David J. Rollins

David Rollins enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 24, 1948, and was trained as an Aviation Structural Mechanic. Rollins later served as an enlisted combat aircrewman, serving as an aerial gunner, radar operator, flight engineer, navigator, and bombardier during the Korean War. Most of his enlisted flying time was aboard the PB4Y-1 Liberator and the PV-2 Harpoon. He made Chief Petty Officer (E-7) in July 1957, and was commissioned as an Aircraft Maintenance Limited Duty Officer (LDO) on January 8, 1960. He was trained as a Naval Flight Officer and became a member of the Fleet Introduction Team for the F-4 Phantom II. Rollins began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia with Fighter Squadron 114 from the USS Kitty Hawk in 1966 and he was forced to eject over North Vietnam on May 14, 1967.