Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1953 Lucky Bag:

OSCAR MOISE DARDEAU, JR.

From out of the depths of Cajun land came Oscar to the Academy scene. Roscoe, as he liked to be called, spent a year at Marion Military Institute before heading North, although he claimed, strangely enough, no love for a military life. His pet peeves were P-rades and O.D.’s who wouldn’t let him fly his Rebel flag. His favorite saying was “‘Always act like you know what you’re doing, and you’ll never go wrong”. Oscar claimed that he was bound for Air Force Blue ever since he landed a Y.P. doing 30 knots forward, all engines backing full. Oh well, give him a funny story, a good friend, and ol’ Roscoe will always find his place in any service.

Loss

Oscar was killed in action on November 18, 1967 when his F-105F was shot down over North Vietnam.

Other Information

From Find A Grave:

Colonel Dardeau was a member of the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On November 18, 1967, he was the pilot of a Thunderchief Fighter (F-105F) on a mission near Phy Tho, North Vietnam, where the aircraft was shot down by hostile fire. His remains were recovered on November 25, 1987 and identified on February 3, 1988.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

The Marion Military Institute’s 1949 yearbook had Oscar’s description as: “C” Co. M.I. ‘48, ‘49.

From the November 1974 issue of Shipmate:

Col. Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr., USAF, died on 18 November 1967 over North Vietnam. On 28 May 1974 he was officially listed as Killed in Action.

Col. Dardeau graduated from the Naval Academy in 1953 and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force. Subsequently, he served in a number of assignments as a tactical fighter and fighter-interceptor pilot until his assignment to SE Asia in September 1967. At the time of his death, he was serving as Assistant Operations Officer, 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Thai Air Force Base, Korat, Thailand.

Col. Dardeau’s decorations include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with first and second Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with first and second Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart.

He is survived by his widow, Frances, 334 Yacht Club Dr., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; four children; and his father, Mr. Oscar Moise Dardeau, P.O. Box 8, Ville Platte, LA 70586.

He was shot down as a Major and promoted twice while in a missing status. Declared KIA on May 24, 1974.

Photographs

Remembrances

From Wall of Faces:

I knew your son and through him I felt that I knew you. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. You are never forgotten. ANONYMOUS, 5/22/13

Silver Star

Unable to find the citation for the Silver Star mentioned in the Shipmate article above.

Distinguished Flying Cross

Unable to find the citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross mentioned in the Shipmate article above.

Other

This F-105 History mentions Oscar twice by name.