AW2 Richard Nicholas Lanzendorf, Jr.
VS-24  S-3A
BUNO: 159411
10/23/60-01/26/83
Hometown: Hampton, VA
Lost at sea off the coast of Lebanon flying from the USS Nimitz. Mishap occurred after cat launch due to a wing lock failure. A memorial service was held January 29, 1983 onboard the Nimitz. AW2 J. R. Jones delivered the eulogy. A separate service was held 7:30 P.M. February 4th, 1983 at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church (near Grafton, Virginia) led by Reverend Robert Quirin with an interment following at 10 A.M. February 5th, 1983 in the Parklawn Memorial Park.
AW2 Richard N. Lanzendorf, Jr. was born at Hill Air Force Base, Utah on October 23, 1960. Hunting, gun collecting, and flying were Petty Officer Lanzendorf's hobbies.
He graduated from Hampton High School, Hampton, Virginia in June, 1979. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1978 on the Delayed Entry Program, reported for duty at the Naval Training Center, Orlando, Florida in July 1979 and graduated from recruit training in September 1979, with orders to Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Operator Training, Millington, Tennessee.
After completion of "A" school, Petty Officer Lanzendorf reported to Naval Aircrew School, Pensacola, Florida for survival training. Petty Officer Lanzendorf reported to VS-41, Naval Air Station North Island, California in February 1980. Reporting aboard VS-24 in December 1980, AW2 Lanzendorf earned his Aircrew Wings in May 1981.
AW2 Lanzendorf is survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Richard N. Lanzendorf, Sr., his brother Michael and his sister Susan.
Shipmates Comments:

AWCS (Ret.) Roger A. Mabry:

As a strapping, young, cocky (unfounded though) AW2 being booted out of VP-24 because of pilot manning, going from 12 crews to 10 crews per squadron, the Detailer (AWCM Dean Mattox) said "VS is the way to go" and I can still stay in JAX. I showed up at VS-41's door step Jan 3, 1980 to start CAT I SENSO Training. I was soon to be frocked to AW1 and I had to shave off my hippie VP beard. Student Control was ran by AWC Jim Wagner and he said I was the class leader for the class.

One of the students in the class was AWAN Rich Lanzendorf. Rich was a very focused individual. He took pride in what he was doing. He was very professional. He acted like a mature young man (unlike me at 28). Rich took on the persona of the young AW and ate, breathed, and lived all he could concerning TACAIR. He was a flight time DOG. He would fly anywhere...any time. He was slated to go to VS-28 with me and couple other guys (Ed Calloway, Carl Sutton, Doug Williams, Mike Quinlan, and Tony "The Wick" Wickerson). Somehow VS-28's Aircrew Division dwindled down to about 5 SENSO'S and they were slated to go on an I.O. Cruise Mid-Nov (CV-62).

Rich came up to me one day and asked if he could have his orders changed to VS-24. He had been flying with them on weekends and struck up some friendships in the squadron (J.R. Jones). That was the last thing I wanted to hear because I wanted him in my shop. But who was I to say anything. I was just a boot First Class who didn't even know what "Relative Bearing Grease" was. So as fate had it...he went on to be a "Scout" and the rest is History. I always wondered what would have happened if he didn't get the SWAP. I know all our lives would have been enriched by him.

AW2 Richard Nicholas Lanzendorf was a fine young man. He was truly a credit to his Family, Navy and Country.

We Miss you Rich!!!!

Bruce Reynolds:

I went through AW "A" school with Rich Lanzendorf back in late 1979, and to this day I remember how excited he was about getting his orders to a VS squadron. We were on the quarterdeck of Building S-429 and he was showing me his paperwork and he was all smiles. He really loved being a Viking Senso, so he died doing exactly what he wanted to do!!

Media Articles:
Navy Times, February 7, 1983:
3 Navy Aviators Killed in Crash
WASHINGTON--Three Navy men were killed January 26 when their S3A Viking aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from carrier Nimitz in the Mediterranean Sea.
Killed were Lt. Cmdr Lewis R. Dixon, Lt (jg) Peter J. Moller and Electronics Warfare Technician Second Richard M. Lanzendorf, Jr. They were assigned to Air Anti Submarine Squadron 24.