Roll Of Honor Inductee

0 Comments | Naval Aviation News, May, 2001

Retired Master Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate (Reciprocating Engine) Edward J. Witt was inducted into the Enlisted Combat Aircrew Roll of Honor aboard the Yorktown (CV 10) museum at Patriots Point, S.C., on Veterans Day 2000. The honor came 32 years after his Observation Squadron (VO) 67 was disestablished. The squadron's mission consisted of dropping listening devices and sensors to alert U.S forces of enemy truck convoys coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Once a convoy was found, an air strike was called. Because of the squadron's heroic measures, Army reports showed VC truck kills more than tripled.

Witt flew 25 combat missions with VO-67, earning two Air Medals in a seven-month period. Later, as part of VQ-1, he earned two additional Air Medals for combat support missions. Today, Witt works as a civilian supervisor at NAS Whidbey Island.