TBS 2-67 Cruisebook_Updated_7Jan23

John "Jack" Consolvo
John "Jack" Consolvo
Jack Consolvo graduated from Auburn High School,
Auburn, Alabama, in 1961. He graduated from
Sullivan's Prep School in Washington, DC in 1962,
ranking number one in his class.
He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1962,
graduated in 1966 and was commissioned a Second
Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
Following Basic Training with TBS Class 2­67 at
Quantico Virginia, Jack reported to Pensacola
Florida for flight training. He had further training
at Meridian, Mississippi and Beeville, Texas, and he
was designated a Naval Aviator in July, 1968. His
first duty station was at El Toro, Marine Corps Air
Station in California. Jack then served six months in
Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 542, Da Nang,
Vietnam from July 1969 to Jan. 1970, flying over
150 combat missions. From Jan. 1970 to July 1970,
he served as Air Liaison Officer with Division of Air
Offices Hdqrs. First Marine Division, Vietnam.
Jack then joined Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212
at the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station, Honolulu,
Hawaii in August 1970. The squadron was deployed
back to Da Nang Vietnam in April 1972.
Loss Account from Task Force Omega:
On 7 May 1972, Capt. John W. “Jack” Consolvo, Jr.,
pilot and COW3 James J. “Jim” Castonguay, Radar
Intercept Officer comprised the crew of the lead F4J
aircraft (serial #155576), call sign “Bootleg 5 ­ 01”
in a flight of 2 that was conducting an afternoon
strike mission. In addition to their 20mm centerline
cannons, both strike aircraft were armed with 12
MK­82 500­pound bombs. Other aircraft
participating in this day’s mission included King 26,
the Airborne Battlefield Command and Control
Center (ABCCC); and Seafox 01, the Forward Air
Controller (FAC) that was referred to as a “fast
FAC” because it was also an F4.
Targets included surface­to­air missiles (SAM) and
anti­aircraft artillery (AAA) sites as well as enemy
convoys and other lucrative targets of opportunity
found in their sector. The target area was described
as the DMZ, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam,
which bordered the DMZ to the south; and Quang
Binh Province, North Vietnam, which bordered it to
the north.
Bootleg 5 flight departed DaNang Airbase shortly
after 1400 hours and rendezvoused with Seafox 01
over the South China Sea just east of Quang Tri
City, South Vietnam. After receiving current weather
and mission data from King 26, the flight proceeded
inland to the target area located 9 to 10 miles north
of the DMZ in a forested high threat area that was
laced with primary and secondary roads and trails
running in different directions that were protected
by both AAA and SAM sites. Further, it was infested
with large concentrations of NVA troops who used
this sector to stage and then transport men and
material into the active war zone.
At approximately 1415 hours, Seafox 01 located,
M‐28