Mars (AFS 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN ADAMS reported aboard 5 August. Reading of Orders — n Orders as MARS CO. Hail and Farewell Party in Subic CHANGE OF COMMAND I. II Relieve You Captain, United States Navy, Departing '

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ALBERT E. KNUTSON, USN COMMANDING OFFICER 23 January 1971 - 12 August 1972 Captain Knutson entered the Navy in 1943 as an Apprentice Seaman. In 1944 he was ordered to flight training and was com- missioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator in June 1946. From 1946 to 1965, Captain Knutson ' s squadron tours includ- ed Fighting Squadron 9A, Fighting Squadron Ninety Three, Com- posite Squadron Twelve, Attack Squadron Ninety Five, and Attack Squadron One Two Two. Shore duty included CIC Officers Schooi, General Line School, and Ohio State University where he received his degree in Bachelor of Science Business Administra- tion. In March 1965 he assumed command of Attack Squadron One Fifty Two. Embarked in USS ORISKANY he and his squadron participated in the conflict in Southeast Asia. For his actions he was awarded the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, ten Air Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, and his squadron was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. He reported to the USS CORAL SEA as Weapons Officer in April 1966. During this tour he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service and also received another Navy Unit Commendation. In July 1967 he reported to Staff, CINCPACFLT as Current Operations Coor- dinator and later served as Operations Plans and Capabilities Of- ficer. For his contribution to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. Captain Knutson assumed command of the USS MARS from January 1971 until August 1972 during which period the ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for its efforts in support of the conflict in Southeast Aisa. From the USS MARS he received orders as CINCPAC Representative to the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff in Omaha, Nebraska where he now resides with his wife, the former Doris Catlin of Westerly, Rhode Island, and their two daughters, Betsy and Debra.

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CAPTAIN RICHARD C. ADAMS, USN COMMANDING OFFICER 12 AUGUST 1972 - PRESENT Born of missionary parents in Monrovia, Liberia, he entered the U. S. Naval Academy in June 1944. He graduated in June 1948 and reported to Pensacola for flight training in the fall. During the Korean War he made two deployments with VF- 112 flying F9F-2 Panther jets, and was awarded a Distinguished Fly- ing Cross, three Air Medals, and a Navy Commendation with a Combat V. This duty was followed by a year of USAF exchange duty with the 63rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron (F-86A and F-86F) at Oscoda, Michigan. In October 1953 ne reported to the Naval Air Training Command to instruct in the F9F-2 at Kingsville, Texas. From 1954 to 1956 Capt. Adams attended the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California, where he received a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering in June 1956. This was followed by a year of graduate work at the Forrestal Research Center, Princeton University. There he majored in airplane per- formance, stability and control; receiving an M.S. degree in aeronautical engineering in June 1957. Two years were then spent in Air Development Squadron Three (VX-3) where Capt. Adams ' activity was concentrated in F-6A (SKYRAY) weapons system and tactics developments. In August 1959 he became the Air Operations Officer on the staff of Commander Second Fleet. In August 1961 the Captain was selected to attend the U. S. Navy Test Pilot School at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. Here he earned the dis- tinction of being the outstanding student in his class. Following completion of Test Pilot School he joined the Flight Test Division at Patuxent River flying test flights in A-4E, A-5A, A-6A, F-8E, T-39, E-2A and the F-4B aircraft. In 1963 he was advanced to the position of Head, Flying Qualities and Performance Branch of the Flight Test Division. Upon completion of this tour of duty he reported to VF-14 as Executive Officer in February 1965. Following a deployment with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterra- nean, he assumed command of VF-14 in December 1965 and began preparing the squadron for combat operations in Southeast Asia. The Squadron deployed with Air Wing One on the USS F. D. ROOSEVELT (CVA-42) in June 1966 and entered combat in August. In November 1966 Capt. Adams, having flown 54 combat missions, returned to the staff of Commander Naval Air Force, Atlantic for six months temporary duty with the air wing training section. He then assumed command of Key West based VF-101 which trains F- 4 Phantom pilots and NFO ' s for Atlantic Fleet attack carrier air- wings. In July 1968 he was ordered to USS SARATOGA (CVA-60), as Executive Officer. He served in this capacity until August 1969, after which he reported to the Office of the Director of Defense Research Engineering as Navy Military Assistant in the office of the Assistant Director, Air Warfare. Among his many respon- sibilities in this assignment was the updating and rewriting of the Development Concept Paper (DCP) tor the F-14 and preparation of the initial drafts of the DCP ' s for the AIM-7F and AGILE missiles. Capt. Adams became a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in August, 1971. While at ICAF he wrote a paper on management practices changes in the Department of Defense in the acquisition of major weapon systems, lectured on the management of R D in the Department of Defense and was chairman of a research project and paper on U. S. Foreign Trade (Export) Policy prepared for the Council on International Economic Policy. Executive office of the President. In August 1972 he assumed duties as Commanding Officer of USS MARS (AFS-1). Captain Adams is married to the former Winna Sue Kimmick of Whittier, Calif. They have two children, Carol 18, and Scott 16.