Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1970 Lucky Bag:

PAUL VERNON DUNCAN

Duncs grew up in the shadow of the Air Force Academy, but decided he liked his air salty, not thin, so he came to the Severn Shore. After carrying stars Plebe year, he has been hovering near the Superintendent’s List ever since. Fall seasons saw Paul out with the 1 50’s as a defensive back, and he spent his winters on the habitually successful company fieldball team. Never one to sweat about the system, Duncs was an easygoing type once off the athletic field, and he could be counted on to inject some humor into any serious situation. His one true love was the hills of Colorado, and his flame-of-the-moment’s picture shared his tackboard with Western scenery. Duncs has decided to join the Corps as a Marine Aviator, where he will be a welcome addition and an outstanding officer.

Loss

Paul was lost on November 3, 1974 when the F-4 Phantom he was flying stalled and crashed into the Pacific Ocean while attempting to land aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) southwest of Cubi Point, Philippines. His radar intercept officer survived the crash.

Obituary

From Ed Moore ‘70 via email on November 16, 2018:

Paul Vernon Duncan was the son of Argel L. Duncan and Gladys O. Kettle Duncan of Arvada, CO. He was a 1966 graduate of Arvada West High School where he participated in football, wrestling, the Key Club and other school activities. He applied for and received an appointment to the Naval Academy in 1966.

At the Academy, Paul was known as “Duncs” to his company mates. Although he grew up in the shadow of the Air Force Academy, he decided he liked his air salty, not thin, so he migrated east to Annapolis, MD. Paul was a scholar-athlete that earned Academic stars his Plebe year, which was very impressive. He continued to hover near the Superintendent’s List for all four years. Fall seasons saw Paul playing defensive back for the Varsity 150-pound football team, and his winters found him on the habitually successful 36th Company fieldball team. Duncs was an easygoing type once off the athletic field, and he could always be counted on to inject some humor into any serious situation. His one true love was the Mountains of Colorado, and his girlfriends’ pictures had to share his tack-board with colorful Colorado Rocky Mountain scenery.

Upon graduation, Paul selected to become a Marine Aviator, and headed to Pensacola following The Basic School in Quantico, VA. Paul earned his wings of gold and went on to become a [pilot] for the F-4 Phantom II jet fighter. Paul later shifted to the RF-4B photoreconnaissance version and in 1974 was assigned to Marine Composite Squadron ONE (VCMJ-1), Detachment 101. In April 1974, Detachment 101 was assigned to the USS Midway (CVA 41), which was [operating in] the Western Pacific, where he served as a [pilot] on assigned missions.

On November 3, 1974, Paul’s RF-4B aircraft was attempting to land on the USS Midway when it stalled and flamed out about 90 km south-west of Cubi Point, Philippines. The [RSO] 1st LT R.W. Reno ejected and was rescued. [The aircraft’s ejection sequence placed the pilot second, which is why 1LT Reno survived but Paul did not] when the RF-4B crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Paul was on the Captain’s promotion list at the time of his death. His picture is currently displayed on the USS Midway Museum Wall of Gratitude in San Diego, CA. Paul’s sacrifice is also honored in Memorial Hall at the Naval Academy.

Paul’s interment was at Arlington National Cemetery with a memorial also being placed in Arvada Cemetery in Jefferson County, CO (now with his parents). Memorial Services were held both at the Arvada United Methodist Church and the Arlington National Cemetery. Paul was survived by his parents and brother Darren A. Duncan, at the time of his death.

(Quote above had his position as a naval flight officer instead of a pilot; a squadron-mate emailed on February 19, 2019 to correct this, and also the ejection sequence. Paul’s RIO provided some additional corrections on October 3, 2019, and noted that VCMJ-1 was stationed at Iwakuni, Japan.)

Remembrances

From Paul’s RIO, Richard Reno, on October 3, 2019: “Paul was an outstanding person and Marine. I had the pleasure of serving with Paul both at MAS El Toro, California as well as MAS Iwakuni and onboard the USS Midway.”

Other Information

He has a memory marker in Colorado and another in Arlington National Cemetery.