This Military Service Page was created/owned by
MGySgt Dennis Robbins (Robbie)
to remember
Marine Capt John Wadsworth Consolvo, Jr. (Jack).
If you knew or served with this Marine and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
F-4J 155576 HIT OVER NVN, DOWN 8 KM NORTH OF CA LU AFLD, UTM grid reference is YD010555.
On 7 May 1972, Captain Consolvo departed DaNang, Vietnam, piloting an F4-J on a bombing mission to strike SAM missiles on transporters. As he pulled off target his aircraft was hit and the left engine was on fire. He maneuvered his aircraft toward an area that provided a greater chance of escape and evasion. His FAG observed that while the aircraft was uncontrollable the mechanics of ejection could still be performed. Captain Consolvo ordered his RIO to get out. The FAG and Wingman did not see the RIO eject but did see his chute on impact. The RIO was picked up twenty four hours later. The combination of interrupted observation of Captain Consolvo?s aircraft and the distance the aircraft traveled after the RIO ejected makes the unobserved ejection of Captain Consolvo highly probable. Due to ejecting over hostile territory, Captain Consolvo would be limited in his ability to contact friendly forces if his survival radio was lost or inoperative.
John Wadsworth Consolvo, Jr. was born on January 8, 1944 and joined the Marine Corps while in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He served as a Naval Aviator in the United States Marine Corps, VMFA 212, MAG 15, 1 MAW, and attained the rank of Captain. He began his second tour of duty on May 7, 1972. He was given a high probability of surviving, as he ordered his RIO (later picked up) to eject while he stayed in a little longer to steer away from friendly village. In Oct. of 1974 there was a presumptive finding of death as a result of the need for closure by his wife. However, there has never been any information to support this finding, and in fact, the crash site was never investigated. Any information about sightings or other related matter would be greatly appreciated. Please help us bring these men home!
AWARDS Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with Combat ''V'', Air Medal (First thru nineteen Strike/Flight Awards, Air Medal (Bronze Star for first award)., Air Medal (Gold Star in lieu of second award) a Navy Commendation Medal. Purple Heart,, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Capt Consolvo went down on 5/7/1972 and was considered MIA. On 10/22/1974, DoD issued a presumptive finding of death.
Other Comments:
Service number 420564999
This Veteran has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii with another memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase VII Campaign (1970-71)
From Month/Year
July / 1970
To Month/Year
June / 1971
Description This campaign was from 1 Jul 1970 to 30 June 1971. Fighting continued in Cambodia during early February before and after South Vietnam began its U.S.-aided drive in Laos, Lam Son 719, the most significant operation during this campaign.
Lam Son 719 was conducted out of I Corps by Vietnamese troops with US fire and air support. Their object was to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail and to destroy enemy bases at Techepone, Laos. The operation consisted of four phases. In Phases I, called Operation DEWEY CANYON II, the 1st Brigade, US 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) occupied the Khe Sanh area and cleared Route No. 9 up to the Laotian border. In the meantime, the US 101st Airborne Division conducted diversionary operations in the A Shau Valley. The US 45th Engineer Group had the mission of repairing Route No. 9 up to the Laotian border. This lasted from 30 January to 7 February 1971. During Phase II US forces continued to provide fire support, helilift, and tactical and strategic air support for ARVN units. This phase was 8 February to March 1971. Phase III ran from March to 16 March 1971; Phase IV was the withdrawal phase.
Faced with mounting losses, Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Lam, the commander of the invasion forces, decided to cut short the operation and ordered a withdrawal.
Lam Son 719, though it was less than a signal success, forestalled a Communist offensive in the spring of 1971. Enemy units and replacements enroute south were diverted to the scene of the action.
