Killed on board the USS Oriskany.
Born and raised in Somerville, TX. Graduated from Somerville High School and attended the Naval Academy, graduating in 1950. Namesake of Welch Park at Lake Somerville.
Born in 1928, Clyde Ray Welch hailed from Somerville, Texas. His parents were Clyde Vernon Welch and Eunice Ray Welch. Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson appointed Welch to the United States Naval Academy in 1948. He graduated with the class of 1951 and was designated a Naval Aviator. Fellow pilots nicknamed him "Tex", as he was immensely proud of his home state.
CDR Welch served his first tour aboard USS Essex during the Korean War. He continued his Naval Aviation career on USS Shangri-La, USS Constellation and USS Oriskany serving in Fighter Squadron 63 (Fighting Redcocks) and, Attack Squadrons 146 (Blue Diamonds) and 164 (Ghostriders).
His combat tours included the Korean and Vietnam wars (Operation Rolling Thunder) and, as a First Responder to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Welch flew the F9 Cougar and Panther, FJ4 Fury, F-8 Crusader and A4 Skyhawk from NAS Alameda, Miramar, and Lemoore. His shore commands included a 3-Star Admiral's Aide in Coronado and Pearl Harbor, a Wing staff officer at NAS Miramar and, a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.
His military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross and several Air medals with Combat "V" for Valor amongst numerous other combat/campaign medals and ribbons/citations.
In the fall of 1966 CDR Welch was serving as VA-164's Executive Officer in Carrier Air Group Sixteen on board USS ORISKANY (CVA-34) in the Tonkin Gulf. The squadron conducted combat operations against the North Vietnamese and CDR Welch was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission flown on October 22, 1966.
Early on the morning of October 26, 1966 the USS ORISKANY caught fire when a flare was accidentally discharged. The ensuing blaze killed 44 personnel, mostly air wing officers whose staterooms were in the affected area. CDR Welch was among the casualties.
Born and raised in Somerville, TX. Graduated from Somerville High School and attended the Naval Academy, graduating in 1950. Namesake of Welch Park at Lake Somerville.
Born in 1928, Clyde Ray Welch hailed from Somerville, Texas. His parents were Clyde Vernon Welch and Eunice Ray Welch. Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson appointed Welch to the United States Naval Academy in 1948. He graduated with the class of 1951 and was designated a Naval Aviator. Fellow pilots nicknamed him "Tex", as he was immensely proud of his home state.
CDR Welch served his first tour aboard USS Essex during the Korean War. He continued his Naval Aviation career on USS Shangri-La, USS Constellation and USS Oriskany serving in Fighter Squadron 63 (Fighting Redcocks) and, Attack Squadrons 146 (Blue Diamonds) and 164 (Ghostriders).
His combat tours included the Korean and Vietnam wars (Operation Rolling Thunder) and, as a First Responder to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Welch flew the F9 Cougar and Panther, FJ4 Fury, F-8 Crusader and A4 Skyhawk from NAS Alameda, Miramar, and Lemoore. His shore commands included a 3-Star Admiral's Aide in Coronado and Pearl Harbor, a Wing staff officer at NAS Miramar and, a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.
His military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross and several Air medals with Combat "V" for Valor amongst numerous other combat/campaign medals and ribbons/citations.
In the fall of 1966 CDR Welch was serving as VA-164's Executive Officer in Carrier Air Group Sixteen on board USS ORISKANY (CVA-34) in the Tonkin Gulf. The squadron conducted combat operations against the North Vietnamese and CDR Welch was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission flown on October 22, 1966.
Early on the morning of October 26, 1966 the USS ORISKANY caught fire when a flare was accidentally discharged. The ensuing blaze killed 44 personnel, mostly air wing officers whose staterooms were in the affected area. CDR Welch was among the casualties.
Killed on board the USS Oriskany.
Born and raised in Somerville, TX. Graduated from Somerville High School and attended the Naval Academy, graduating in 1950. Namesake of Welch Park at Lake Somerville.
Born in 1928, Clyde Ray Welch hailed from Somerville, Texas. His parents were Clyde Vernon Welch and Eunice Ray Welch. Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson appointed Welch to the United States Naval Academy in 1948. He graduated with the class of 1951 and was designated a Naval Aviator. Fellow pilots nicknamed him "Tex", as he was immensely proud of his home state.
CDR Welch served his first tour aboard USS Essex during the Korean War. He continued his Naval Aviation career on USS Shangri-La, USS Constellation and USS Oriskany serving in Fighter Squadron 63 (Fighting Redcocks) and, Attack Squadrons 146 (Blue Diamonds) and 164 (Ghostriders).
His combat tours included the Korean and Vietnam wars (Operation Rolling Thunder) and, as a First Responder to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Welch flew the F9 Cougar and Panther, FJ4 Fury, F-8 Crusader and A4 Skyhawk from NAS Alameda, Miramar, and Lemoore. His shore commands included a 3-Star Admiral's Aide in Coronado and Pearl Harbor, a Wing staff officer at NAS Miramar and, a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.
His military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross and several Air medals with Combat "V" for Valor amongst numerous other combat/campaign medals and ribbons/citations.
In the fall of 1966 CDR Welch was serving as VA-164's Executive Officer in Carrier Air Group Sixteen on board USS ORISKANY (CVA-34) in the Tonkin Gulf. The squadron conducted combat operations against the North Vietnamese and CDR Welch was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission flown on October 22, 1966.
Early on the morning of October 26, 1966 the USS ORISKANY caught fire when a flare was accidentally discharged. The ensuing blaze killed 44 personnel, mostly air wing officers whose staterooms were in the affected area. CDR Welch was among the casualties.
Born and raised in Somerville, TX. Graduated from Somerville High School and attended the Naval Academy, graduating in 1950. Namesake of Welch Park at Lake Somerville.
Born in 1928, Clyde Ray Welch hailed from Somerville, Texas. His parents were Clyde Vernon Welch and Eunice Ray Welch. Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson appointed Welch to the United States Naval Academy in 1948. He graduated with the class of 1951 and was designated a Naval Aviator. Fellow pilots nicknamed him "Tex", as he was immensely proud of his home state.
CDR Welch served his first tour aboard USS Essex during the Korean War. He continued his Naval Aviation career on USS Shangri-La, USS Constellation and USS Oriskany serving in Fighter Squadron 63 (Fighting Redcocks) and, Attack Squadrons 146 (Blue Diamonds) and 164 (Ghostriders).
His combat tours included the Korean and Vietnam wars (Operation Rolling Thunder) and, as a First Responder to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Welch flew the F9 Cougar and Panther, FJ4 Fury, F-8 Crusader and A4 Skyhawk from NAS Alameda, Miramar, and Lemoore. His shore commands included a 3-Star Admiral's Aide in Coronado and Pearl Harbor, a Wing staff officer at NAS Miramar and, a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.
His military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross and several Air medals with Combat "V" for Valor amongst numerous other combat/campaign medals and ribbons/citations.
In the fall of 1966 CDR Welch was serving as VA-164's Executive Officer in Carrier Air Group Sixteen on board USS ORISKANY (CVA-34) in the Tonkin Gulf. The squadron conducted combat operations against the North Vietnamese and CDR Welch was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a mission flown on October 22, 1966.
Early on the morning of October 26, 1966 the USS ORISKANY caught fire when a flare was accidentally discharged. The ensuing blaze killed 44 personnel, mostly air wing officers whose staterooms were in the affected area. CDR Welch was among the casualties.
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