Michael John Estocin

Captain Estocin was a member of Attack Squadron 192, Carrier Air Wing 19 aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS TICONDEROGA (CVA-14). On April 26, 1967, he was the pilot of a Douglas Attack Aircraft Skyhawk (A-4E) to neutralize the surface to air missiles near fuel facilities in Haiphong, North Vietnam when his aircraft was hit by a surface to air missile and crashed amid the island's hear Haiphong. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Captain Estocin was awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 20 and 26 April 1967 as a pilot in Attack SQ 192, embarked in USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14. Leading a 3-plane group of aircraft in support of a coordinate strike against two thermal power plants in Haiphong, North Vietnam on 20 April 1967, CAPT Estocin provided continuous warnings to the strike group leaders of the surface-to-air missile threats and personally neutralized three SAM sites. Although his aircraft was severely damaged by an exploding missile, he reentered the target area and relentlessly prosecuted a SHRIKE attack in the face of intense antiaircraft fire. With less than 5 minutes of fuel remaining he departed the target area and commenced in-flight refueling which continued over 100 miles. Three miles aft of Ticonderoga, and without enough fuel for a second approach, he disengaged from the tanker and executed a precise approach to a fiery arrested landing. On 26 April 1967, in support of a coordinated strike against the vital fuel facilities in Haiphong, he led an attack on a threatening SAM site, during which his aircraft was seriously damaged by an exploding SAM; he regained control of his burning aircraft and courageously launched his SHRIKE Missiles before department the area.