Foil: 17 Panel: 1 Column: 4 Line: 100

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Dawn F. Tollefson

Chuck Tollefson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1951. He went on to Navy Flight Training earning his wings of gold in 1953 having flown SNJ "Texan," F6F "Hellcat" and TV "Shooting Star" aircraft during his training. He qualified as a carrier pilot aboard the USS Monterey (CV-26) in the SNJ and F6F.

Reporting to Fleet squadrons, he subsequently flew the F9F "Cougar," the FJ "Fury" and the F8U "Crusader" with VF-13 and VF-174. Deployments with VF-174 were aboard aircraft carriers USS Midway (CVA-41) and USS Bennington (CVA-20) in the Western Pacific and South Pacific.

Ordered to instructor duty in the Naval Advanced Training Command, he flew the F9F "Panther" and the F9F "Cougar."

He then reported to the USS Independence (CVA-62) where he flew the TF-1 "Trader" aboard the Independence and other carriers including the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), the Navy's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier. He also participated in the Cuban missile crisis flying into and out of Guantanamo, Cuba.

Leaving the Independence, he reported to VA-12 where he flew the A-4C and the A-4E "Skyhawk" aboard the USS Essex (CVS-9) in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS F. D. Roosevelt (CVA-42).

Reporting to shore duty with Replacement Air Wing Four staff, he flew A-4, F9F, T-28 "Trojan" and U-11 aircraft.

A final tour of duty with VQ-1 in Atsugi, Japan, and Danang, Vietnam, LCDR Tollefson flew the EA-3B "Skywarrior" on 121 combat flights. He also requalified aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14), the USS Coral Sea (CVA-42) and the USS America (CVA-66).

During his aviation career, LCDR Tollefson accumulated 461 carrier-arrested landings and 4320 hours of flight time before retiring in 1971 with 20 years of service.