Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1980 Lucky Bag:

CARLOS AL MILLER

Loscar

Our good friend Loscar fell off of the pumpkin wagon on his way to the Mormon Temple in Washington, D.C. Coming all the way from Amarillo, Texas, he had the misfortune of landing in the open arms of Lucky 13. Loscar’s financial wizardry left him without enough funds to afford a bus ticket and continue on his way. Consequently, he had to make the biggest decision of his life, next to buying a stereo. He decided the only way to get back on his original “mission” was to make a home of thirteenth company, study Aerospace Engineering, and become a fighting Navy pilot. Loscar’s true spirit for the Academy could always be found tacked to the door of his room in the form of a traditional nameplate, O. Howie Phartz! Carlos really enjoyed the first semester first class year and the green alarts at the Lt’s. What with Company Sub-Commander and Cables II, he was usually in the rack by 0300. With his fondness for those hours, those 0400 carrier take offs should be a real thrill. God bless you friend.

Loss

Carlos was lost on January 23, 1985 when the VA-3B Skywarrior he was aboard crashed in the Pacific Ocean en route from Atsugi, Japan to Guam. Eight others aboard were also killed; he was a qualified naval aviator but was aboard as a passenger.

Other Information

From VQ-1, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One Wall of Valor, Aircraft Accidents and Crashes¹:

January 23, 1985, the VA-3B disappeared from a radar tracking screen approximately 125 nautical miles north of Guam. The subsequent JAG investigation, completed in September, reported the Skywarrior took off from Atsugi at about 1000 Guam time. Twenty minutes later the crew contacted the VQ-1 detachment at Atsugi and reported an air turbine motor (ATM) was malfunctioning. The VA-3B continued on its course and stayed in radio contact with Navy officials, first on Iwo lima, and then on Guam. At 1230 Guam time the navigator reported the starboard ATM was shut down and the port one was heating up. Seventeen minutes later the aircrew requested permission to descend from 33,000 to 20,000 ft. Four minutes later, at 1251, radar contact was lost with the stricken aircraft. A massive air and sea search and rescue effort failed to locate any trace of the VA-3B or its crew and passengers.

An endorsement to the accident investigation by VADM James E. Service, Commander Naval Air Pacific, summed up by saying: “Although the exact cause of the mishap cannot be determined from available information, dual ATM failure with resultant flight control problems is the conclusion best supported by the circumstantial evidence.” The ATMs provide power for the hydraulic pumps, which in turn power the flight control surfaces.

Fatalities: (9)
CDR John T. Mitchell (Squadron Commander), LCDR Robert E. Delateur, LT Carlos A. Miller, LT Marshall L. Laird, LTjg Richard A. Thomson, AMSC John T. Clark, AEC David K. Nichols, AT3 Thomas J. Jorgenson, AD3 Thomas J. Degryse.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

A memorial service was held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints in Barrigada, Guam, on February 5, 1985. In attendance were Carlos’ wife Marianne, a resident of Guam, her parents Mr. and Mrs. Wood of Glen Burnie, Maryland, and Carlos’ parents Ronald Harold and Mary Lou Gonza Miller of Fresno, California. Carlos was born in Castro Valley, Alameda, California.

Carlos has a memory marker in the Naval Academy Cemetery.

Photographs

Source

Remembrances

From Honor 365² on January 25, 2018:

My late husband, LCDR Carlos Al Miller was fiercely loving and loyal to God, family, and country, and took pride in his heritage. Born into a military family, he dreamed of space and flying from his young childhood. He became and Eagle Boy Scout, and after graduating high school, entered the US Naval Academy in July 1976. We met the end of his plebe year. He eventually became the 13th Company’s Sub Commander, and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and USN Ensign Commissioning, 28 May 1980.

Carlos was sent first for temporary duty to NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX using his talents directing efforts toward the first orbital launch of the Nation’s Space Transportations System which became the first Space Shuttle. While there, he experienced Zero Gravity and became an honorary member of The Society of Interplanetary Free Floaters. He then went onto Naval Technical Training Center, Treasure Island, certifying as an Aviation Division Officer, 12 March 1982, San Diego and Moffett Field in CA and on to flight school at the Naval Technical Train Center, Corry Station, Pensacola, FL. He graduated with an Honors Graduate Certificate August 1982. Two weeks prior, we were married.

We honeymooned across country heading for Carlos’ first duty station at NAS VQ-1 Agana Guam, to Pilot the Navy’s P-3 reconnaissance aircraft.

On 23 January 1985, Carlos left behind the P-3, four propellered aircraft which he had just piloted Admirals around on, and unknown to me, was deadheading back on “a routine flight” to VQ-1 Agana, Guam from Atsugi, Japan with his Squadron CO. The CO was piloting the Navy jet VA – 3B PR 111 (nicknamed “Triple Sticks”), a modified VIP aircraft. As far as I knew Carlos had never flown in any A-3 Skywarrior jets, which were used on Aircraft Carriers. There were 9 men aboard. They were flying back in anticipating for a VQ-1 Safety Inspection with the Top Brass and Carlos and a few others on board were in the Safety department.

Though Carlos was lost, I am thankful for those who searched so diligently for him!!!

We honor you, Carlos Miller. Marrianne Memmott

References