Paul T. Gillcrist
Paul Thomas Gillcrist (March 22, 1929 – June 30, 2016) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. After retirement from the Navy, he wrote non-fiction and fiction books and was a consultant for television. Early life and education. Born in Chicago and raised in Freeport, Long Island, Gillcrist was a 1952 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. After attending flight school, he was designated a naval aviator in December 1953. Gillcrist was also an October 1958 graduate of the Naval Test Pilot School. Career. His first deployment was with the "Satan's Kittens" of  VF-191 flying from the carrier . Gillcrist later served with the "Boomerangs" of VF-62 flying from the carriers "Shangri-La" and . During the Vietnam War, he served three tours with the "Iron Angels" of VF-53 flying 167 combat missions from the carriers , and . Gillcrist was given command of the squadron from March 1967 to March 1968 during his last two deployments. Gillcrist was a former Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare, a position he served from 1982 to 1985. Previously, he served as Commander, Naval Base San Diego, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations for the Commander in  Chief of the Atlantic Command, Commander of Carrier Air Wing THREE deployed on the carrier , Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Cecil Field, and as Commander of Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wings of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMFITAEWWING). He is an alumnus of Gonzaga University and the United States Naval Academy. In 1981 at the age of 51, Gillcrist became the first flag officer to land an F-14 Tomcat on an aircraft carrier. He wrote novels as well as books on aviation and naval science topics. Following his retirement, he became a technical consultant for the movie "Thirteen Days" and  the television show "JAG". He died on June 30, 2016 and was interred at Miramar National Cemetery. Awards. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal (13), and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. In 1985, he was named Tailhook Aviator of the Year by the Tailhook Association.