Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1972 Lucky Bag:

DENNIS PATRICK O'MALLEY

Denny made his appearance at USNA dreaming only of Phantoms and Navy Air; now it looks like he’ll leave the same way. A native New Yorker, “CM” quickly discovered something besides the hustle of the city and that was the rustle of the rack. That didn’t stop him from starring in company sports; that was just something that had to be done. Denny’s biggest accomplishment at Navy was growing a set of sideburns; started in Youngster year, they should look good by June Week ‘72. Always in good physical shape, he did have one lingering ailment, he was allergic to barber shops. The air blowing thru the clippers up on 8-4 did wonders for him however. Faced with the big decision after two years on the bridge on his boat, “lifer-striker” O’Malley will probably head back to Pensacola and the BOQ ar. Who can tell?

Loss

Dennis was lost on May 15, 1977 when the F-4 Phantom II he was aboard crashed into the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to land aboard USS Independence (CV 62). The pilot was also killed; they were members of Fighter Squadron (VF) 102, based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

From The Cumberland News on May 18, 1977:

Two crewmen of a Navy F4 Phantom jet that crashed Sunday during a NATO exercise in the Mediterranean Sea are presumed dead, the Navy said Tuesday.

The two were identified as the aircraft’s pilot, Lt. Brian D. Hurst, and its radar intercept officer, Lt. Dennis P. O’Malley, both of Virginia Beach.

Both officers were attached to Fighter Squadron 102, based at the Oceana, Va., Naval Air Station.

A Navy spokesman said the Phantom crashed Sunday evening while trying to land on the Norfolk-based carrier USS Independence.

From the memo “Command History for Calendar Year 1977 (OPNAV Report 5750-1)” date stamped March 23, 1978:

While participating in Exercise “Dawn Patrol”, from 15 to 16 May, the DIAMONDBACKS flew CAP missions and AIC in support of CAG SEVEN training strikes into Turkey. During this exercise, Lieutenants Dennis O’MALLEY and Brian HURST were lost in a night carrier landing accident.

Shipmate

From the October 1977 issue of Shipmate:

Lt. Dennis Patrick O’Malley USN was lost at sea due to an aircraft accident during a night carrier barricade landing on board USS Independence on 15 May 1977 in the Eastern Mediterranean. Memorial services were held on board ship.

Appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of New York, he was graduated with the Class of 1972. He was an excellent athlete in many company sports while a midshipman. Upon receiving his commission he reported to the fast combat support ship Detroit prior to taking training as a naval flight officer at Naval Air Station, Pensacola. Navigation and radar intercept training followed at Naval Air Station, Glynco, Georgia, and he received his wings in November 1973. He thereupon reported to Fighter Squadron One Hundred One for replacement training in the F-4 Phantom. Upon completion of training he joined Fighter Squadron One Hundred Two aboard Independence and was with this group when the fatal accident occurred.

He is survived by his widow, Joanne, a son, his parents, four brothers, and a sister.

He has a marker in Arlington National Cemetery.

Related Articles

Brian Hurst ‘71 was the pilot of the aircraft.

Richard Been ‘72 was also in 33rd Company.