A Notable Passing: ADM Thomas B. Hayward, USN (Ret.) – 21st CNO It is with deep regret to report the passing of Adm. a wheels-up crash landing in South Korea due to flak Thomas Bibb Hayward, USN (Ret.) on March 3 at age 97. damage. Of note, Hayward’s squadron mate was future Born on May 3, 1924, Tom Hayward attended Glendale first man-on-the moon Neil Armstrong, and they became Junior College and Occidental College in Los Angeles. life-long friends. In addition, journalist James MichenHe enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on May 17, 1943, er was allowed to observe VF-51 and Air Group FIVE and reported for active duty on October 26, 1943 in the (CVG-5) for an extended period, which became the basis V5 Aviation Cadet program. His goal was to become a for Michener’s best-selling book and movie, The Bridges at fighter pilot in the Pacific, but part way through training, Toko-ri. he applied and received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Essex returned to the West Coast in March 1952. VFAcademy. He reported to the USNA on June 51 then upgraded to the F9F-5 Panther and 14, 1944, with the class of 1948. His class cross-decked to Valley Forge (CVA 45) which “Lucky Bag” noted Midshipman Hayward’s then deployed for the fourth time to Korea in “abundant sense of humor” while his classNovember 1952, returning home just before mate William Crowe (future Chairman of the Korean War Armistice came into effect. the Joint Chiefs of Staff ) later stated, “even During Hayward’s two Korean War deploythen he possessed the marks of an exceptional ments, he flew 146 combat missions, and was individual.” With his class being acceleratawarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, ten ed due to the war, Hayward graduated and Air Medals and two Navy Commendation earned his commission on June 6, 1947. Medals with Combat “V.” Following graduation, Ensign Hayward Promoted to lieutenant in July 1953, reported to the aircraft carrier Antietam (CV Hayward earned selection for Test Pilot 36,) during her three-year deployment to the School and reported to Naval Air Test CenThomas B. Hayward: 21st Far East, operating out of Tsingtao, China as ter (NATC), Patuxent River, MD in January Chief of Naval Operations the Chinese Communists continued their ad1954. After six months in training, Lieutenant vances during the Chinese Civil War. While Hayward assumed duty as a test pilot which on Antietam, Hayward served “R Division” Officer, Engi— in the 1950’s — was statistically more dangerous than neering Officer of the Watch and Officer of the Deck. combat. In July 1956, he reported to the NROTC unit at Selected for aviation training, Hayward detached from the University of Southern California for the Aviation Safety the carrier in November 1948 and proceeded to Naval Air Officer Course. In October 1956, Hayward received orders Station (NAS) Pensacola. In November 1949, he continued was assigned as Safety Officer and F8U Training Officer aviation training at NAS Corpus Christi and then Naval to All-Weather Fighter Squadron THREE (VF(AW)-3,) Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Cabaniss Field, Corpus which was responsible for training fleet squadrons transiChristi. In June 1950, Lieutenant (junior grade) Hayward tioning to new types of aircraft, including the F9F-6 Cougar, returned to Pensacola for continued training. Designated F-7U Cutlass, FJ Fury, F3H Demon, F4D Skyray, A4D a Naval Aviator on July 26, 1950, Hayward then proceedSkyhawk, and F8U Crusader. Some of these aircraft, such as ed to NAAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL for jet training. the Cutlass and Demon, had the highest operational loss rate With training accelerated due to the outbreak of the of any Navy aircraft since World War II. Korean War, he received orders to Commander Air Force Promoted to lieutenant commander in September 1957, Pacific Fleet in September 1950 before reporting to Fleet Hayward received assignment in April 1958 as the Safety Aircraft Service Squadron SEVEN (FASRON 7) at NAS Officer for Fighter Squadron ONE TWO FOUR (VFSan Diego (now NAS North Island) in pool status await124), the Fleet Replacement Squadron at NAS Moffett ing squadron assignment. Field, flying the F8U-1 Crusader and F9F-8 Cougar. He In December 1950, Hayward reported to Fighter detached three months later to attend the Naval War ColSquadron FIVE ONE (VF-51) “Screaming Eagles” flying lege in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduating in June the F9F-2 Panther straight-wing jet fighter. VF-51 em1959, he returned to VF-124. In December 1959, Hayward barked on Essex (CV 9) for her first Korean War deployassumed duty as Executive Officer in VF-211 “Flying ment, arriving in the combat zone in August 1951. Flying Checkmates,” flying the F8U-1 and embarking on Lexinginterdiction missions into North Korea, VF-51 lost four ton (CVA 16) for a Western Pacific deployment including pilots to enemy ground fire. Hayward was forced to make reaction to a crisis in Laos. In July 1961, Hayward reported 16 Naval Historical Foundation
NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
By Rear Adm. Samuel J. Cox, USN (Ret. Director, Naval History and Heritage Command
