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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Charles J. Sweeney Jr.

Chuck Sweeney (a.k.a. Charles J. Sweeney, Jr.) was born in Philadelphia, PA. Chuck joined the Navy after working two years in defense as an electrical engineer. Following Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI Ensign Sweeney spent two years at Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD conducting weapon systems tests. There he acquired the flying urge from test pilots and astronauts.

After earning his wings in 1962, LTJG Sweeney was assigned to VS-23 aboard USS Yorktown flying S-2 antisubmarine aircraft. LT Sweeney qualified as an aircraft commander including 27 combat support missions in the Tonkin Gulf during "Operation Market Time" in 1964.

While earning his MS in Aeronautical Engineering at Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA in 1968, LCDR Sweeney volunteered to fly attack jets. After jet transition and A-4 training, Chuck was sent to Vietnam in Aug 1969 and assigned to VA-22 aboard USS Bon Homme Richard flying A-4F attack aircraft.

In 1971 Chuck was assigned to the A-4 RAG at Naval Air Station Lemoore, CA. His shore duty was cut short due to heavy air wing losses and after an expedited refresher cycle was once more flying over North Vietnam (NVN) in July 1972. He was assigned as Executive Officer (XO) of VA-212 aboard USS Hancock again flying the A-4F.

Chuck earned his three Distinguished Flying Crosses (DFC) in a one-week period in Sep 1972. One was for leading a successful search and rescue of a squadron-mate shot down over NVN, the second as division lead on a strike near Hanoi, and the third for leading an "Alfa Strike" on a NVN target complex.

CDR Sweeney was next assigned to COMNAVAIRPAC staff in 1974, then as Strike Ops aboard USS Constellation in 1976, back to COMNAVAIRPAC in 1978, and retired in 1980 after 22 years.

CDR Sweeney's personal awards include 3 DFCs, 4 individual/19 S/F Air Medals, 2 Naval Commendation Medals, 200 combat missions, 4334 flight hours, and 757 carrier landings.

Chuck then worked for several defense contractors and is now at BAE Systems. Chuck is widowed (Diane died in 2001), resides in Coronado, CA, and has two sons, David and Michael, two daughters, Regina and Lee Anne, four grandsons, Kyle, Paul, John, and Richard, as well as two granddaughters, Lauren and Alexandria. He is a member of the DFC Society, Tailhook Association, Navy League, and Association of Naval Aviation (ANA).