Family Grieves O.C. Pilot’s Loss in Navy Crash

FOUNTAIN VALLEY —  Pain and grief rolled down Charles “Bob” Francis’ face in short, tearful bursts Sunday. He had lost his only son. The Navy had lost another pilot. And everyone was at a loss for an answer.

“It hurts,” Francis sobbed as he tried to explain the unexplainable. “I’ve lost a son I’ve had for 27 years. I’ve never been through anything like this before.”

Tragically, the Navy has.

Francis’ son, Lt. Thomas R. Francis, was yet another casualty in a series of Naval aviation crashes when his EA-6B “Prowler” jet on Saturday plunged into the sea 150 miles off the coast of San Diego. Lt. Francis, 27, was lost at sea and presumed dead, another crewman was dead and two others were injured.

In the last two months, there have been eight accidents involving Navy aircraft. The crash of the Prowler, a radar jamming aircraft, during a training exercise was the second deadly incident off San Diego in the past week. As a result, the Navy’s Pacific Fleet has begun a stand-down to reassess safety procedures for its aircraft.

“I know [the Navy] has had some problems lately. Maybe if it’s a mechanical problem this will help bring it to their attention so nobody else has to lose a son,” Francis said. “But I don’t blame the Navy. I’m an American.”

Although his son’s body has not been recovered, Francis knows there is virtually no chance he survived. Navy officials, he said, suspect that his son is still latched into his chair in the cockpit of the plane at the bottom of the ocean.

“He’s departed,” Francis sighed. “I don’t think he ever had a chance.”

Thomas Francis and his crew were from Whidbey’s Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 135, a unit of Carrier Air Wing 11 in state of Washington. The squadron was assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk carrier for training.

Sitting on the living room couch of their Fountain Valley home, Bob Francis, his wife and three of their four daughters said they found solace in the fact that Thomas Francis had fulfilled his No. 1 dream in life: to be a pilot.

“He was a true patriot,” said his mother, Bernice Francis. “He lived his dream. It was a short life, but he lived his dream and not many people get to do that. Even as a little boy, he loved to play the [aviation] video games.”

Born and raised in Fountain Valley, Thomas Francis had wanted to be a pilot ever since he was 10 years old. He joined the local Civil Air Patrol, won an ROTC scholarship and attended USC, and had finally earned his wings last September after years of training.

“All he ever wanted to do was fly,” said his oldest sister, Anna Marie Novick. “I remember he told me recently, ‘I’m so happy,’ ” after he earned his wings.

But there were still dreams that Thomas Francis, a handsome man with broad shoulders, had not yet achieved. He wanted to go back to school and get a master’s degree in business in addition to his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. And, he was scheduled to be married July 6 to a young woman he met in Mississippi two years ago while attending flight school.

An afghan decorated with 80 crimson roses crocheted by Bernice Francis was draped on the couch the family sat on as they reflected on Thomas’ life. It was going to be a wedding present for him and his bride.

“His fiancee is devastated,” said Caroline Francis, his 24-year-old sister. “We’re all devastated.”

But nobody, she said, is more crushed by the news than her dad--a 52-year-old maintenance mechanic for the U.S. Postal Service.

“Everyone who works with my dad has heard a story about his son. He was always talking about him,” Caroline Francis said. “He loved him so much.”

When his son went skydiving at age 16, Bob Francis was “concerned all day.” He boasted that his son was an “excellent golfer.” And, he was always proud of the person his son had become.

“He was a young man of good character,” he said. “He wasn’t into the dope or this or that. He was a good kid.”

Bob and Bernice Francis said they hope their son’s death will lead Naval investigators to answers about what caused the crash.

“I’m glad somebody has come out of this alive,” he said. “We still don’t know what caused it.”

This was not the first time his son has had a problem with the jet, he said.

About three months ago, as Thomas Francis was attempting to land his plane on an aircraft carrier, some instrumentation failed and he was forced to fly to the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to land the plane.

“I talked to him on the phone for about 45 minutes after that,” Bob Francis said. “I started getting some real funny vibes then.” But he said he and his son knew that flying wasn’t the safest occupation.

“It’s a roll of the dice,” he said. “It’s one hand on the stick and one on the ejection seat.”

Bob Francis said his heart goes out to the family of the other crew member who lost his life. He hopes to call the family soon and see if there’s a way they can help each other “get through all this pain.”