Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1949 Lucky Bag:

Channing Gardner

One year at the Michigan School of Mines and another as a seaman first class left Chan well prepared for all aspects of life at Navy. Academics were never a strain; after evening meal, he usually skipped over the next day’s lesson, and then turned to one of his many tomes and treatises on philosophy. Dragging weekends usually found Chan in the sack; but on liberty, his love of a good time and boundless energy came to the fore. We will remember Chan best for his deliberate speech and action and the inimitable loping gait. His lethargic manner never fooled his friends, who acquired cut throats as a result of his orderly, analytical mind, and bruised limbs from his proficiency in soccer and lacrosse. Chan’s competence in all matters, and his ability to get along with everyone are assurances of his future success.

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Channing was a member of the Christmas Card Committee.

Loss

Channing was lost on May 29, 1952 when his F4U-4 Corsair fighter crashed shortly after taking off from USS Valley Forge (CV 45). He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 653.

Other Information

From Find A Grave:

Lt. Gardner Dies In Korea Crash

Lt. (JG) Channing Gardner, 25, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Gardner, 1220 East First Street, was killed when his fighter plane crashed in Korean waters, it was learned yesterday.

Navy officials informed his parents that Lieutenant Gardner’s plane crashed on take off from a Navy carrier. His body was not recovered.

The officer had been assigned to the carrier USS Valley Forge since last December and had completed numerous missions attacking enemy rail and supply lines.

His plane was once struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire, forcing him to ditch in the sea in sub zero weather.

Lieutenant Gardner was a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and took flight training at Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned in June, 1949. Duluth News Tribune: May 30, 1952

Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Gold Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Photographs

Fighter Squadron (VF) 653 from the 1952 <span class='smallcaps'>Valley Forge</span>

Distinguished Flying Cross

From Hall of Valor:

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant, Junior Grade Channing Gardner (NSN: 0-521458), United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with Fighter Squadron SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE (VF-653), embarked in U.S.S. VALLEY FORGE (CV-45), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 18 December 1951.

General Orders: All Hands (February 1953)
Action Date: December 18, 1951
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Company: Fighter Squadron 653 (VF-653)
Division: U.S.S. Valley Forge (CV-45)