chiefs. His commands included Attack Squadron EIGHT ONE (VA-81), Attack Carrier Air Wing NINE (CVAW-9), Light Attack Wing ONE (LATWING 1), USS Truckee (AO-147), and USS Independence (CV-62). He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, multiple Air Medals, and a Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for 75 combat missions in three deployments to the Vietnam War, which included command of CVAW-9, which was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation in 1972. 

Tom Watson attended the Marion Military Institute (a military junior college in Alabama) and then spent a year at the Citadel in South Carolina before entering the U.S. Naval Academy on 12 June 1950. He graduated on 4 June 1954 with a bachelor of science degree in naval science and was commissioned an ensign the same day. Ensign Watson was then temporarily assigned to VA-105, an AD-1 Skyraider squadron at Naval Air Station (NAS) Cecil Field, Florida, as assistant ordnance officer. In August 1954, he commenced basic flight training at Naval Aviation Basic Training Command at NAS Pensacola, Florida. In May 1955, he continued flight training at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Cabiness Field, Corpus Christi, Texas. He was designated a naval aviator (heavier than air) on 4 October 1955. 

In October 1955, Ensign Watson was assigned to VA-196, “Main Battery” at NAS Alameda, California, flying the propeller-driven AD-6 (A-1H) Skyraider bomber while serving as communications officer and assistant maintenance officer. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) in December 1955. Assigned as part of Air Task Group ONE (ATG-1), VA-196 deployed to the Western Pacific embarked on attack carrier Lexington (CVA-16) from May to December 1956. ATG-1 deployed again to the vicinity of Hawaii embarked on attack carrier Bennington (CVA-20) from May to June 1958, and again to the Western Pacific embarked on attack carrier Ticonderoga (CVA-14) from October 1958 to February 1959. At the end of this tour, he was assigned to the Fleet Air Gunnery Unit at El Centro, California, flying the Skyraider and F2H Banshee jet fighter. He was promoted to lieutenant in April 1958. 

In July 1959, Lieutenant Watson was assigned as flag lieutenant and aide to the commander, Fleet Air, San Diego. In June 1960, he reported to Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, earning a degree in electrical engineering (weapon systems engineering) in 1962. In June 1962, he reported to Air Development Squadron FIVE (VX-5) at Naval Air Facility China Lake, California, conducting weapons systems tests while flying multiple aircraft, including the A-4 Skyhawk, A-1 Skyraider, O-1C Bird Dog, F-4 Phantom II, and F-9 Panther. In January 1964, he attended the Naval Safety Course at the Aerospace Safety School at University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in February 1964. 

In April 1964, Lieutenant Commander Watson was assigned to VA-43 “Challengers,” the A-4 Skyhawk fleet replacement squadron at NAS Norfolk, Virginia. In August 1964, he was assigned to VA-86 “Sidewinders” at NAS Oceana, as assistant operations officer, flying the A-4E and embarking on attack carrier Independence (CV-62) for a short North Atlantic and Mediterranean deployment in September–November 1964. In November 1964, he was reassigned to VA-64 “Black Lancers” at NAS Cecil Field as safety and administrative officer, flying the A-4C. VA-64 deployed on aircraft carrier America (CVA-66), with the first deployment from November 1965 to July 1966 to the Mediterranean. 

In August 1966, Watson was assigned to CVAW-9 as air wing operations officer, flying the A-4C. CVAW-9 embarked on nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVAN-65) from NAS Alameda, deploying to the Vietnam War from September 1966 to July 1967 and flying 13,400 missions in 132 days of combat operations, for which the ship and air wing were awarded a Navy Unit Commendation. In July 1968, Lieutenant Commander Watson attended Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, graduating in January 1968. He was then assigned to the Naval Safety Center at NAS Norfolk as a light attack analyst. He was promoted to commander in July 1968. 

In December 1968, Commander Watson was assigned to VA-44, the A-4 replacement squadron at NAS Cecil Field. In May 1969, he returned to VA-64 as executive officer, based at NAS Cecil Field, flying the A-4C. VA-64 embarked on Independence for a North Atlantic NATO exercise and compatibility operations with the AV-8 Harrier V/STOL jet in September–October 1969. In February 1970, he reported to VA-174 “Hellrazors” at NAS Cecil Field for transition training to the A-7 Corsair II light attack jet. 

In June 1970, Commander Watson assumed duty as executive officer of VA-81 “Sunliners” at NAS Cecil Field, flying the A-7E Corsair II. VA-81 deployed to the Mediterranean embarked on attack carrier Forrestal (CVA-59) from January to July 1971. Watson assumed command of VA-81 in April 1971. 

In February 1972, Commander Watson reported to CVAW-9 embarked on attack carrier Constellation (CVA-64), which was already deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin and would shortly be conducting strike operations into North Vietnam in reaction to the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive in March 1972. He assumed command in May 1972. This period included extensive strike operations and the most intensive air-to-air action of the war, to include 10 May when CVAW-9 fighters shot down seven North Vietnamese MiGs, the record for a single day in the conflict. During this period, Lieutenant Randy Cunningham and his radar intercept officer, Lieutenant (j.g.) William Driscoll, of VF-96/CVAW-9 became the first and only U.S. Navy aces of the war. CVAW-9 lost seven aircraft, with two men killed in action and two becoming prisoners of war. Commander Watson was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for leading a strike on 17 May. Constellation and CVAW-9 were awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for this deployment. CVW-9 (designation changed in 1972) returned to Vietnam in February 1973 embarked on Constellation as the Paris Peace Accords were signed, but strike operations continued against Communist forces in Laos before the air wing returned to the United States in October 1973. 

In August of 1973, Commander Watson assumed command of LATWING 1 at NAS Cecil Field. He was promoted to captain in May 1975. In July 1975, Captain Watson reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) in Washington, DC, serving as the executive assistant to the deputy CNO for air warfare (OP-05A). In September 1976, he was administratively assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel for prospective commanding officer training that included the Senior Officers Ships Material Readiness Course at Idaho Falls, Idaho. 

In February 1977, Watson assumed command of oiler Truckee (AO-147) in Norfolk, deploying to the Caribbean and Mediterranean. In September 1978, he assumed command of Independence, deploying to the Mediterranean from June to December 1979. 

In June 1980, Captain Watson was designated a rear admiral for duty in a billet commensurate with that rank, and the same month he assumed duty on the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as deputy director of current operations (J33). He was promoted to rear admiral in March 1981. In September 1981, Rear Admiral Watson assumed duty as deputy director of planning and resources (J4) on the Joint Staff in Washington, DC. Rear Admiral Watson retired on 1 December 1982. During his career, he amassed more than 890 arrested landings and more than 4,900 flight hours. 

Rear Admiral Watson’s awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross (two awards); Bronze Star with Combat “V”; Meritorious Service Medal (two awards); Air Medal (four individual and seven strike/flight awards); Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”; Presidential Unit Citation; Navy Unit Commendation; National Defense Service Medal (two awards); Vietnam Service Medal (five awards); Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross); and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device bar. (The service transcript is probably missing his last awards.) 

Following retirement from active duty, Rear Admiral Watson worked for Mars Electronics for eight years. He was active in the Rotary Club, the local Navy League, and Association of Naval Aviation. He was a Golden Eagle Emeritus. 

During the Vietnam War, more than 60 U.S. Navy air wing commanders and squadron commanding officers/executive officers were lost over Vietnam because the aviator culture was such that senior officers led by example and would not expect their men to do anything that they wouldn’t do. Tom Watson was no exception, setting the example and being awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism for leading a strike into North Vietnam immediately upon assuming command of CVAW-9, already deployed in the war when he arrived. This is all the more remarkable given that “Vietnamization” had been in effect for two years and the unpopular war was supposedly winding down, a notion that was upended when the North 

Vietnamese launched a major conventional invasion (tanks and all) into South Vietnam in the Easter Offensive of March 1972. Tom was one of those leaders who never shirked his duty, and his air wing and those of the other U.S. carriers involved played the key role in first blunting and then turning back the surprise offensive. Even after “peace” was declared in early 1973, his air wing was still conducting strikes against Communist forces in Laos along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It is clear from the rest of his career that Tom did everything possible to stay in the cockpit and out of the Washington bureaucracy, but he had no choice when he made flag. His career was highlighted by numerous deployments on numerous carriers (three different carriers on his first tour alone) to the Atlantic/Mediterranean and the Western Pacific/Vietnam, including the first deployment by America. Tom was a distinguished leader and true patriot who remained active in Navy issues long after retirement. His career no doubt required great sacrifice in family and personal time, but he truly made a difference for the better in the defense of our freedom. 

Rest in Peace, Admiral Watson.