DAN D. DEWISPELAERE, LCDR, USN

Dan Dewispelaere '81

Date of birth: December 16, 1958

Date of death: October 10, 1991

Age: 32

Lucky Bag

From the 1981 Lucky Bag:

Dan D. DeWispelaere

Alexandria, Virginia

Dan, known to many as DeWis, was honorably dubbed the rank of Woman I for his ability to obtain injuries not on the Rugby field, but off. Over 99.9% of his broken bones were inflicted by his two sidekicks and admirers, Woman II and Woman III. When the word crazy was defined, old man Webster was looking DeWis right in the eye. DeWis was a distinguished copilot of ‘ole Bess, especially when the pilot's beer goggles fogged up. He also earned the silver cooler cross for making sure that everyone aboard had a cold one in hand, while being double-fisted himself. We'll never forget when he led Woman's II and III on a swim across the Severn during a line squall. DeWis always managed to sneak past Thursday noons without a haircut, but Big Earl (Dad, Captain, USN), always caught him on the weekend. Dan was a love'em and leave'em type who would gladly break a date to break the sound barrier in his RX-7. We will always remember him as a super friend with the "Right Stuff" and wish the best in his pursuit of Navy Air.

Dan D. DeWispelaere

Alexandria, Virginia

Dan, known to many as DeWis, was honorably dubbed the rank of Woman I for his ability to obtain injuries not on the Rugby field, but off. Over 99.9% of his broken bones were inflicted by his two sidekicks and admirers, Woman II and Woman III. When the word crazy was defined, old man Webster was looking DeWis right in the eye. DeWis was a distinguished copilot of ‘ole Bess, especially when the pilot's beer goggles fogged up. He also earned the silver cooler cross for making sure that everyone aboard had a cold one in hand, while being double-fisted himself. We'll never forget when he led Woman's II and III on a swim across the Severn during a line squall. DeWis always managed to sneak past Thursday noons without a haircut, but Big Earl (Dad, Captain, USN), always caught him on the weekend. Dan was a love'em and leave'em type who would gladly break a date to break the sound barrier in his RX-7. We will always remember him as a super friend with the "Right Stuff" and wish the best in his pursuit of Navy Air.

Loss

Dan was lost on October 10, 1991 when the A-6E Intruder he was piloting crashed near Wenatchee, Washington.

Other Information

From Aviation Safety:

A-6E Intruder BuNo. 152620/NE-507 of VA-155, US Navy, based at Whidbey Island NAS. Crashed October 10, 1991 into the Columbia River, 12 miles south east of Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington. Both crew - Lt Commander Dan David "Dewey" DeWispelaere (pilot) and Lt (JG) Grady Hackwith (bombardier/navigator) - were killed. According to the following contemporary report (from the Washington Post of October 20, 1991):
"Lt. Cmdr. Dan David "Dewey" DeWispelaere, 32, a Navy pilot who flew more than 40 missions from the aircraft carrier Ranger in the Persian Gulf War, was killed Oct. 10 in the crash of his A-6E Intruder near Wenatchee, Wash.
His navigator-bombardier, Lt. (j.g.) Grady Hackwith, was reported missing. The plane was stationed at the Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island, Wash., and was on a low-level training flight when it crashed into a cliff and fell into the Columbia River about 12 miles southeast of Wenatchee. Navy officials said the cause of the crash was under investigation.
Cmdr. DeWispelaere, a resident of Oak Harbor, Wash., was born in the District of Columbia. He grew up in a Navy family at various naval stations in this country and in Norway. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria and then went to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He graduated in the class of 1981 and was designated a naval aviator in 1983.
He was stationed at Whidbey Island throughout his career as a pilot, but the squadrons in which he served were deployed twice on the aircraft carrier Constellation in the Pacific Fleet and once aboard the aircraft carrier Ranger for service in the Gulf war.
Cmdr. DeWispelaere's military decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross with combat V, the Air Medal with combat V and two Navy Commendation Medals, one of which bore the combat V."

From the January/February 1992 issue of Shipmate:

LCdr. D an D . "Dewey" DeWispelaere, USN died in an aircraft accident near Wenatchee, Washington on 10 October 1991. Funeral services were held at the Fort Myer Post Chapel and interment was in Arlington National Cemetery, both on 23 October 1991 with full military honors.
LCdr. DeWispelaere was born in the District of Columbia. Growing up in a military family at various bases in this country and Norway, he graduated from Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Va. He entered the Naval Academy and graduated with the Class of 1981.
Following graduation he entered flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1983. Following A-6 training with VA-128 at NAS Whidbey Island he reported to VA-196. His next tour of duty was with VA-128 as an instructor pilot and Familiarization Stage Phasehead. Next came assignment to VA-155 where he deployed to the North Arabian Gulf as part of Carrier Air Wing 2 onboard RANGER. He flew in 43 days of combat operations during Operation Desert Storm.
His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat '"V," Air Medal with Combat "V," Navy Commendation Medal with Combat '"V," and various campaign, unit, and service awards.
Survivors include his wife Marilyn, sons Tim, Dan Jr., and Nicholas, and daughter Melanie, all of Oak Harbor, Wash.; his parents, Capt. and Mrs. Earl L. DeWispelaere of Alexandria, Va.; his brother Earl, Jr of Denver, Colo.; and his sister LeeAnne D. Whitworth of Wendell, N.C.
The family requests all donations be sent to the "Dewey" Memorial Scholarship Fund care of Whidbey Island Bank, RO. Box 990, Oak Harbor, Wash. 98277. The fund is for the educational needs of his children.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.