Uniforms

UO35    Vietnam Era U.S. Navy Flight Group   $8,750.00

Richard L. Richards was born in Chicago, IL on June 4, 1933.  He was commissioned an Ensign USNR on Jan 26, 1956 from OCS at Newport, RI.  He received his NFO Wings in October 1956 and was assigned to VAW-12 at NAS Quonset Point, RI. and aboard USS RANDOLP (CVA-15).    In July 1959 Lt. (j.g.)  Richards entered the new F-4 PHANTOM II program.  He graduated from USAF FIO School at Connally AFB in March 1960 and was then promoted to Lieutenant and accepted for Regular USN.  After an initial Instructor Assignment he served with VF-41 and VF-84 in USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62).  These tours included two Mediterranean cruises, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and a Far East deployment in 1965, where he flew 109 combat missions over North Vietnam.  He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1966 and left the Navy that year to become a Test RIO with McDonnell Aircraft Company in St. Louis, MO.  After transferring to the Naval Reserve, LCDR Richards served with various drilling units, including three tours as Commanding Officer.  He was promoted to Commander in 1973 and Captain in 1980.  He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1986.  His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, eight Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, the Navy Unit Citation and the Vietnam Service Medal.  He flew 13 years in F-4’s and F-15’s.

Captain Richard’s Naval Aviation grouping includes the following:

Navy G-1 Leather Flight jacket with 13 patches, excellent condition, size 38, patches are: leather name tag “R.L. RICHARDS, LT, USN” with Naval Aviation Observer Wings,  “FIGHTING EIGHTY-FOUR” patch with skull and cross bones,  U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE patch,  “PHANTOM PHERRET” patch,  “VOODOO SCOPE – WIZARD” patch,  a patch with an animated Ace-of-Spades holding a Sparrow III missile,  “C V G 7” patch,  patch depicting black bat flying over an aircraft carrier,  “GRIM REAPERS” patch,  “TONKIN GULF YACHT CLUB” patch,  AIR DEFENSE COMMAND” patch,  “FAR EAST CRUISE U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE CVA 62, 1965” patch and a “KWANG” patch.

Navy Jacket, Winter Flying Suit with four patches, sage green, very good condition, size 42 Reg, patches are: Ace-of-Spades shaped black leather name tag that reads “VF-41, R.L. RICHARDS, LT, USN.”,  “PHANTOM PHERRET” patch,  “FIGHTING EIGHTY-FOUR” patch with skull and cross bones and a patch with an animated Ace-of-Spades holding a Sparrow III missile.

Jacket, Flyer’s, Man, Light Zone, L-2B, USAF, Large, 1970, with five patches; PHANTOM PHERRET, 3000 HOURS PHANTOM II, leather name tag “R.L. RICHARDS, MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CO.” and MCDONNELL PHANTOM II and FLIGHT TEST MCDONNELL.

Helmet, Jet Fighter Pilot helmet, with oxygen mask, painted gold with “RICHARDS” in black  on rear.

Helmet, Jet Fighter Pilot, White with black and gold painted decorations, “VF-84” on visor cover, Fighting Eighty-Four patch and “E” for efficiency award painted on both sides, “DICK” on back.  Missing oxygen mask connectors.

Dickie, Gold silk (?), with skull and crossbones embroidered in black.  Appears to be theater           made.

Flight Helmet Liner, white cloth.

Vest, Survival, Type SV-1, March 1962, Excellent condition, empty.

Survival Kit, Escape & Evasion Kit, Individual Airman, Type SEEK-1, Container #2, with carrying pouch.

First Aid Kit, MCAIR, Flight Test, Sep 1974

CWU-28/P Flying Coveralls, blaze orange, size 40R, with three patches.  The patches are:  McDonnell Phantom II,  3000 HOURS PHANTOM II,  and FLIGHT TEST McDONNELL.

CWU-28/P Flying Coveralls, blaze orange, size 40R, with four patches, patches are:  McDONNELL PHANTOM II,  UNITED STATES NAVY,  ADVANCED WILD WEASEL and 4000 HOURS PHANTOM II.

Coveralls, Flying, Mens, Summer, Fire-Resistant, Nylon, Indian Orange, Type CWU-28/P, 40R, with Res-Q-Pack Self Inflating Emergency Life Preserver in shoulder pocket.  Four patches: 3000 hours Phantom II, Flight Test McDonnell Douglas, leather name tag “R.L. RICHARDS, MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CO.” and McDonnell Phantom II.

Coveralls, Flying, Indian Orange, Type II, 38 Reg, with two patches: Fighting Eighty-Four and Phantom Pherret.  Patches excellent condition, coveralls fair condition.

Coveralls, Flying, Commercial, Blaze Orange, 38 REG., with four patches: PHANTOM PHERRET, MCDONNELL PHANTOM II, FLIGHT TEST MCDONNELL and black ink on white tape “RICHARDS.”

Coveralls, BUAER – Navy, Summer, Flying, 38 Reg, 1958, light green.

Coveralls, Anti-G, Type Z3, Small Long.

Underwear, Full Pressure Suit, MK 4, Mod 2, Type 1A & 1B, Underwear, Shirt Sub-Assembly, Medium, Munsingwear, 42.

Underwear, Same As Above

Underwear, Coveralls, Lightweight, Full Pressure Unit, Underwear, Shirt, Size Small, Munsingwear, 40, Type MK1 MOD 0.

Underwear, Same As Above except; Unit, Underwear, Drawers, Size Large, Type MK 1, MOD O.

Gloves, Flight Personnel, HAU 7/P, USAF, size 8, 1968 used.

Suit, Integrated Torso Harness, MA-2, Switlick Parachute Company, Med-Reg, Dec 1963

Suit, Integrated Torso Harness, Switlick Parachute Company, Large-Long.

Parachute Harness, named to Richards, no other markings.

Life Preserver, BUAER Mark 2, Vest Type, Feb 1959, with Shark Chaser and Dye Markers, fair condition.

Parachute Bag, sage green.

Parachute Bag, Nylon, sage green, name tape “RICHARDS”.

Parachute Bag, made of silver rubberized material.

Parachute Bag, made of silver rubberized material.

Parachute Bag, made of black rubberized material.

Clipboard, Pilot’s, Type MXU-163/P, 1971.

Clipboard, Pilot’s, Mark-2A, well used.

Plotting Board, Chart, Mark 7.

Pilot’s Clipboard, Type MXU-163/P

Map Light, clip-on, black.

Computer, Air Navigation W/Case, CPU-26A/P, “U.S. Property”, 1972

Flight Computer, MB-8, with canvas case.

Computer, “Batori B-26A Supersonic Jet Computer For Jet Pilots”, with one large manual and one small manual.

Wood Disk, 4 ½” diameter, crudely made of ½ inch plywood with ½ foam rubber on one side, complete with fitted carrying pouch.  The use of this item is unknown.  It was found in a lower leg pocket of one of Richards’s flight suits.

Visor Cap, white, 7 1/8, naval officer BERKSHIRE-FLEX, with cap badge.

Four Baseball Caps:  #1 VF 84 navy blue (crusty),  #2 VF-41 red,  #3 VF-41 red,  #4 VF 101 on a bat shaped patch and #5 VF 84 navy blue.  NOTE: These are period caps, NOT modern.

Polo Style Shirt, white with “River Rats, Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association” and logo on pocket, medium.

Aviator Scarf  12” by 48” white fabric (silk?)

Aviator Scarf 15” by 65” made of white parachute cloth, possibly theater made.

Aviator’s Boots, Brown leather, with side zippers, safety toe, size unknown.

Aviator’s Boots, as above, size 9, no zippers, dated 5-64

Aviator Boots, brown, size 9R, poor condition.

Seven Aviators Flight Logbooks with over 4,000 hours of flights.

Air Intercept Controller’s Logbook with entries.

Seven Full Size Medals: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal,  Navy Commendation,  USN Expeditionary,  National Defense,  Vietnam Service,  Armed Forces Expeditionary,  Armed Forces Reserve and Vietnam Campaign.    (The DFC and Air Medal have the presentation boxes and are the early sewn brooch style.)

Miniature Medal Set: Same as above medals except no Armed Forces Reserve or Vietnam Campaign medals.

Wings, Naval Flight Officer, GEMSCO, clutchback.

Wings, Naval Flight Officer, VANGUARD,  clutchback

Wings, Naval Aviation Observer, GEMSCO N.Y.

Insignia, Command Ashore, N-22-N

2 Ribbon Sets, ten ribbons mounted.

Patch, AIR SYSTEMS PROGRAM, U.S. NAVAL RESERVE, 4 “ diameter, fully embroidered, cut edge style.

Patch, PHANTOM PHERRET, new in sealed package

Patch, 400 Carrier Arrested Landings, unused

Patch, TAILHOOK ASSOCIATION, CARRIER NAVY, unused.

Challenge Coin, River Rats

Shoulder Boards, captain HILBORN-HAMBURGER

Epaulets, naval captain

Belt Buckle, engraved with “JOLLY ROGERS” and Naval Aviation Officer’s wings.

Belt Buckle,  “USS RANDOLPH, CVA 15”

Four Plastic Name Tags: RICHARDS, R.L. RICHARDS,  RICHARDS VTU 0872  &  RICHARDS JOLLY ROGERS.

Patch, Black leather in shape of an “Ace f Spades”, with Naval Observer wings and “R.L. RICHARDS, LT, USN”, embossed in gold, with four snaps for fastening to flight jacket.

Rubber Ink Stamp, reads “R.L. RICHARDS, LT. USN, Personnel Officer, By Direction of the Commanding Officer.”

I.D. Card, USN NAVAL AVIATION OBSERVER, with case, as an Ensign, 23 MAY 1957

I.D. Card, USN NAVAL AVIATION OBSERVER, with case, as a Lt JG, 13 JUNE 1960.

I.D. Card, Aviation Physiology Training Unit, NAS Norfolk, VA, 20 APR 1965

I.D. Card, Dilbert Dunker & Survival Swimming card, NAS Norfolk, VA, 28 APR 1965

I.D. Card, A.N.A., Association of Naval Aviation, 1988

OMIAS Card, Martin Baker Ejection Seat Indoctrination Course, 20 APR 65

OMIAS Card, same as above but 13 JUNE 1960

Shellback Card, 21 MAY 1965

Membership Card, TAILHOOK ASSOCIATION, 1989

Membership Card, Armed Forces Officers Club, Lambert Field, St. Louis, MO 1984

SPACE Membership Card, Society of Pioneering Astronauts & Celestial Explorers. 3 APR 63, Full Pressure Suit Indoctrination to 70,000 feet.

River Rats Membership Card, 1988

River Rat Coin Card, #516

Decal, River Rats

Selective Service Card, (SSS Form 110), June 1968, 5-A

American Security Council, National Advisory Board membership card, 1991

Can Opener, “Church Key” style “The Compliments of, FLIGHT MESS, NAS. NORVA.”

Large Desk Plaque that has two McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom company models mounted on it.  One model is painted in U.S.A.F. colors and the other is in U.S.N. colors.  The plaque reads:  “R.L. RICHARDS, MCDONNELL DOUGLAS FLIGHT TEST, PRODUCTION SYSTEMS OPERATOR,  JULY 1966 – JUNE 1967,  EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEMS OPERATOR, JUNE 1967 – APRIL 1979,  MCDONNELL DOUGLAS”.

2000 HOURS PHANTOM II patch

4000 HOURS PHANTOM II patch

2002 Navy League Directory

Red River Valley Fighter Pilots book “RIVER RATS”

Coffee Cup,  “NOX MEA AUXILIATRIX EST”

Coffee Cup,  “GRIM REAPERS”

Coffee Cup, “NANCY – FLIGHT OPS MCDONNELL”  (Nancy was his wife.)

Coffee Cup,  “MCDONNELL PHANTOM II – NANCY – FIGHTING 84”

Coffee Cup,  “CNARF – NARTU – MEMPHIS”

Coffee Cup,  “FLIGHT OPS MCAIR”

Coffee Cup,  “DICK – FLIGHT OPS – MCDONNELL”

Plaque, 9 by 12 inches,  brass on wood,  the “High Flight” poemwith flight officer wings and a brass plate that reads “In Appreciation For Your Leadership From NACU 0172.”

Plaque, 8 by 10 inches, brass on wood,  Department of Navy Naval Avionics Center Commanding Officer Aug 1978 to Sep 1980.

Plaque, 7 ½ by 9 inches, NAS Norfolk VA, for services as administration officer  Aug 1955 to Jun 1966.

Plaque, 6 ½ by 7 inches, Fighting Eighty Four from officers of VF-84 Jolly Rogers Jun 1964 to Feb 1966.

Framed Item, 24 ½ by 18 ½ inch color print, titled “201 at Angels One-Five”, by Gene Dupuis, #26 of 1,000, signed “To R.L. Richards, Best Wishes.”

Framed Item, 11 ½ by 14 ½, Presidential Appointment to Captain.

Framed Item, Color photo, 5 ½ by 7 ½, Richards & a pilot standing in front of F-4 on carrier deck in full gear, holding helmets, pilot is wearing VF-84 baseball cap.

Framed Item, 11 by 14, Presidential Appointment to Lieutenant.

Framed Item, 11 by 14 Color portrait of Richards as lieutenant.  Fair condition

Framed Item, 9 by 12, Certificate of retirement,  4 Jun 1993.

Framed Item, 14 ½ by 11 ½, Vietnam War certificate for Operation Rolling Thunder,  July 1 1965 to Nov 21 1965.  Very clorful

Framed Item, 9 ½ by 11 ½, Centurion Triple Certificate from USS Independence, 3 Nov 1965

Framed Item, 9 ½ by 11 ½,  “Old Pro” certificate for 3,000 flight hours in Phantom, 6 May 1966

Framed Item, 16 ½ by 20 ½,  “Ancient Order of Shellbacks” certificate USS independence, 21            May 1965.

Framed Item, 14 by 20 ½, McDonnell Certificate for being the 35th Radar Intercept Officer in a Phantom.  They were given to the first one hundred RIOs.  15 Feb 1961

Framed Item, 9 ½ by 11 ½, Old Pro certificate for 3,000 hours in a Phantom with “3000 HOURS, PHANTOM II” patch.

Framed Item, 8 by 10, Color Photo of Richards and a pilot in full gear in front of F-4 on a carrier.

Framed Item, 8 by 10, B & W photo of Richards and a pilot standing in the cockpits of an F-4.

Framed Item, 9 ½ by 11 ½, color photo of 24 pilots and RIOs in front of a Jolly Roger F-4 on a carrier.

Framed Item, 8 ½ by 11, Retired Reserve Certificate, 1 July 1986.

Framed Item, 7 ½ by 9 ½ inches, black & white photo of Richards and a pilot in the cockpits of an F-4 Phantom.

Framed Item, color photo McDonnell Douglas test pilots in front of 5,000th Phantom.

Framed Item, 11 by 14, color photo of test pilot Richards posing on boarding ladder of Phantom.

Framed Item, 8 ½ by 10 ½, color photo of fourteen McDonnell test pilots in orange flight suits.

Framed Item, 13 ½ by 9, Certificate from the Naval Avionics Center Reserve Unit for contributions from 1 Oct 1979 to 30 Sept 1980.

Framed Item, 10 by 12, Color Portrait of Richards as a lieutenant.

Framed Item, Black & white photo, 8 by 10, Richards when a lieutenant in dress whites wearing DFC, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Naval Aviation Observer wings.

LETTER dated 2 Feb 1980 congratulations on promotion to captain from Rear Admiral Robert L. Zralek.

LETTER dated 25 Jan 1980 congratulations on promotion to captain from Rear Admiral C.J. Kempf.

Hiring Letter from McDonnell Douglas dated 28 march 1966.

Phone Directory McDonnell Douglas St. Louis June 1989.

U.S. Naval Institute Directory 1997

Unit History, “The Seachest”,  the history of Class 24, U.S. Naval School, Newport, R.I., officers candidates 27 Jan 1956.

Letter, of 30 June 1966 listing stations where he served and medals and awards earned.

Honorable Discharge Certificate as lieutenant dated 30 June 1966

Citation awarding the Distinguished Flying Cross with First and Second letters of endorsement and cover letter.

Commendation for outstanding performance on the U.S.S. Independence dated 13 Dec 1965

Letter of Commendation for Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara’s Vietnam tour of field installations dated 3 Jul 65.  6 pages

Letter awarding the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal dated 4 Sep 65,  2 pages

Citation letter for Navy Commendation Medal dated 14 Sep 65

Six Letters of citation for Air Medals one through six.

Letter from NAS Glenview presenting Cpt. Richards with Naval Ensign.  Undated

Program, Change of Command and Retirement,  NAS Glenview,  25 Oct 86

Certificate, 8 by 10 inches, from Commander of U.S. Atlantic Fleet awarding the “E” for Excellence to Fighter Squadron 84 for the year 1965

Large 3-Ring Binder, containing Navy Systems Acquisition Management Course, March 1986.

Chart Case, green nylon, 10 by 15 by 4 inches, contains about six pounds of charts, etc. for delivery of F-4 to England.  1970

Chart Pouch, 12 by 6 by 4 inches with 1977 navigation books and charts.

Chart Pouch, 11 by 7 by 4 inches, with charts, paperwork and books for delivery of F-4 to Isreal in 1977.  Also contains F/RF4-C/D/E Crew Chief’s Handbook, McDonnell Douglas 1 DEC 1967.

Boatswains Pipe, GEMSCO

Pamphlet, “Welcome Aboard USS Independence (CVA-62)”, printed when the commander of the carrier was Captain L.V. Swanson.

Pamphlet, First Aid For Air Crews, 1953, fair.

Manual, NATOPS Pocket Checklist F-4Baircraft, 15 Jan 1965

Manual, Fighter Squadron Eighty-Four Inflight Guide, 5 by 8 inches, 15 pages, fair condition.

Manual, Fighter Squadron Forty-One F4H-1 Inflight Guide, 5 by 8, 40 pages.

Manual, Fighter Squadron 101, DET ALFA Vol. I., Radar Intercept Officer Training, Instructor Handbook, 180 pages, 8 by 10 1/2 inches.

Manual, Fighter Squadron 101, same as above except Vol. II

Manual, Navy Model F-4B Phantom, NAVWEPS 01-245FDB-1, 8 ½ by 11, approximately 200 pages, fair condition

Manual, Supplement to above, approximately 200 pages.

Checklist Binder, McDonnell F4H-1 Flight Data, 1969.

Checklist Binder, McDonnell Douglas Flight Crew, approximately 50 pages.

Aircrew Checklist, McDonnell, 15 Nov 1978.

Flightcrew Checklist, TO 1F-15A-1CL-1, USAF F-15A/B, 15 MAR 1978, AC 73-085 and up.

Checklists, Plastic Bound, USAF, Flight Crew Checklists, McDonnell Douglas.

Checklists, Plastic Bound, USAF, Flight Crew Checklists, McDonnell Douglas.

Charts, Approximately eight pounds of vintage aviation charts and supplements.

               END RICHARD'S FLIGHT GROUP