8 minute read
Signal Charlie Tom Phillips
Remembering LCDR Thomas L. Phillips, USN (Ret.)
By CAPT Bill Personius, USN (Ret.) and LCDR Chip Lancaster, USN (Ret.)
LCDR Tom Phillips, noted author and expert on Combat SAR, longtime contributor to NHA Rotor Review Magazine, a former HA(L)-3 Seawolf and HS-6 Indian passed away on Friday, April 29, 2022 in San Diego, CA. LCDR Phillips was a 1969 graduate of the Naval Academy. LTJG Phillips became a Naval Aviator on June 17, 1970 at HT-8, NAS Ellyson Field, Pensacola, FL. Tom was Navy Helicopter Pilot Designator # R-11134.
Tom Phillips hailed from Martinsville, VA and was raised in Sylacauga, AL, Murfreesboro, TN and Atlanta, GA before returning to Martinsville for high school. As class salutatorian at the Augusta Military Academy in Virginia, he held the distinction of being the first student to have all ‘A’ grades for one semester in the school’s 100-year history. Following graduation from the Naval Academy with the Class of 1969, he entered flight school on 30 June 1969. Upon completion of flight training with VT-1 (T-34B), VT-3 (T-28B), and HT-8 (TH-57 and TH-1L), he received his Wings of Gold on 5 June 1970. Volunteering to serve with Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3 (HA(L)-3) led to training in the oldest Huey of the day, the UH-1B, the Army bird he would fly in Vietnam, in gunnery and tactics training at Fort Rucker, AL.
Tom flew 560 combat missions in his 365-day tour, qualifying as an Attack Helicopter Aircraft Commander and as a Fire Team Leader. He was recognized for his skill and bravery with a Distinguished Flying Cross, 19 Air Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals with “V”, and Presidential, Navy and Meritorious Unit Commendations. During his time with the all-volunteer “Seawolves,” Tom’s detachment was based aboard YRBM barges, LSTs, and isolated bases which dotted the Mekong Delta. From these outposts, surrounded by hostile territory, he and his fellow Naval Aviators and Aircrew Gunners recruited from maintenance ratings, operated in monsoonal weather on horizonless nights. When non-IMC rated Army and Air Force crews secured for the night, the Seawolves were in the air to patrol and scout for enemy forces using the rivers and mangrove trees to conceal their movements. They were able to scramble in a moment’s notice to support beleaguered friendly Navy riverine units, to insert, support and extract, often under fire, their SEAL brothers and to evacuate the wounded from riverine craft and fire fights ashore.
Following the completion of his assignment with HA(L)-3, Tom returned to the United States with a burning desire to excel in tactics. Ordered to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron SIX (HS-6) to fly the SH-3A at NAS Imperial Beach, CA, he deployed for ten months with Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW 9) aboard USS Constellation (CV 64). During this tour, he supported Operation End Sweep, the Navy and Marine Corps operation to remove mines from Haiphong Harbor and other coastal and inland waterways in North Vietnam. This was a sensitive operation made more difficult by the lack of navigation aids, poor visibility and the risk of inadvertent overflight of North Vietnamese territory which could have affected the release of our POWs following the 1973 Paris Peace Accord.
Tom's Memorial Fly-Over by HSC-3 and HSC-85
Following graduation with the highest distinction and completion of a Master’s Degree Program in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) at the Navy Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, CA, Tom reported to USS Ranger (CV 61) where he deployed for eleven months as a plank owner of Ranger’s newly installed Aircraft Carrier Tactical Support System (CV TSC) and earned his Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Pin. He next served as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) Instructor Pilot with HS-10 at NAS North Island, CA, where he completely redesigned ASW tactical training as the Training Department Head. Recognized for his ASW expertise, he was assigned to be Commander Destroyer Squadron 31's (CDS 31) first Air Operations Officer aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43) and then USS Carl Vinson (CVN 71) where he deployed twice to support the Pacific Fleet’s premier ASW development as the ASW Commander’s Tactical Action Officer (TAO). He participated in battle group operations and multi-carrier exercises against 32 submarines, including 16 USN submarines and 16 Japanese, Australian, British, and Soviet submarines during RIMPACs and FLEETEXs ’83 and ’85 as well as real world battle group ASW defense during the Cold War.
At the conclusion of Tom’s sea service, he helped to transform Commander, ASW Wing Pacific (COMASWWINGPAC) training programs by innovating and leading its Tactical Training Teams to teach coordinated ASW operations to VS, HSL and HS crews through classroom and live exercises on the Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE), an unprecedented training initiative at the time. His last active duty achievement was his most rewarding as Tom’s forceful efforts to establish the Sea-Based ASW Weapons and Tactics School (SWATS) in San Diego met with success after years of lobbying to establish an air ASW tactical center of excellence were realized. Not only was he named as the first Officer in Charge of SWATS, but to his great satisfaction the Navy recognized the importance of coordinated tactical ASW training so SWATS was provided an official Unit Identification Code (UIC) and the Officer in Charge billet was upgraded to a Commanding Officer position, resulting in Tom being formally relieved by a Captain before retiring from active duty. The care with which Tom selected the initial staff cadre paid off well, as SWATS eventually morphed into the Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command (NMAWC now UWDC and SMWDC) with the air ASW elements forming into the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NSAWC now NAWDC) at NAS Fallon, NV as the combined HSC / HSM Fleet Weapons School, referred to as “SEAWOLF” in honor of the HA(L)-3 Seawolves.
Remarkably, Tom remained on “Continuous ASW Duty” for over 48 years as his post-military civilian career included ASW tactical development and evaluation work, selection as the first HSL contract simulator instructor (CSI) for tactics and selection as a dual-hatted flight and tactics CSI when the HS community established its contractor program. Tom was well known for late night tactical debriefs at the FRSs by generations of active duty ASW and ASuW helicopter warriors. His last assignment was to serve as an ASW operations analyst at the SCORE Range in San Diego where he assessed and debriefed tactics with the current generation of MPRA (P-3C/P-8A), HSM (MH-60R), surface combatant and submarine crews.
Tom could also be found in his “off duty” time at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego where he served as a docent and gave detailed presentations on the Battle of Midway. He joined the Midway team in 2013, amassing more than 3,400 volunteer hours. He was a Midway Speakers Bureau Lecturer, noted for being historically accurate and always presenting himself as the consummate Naval Aviator. He was a popular tour guide because he was never selfish with his time and always had an infectious smile and sense of humor making visitors feel at ease. He constantly demonstrated his motivation and dedication as a docent. Even when he was recovering at home, he was preparing talks on Vietnam and Riverine Warfare, planning a tour for the USNA Class of ’68 and scheduling speaking engagements. He was a key member and leader of the Saturday Docent Team, originating a Weekend Docent Award for behavior above and beyond normal docent expectations.
Tom was the 2012 co-recipient of the Naval Helicopter Association’s (NHA) Pioneer Award named in honor of CAPT Mark Starr, one of the Association's founders. He published dozens of professional articles regarding CSAR and ASW history and current aviation issues. He was the co-author with George Galdorisi of the 2009 book, "Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue," a five-year effort to detail the history of the dedicated crews who risked all “so that others may live."
Tom’s continued support to the Navy and his community included working with the Boy Scouts, Sixth Grade Camp, Sierra hikes, Padres games and family cookouts. He served with the US Soccer Federation as a State Referee, Instructor and Assessor and he was a past Post Commander of American Legion Post 492 in San Diego. He was the President of the Society of Combat Search and Rescue and a member of the Board of Directors of the Naval Enlisted Combat Aircrew Roll of Honor (originally endowed by Tailhooker Admiral J.D. “Jig Dog” Ramage). The Tailhook Association recognized Tom’s half century of service to Naval Aviation and the country as an inspiration to Carrier Aviators of all ages and eras.
Tom’s memorial service was held on the flight deck of USS Midway, a most appropriate place honoring almost a half century of service to Aircraft Carrier Naval Aviation. The service included a military honor guard, taps, nine gun salute and flag ceremony as well as a flyby of a four-helo MH-60S formation from HSC-3 and HSC-85 and a five-plane missing man formation flyover of T-34s from the San Diego Honor Flight. Speakers included his son, Tom Jr., his Naval Academy roommate and numerous docents and friends, turning a memorial service into a celebration of a life well lived and ended too soon. Fair Winds and Following Seas Tom!
