Cag: The Naval Aviation Career of Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale (1949-1965) In His Own Words

Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale is best remembered for his tremendous courage and outstanding leadership during the seven plus years he was the senior military officer held captive in the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War. For his actions he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1976 and the lifelong admiration of the 591 POWs who returned home with him from Vietnam in February 1973.

Very little is known, however, about Jim Stockdale's career as a Navy fighter pilot and his ascent up the career ladder until ultimately becoming C.A.G. (Carrier Air Group Commander) in charge of all squadrons and pilots aboard the USS Oriskany at the beginning of the Vietnam War. This memoir was nearly lost forever and was only found on his old computer hard-drive and brought to light in 2022. It describes his first experiences flying; receiving his Navy wings in 1950; first attending and then becoming an instructor at the Navy Test Pilot School in Patuxent, Maryland where he first began flying the F-8 Crusader, the supersonic fighter jet he later became the first man to fly for 1000 hours.

Lieutenant Jim Stockdale then received orders to the west coast where he joined fighter squadron VF-211 flying off the carrier USS Midway stationed at Alameda, CA. Then a two-year sojourn when the Navy financed his Masters Degree in International relations at Stanford University and he was first introduced to Stoic philosophy which would be so significant to his survival and success during his prison years. After graduation Stockdale moved with his family to Coronado, CA. where he was assigned to the infamous fighter squadron VF-51 stationed at Miramar. After two deployments aboard the USS Ticonderoga in 1962 and 1963 Stockdale became the Commanding Officer of VF-51. During his deployment aboard the USS Oriskany in 1964 he led Navy planes during both incidents in the Tonkin Gulf on August 2 and 4 and on August 5 led the first bombing mission ordered by President Johnson into North Vietnam which formally started the war.

When the USS Oriskany returned to Coronado in 1964, then Commander Stockdale, was selected CAG. During his second deployment aboard the USS Oriskany on September 9, 1965 CAG Jim Stockdale's plane was shot down over North Vietnam and he was listed as MIA. Seven months later he was confirmed a POW held in Hanoi by North Vietnam.

I am Sid Stockdale, the second son of Jim and Sybil Stockdale. I contributed the Introduction, photographs, and Epilogue to this memoir. I also found and included the Forward, Appendix A and B, and assisted with light editing.