John Edward ‘Jack’ Donovan was born in Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana on April 4, 1933 to Julia Piazzola (1906-1978) and Richard Patrick Donovan (1905-1965).
While attending the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana Jack married Joyce Becky on November 24, 1954. When Jack graduated from the University of Montana in 1956 he entered U.S. Air Force Navigator training at Harlingen AFB, Texas. Upon completion of Navigator training he attended Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) training at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. Jack’s initial assignment was to the B-66 and later to the B-52. As a B-52 EWO, Jack received an Air Medal for his actions in February 1965 when an aerial refueling malfunction pumped nearly 3,000 pounds of fuel into the crew compartment of his B-52.
In 1965, he was assigned to the then classified Wild Weasel mission. Only after arriving at Tyndall AFB, Florida, were the newly assigned Wild Weasels told what their actual mission would be. Brigadier General Kenneth Dempster, the man in charge of the Wild Weasel project, explained to them that the Air Force had upgraded some of old two seat F-100F, Super Saber, aircraft with the new AN/APR-25 Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) system which could tell the direction to a Russian SA-2 Surface to Air Missile (SAM) site and also warn them of a launch. Their mission was to fly this ten year old aircraft into North Vietnam in front of the strike force, hunt for a SAM site and then destroy the SAM site. When the briefing was over the General asked if there were any questions to which Captain Jack Donovan responded with:
“You want me to fly in the back of a little tiny fighter aircraft with a crazy fighter pilot who thinks he’s invincible, home in on a SAM site in North Vietnam, and shoot it before it shoots me, you gotta be shittin’ me!”
Jack’s comment, You Gotta Be Shitting Me (YGBSM), became the motto of the Wild Weasels and remains so to this today. The backseat Weasel EWO's were called "Bears".
In early November 1965, after their training at Tyndall was completed, the five new Weasel aircrews led by Major Garry Willard flew their modified F-100F’s to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand and were assigned to the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Captains Allen Lamb (Pilot) and Jack Donovan (EWO) achieved the first Wild Weasel SAM kill on Dec. 22, 1965, while covering the strike force northwest of Hanoi, North Vietnam. They located a SAM site at Yen Bai about 75 miles northwest of Hanoi and fired a salvo of 2.75 inch rockets along with 20mm cannon fire igniting a SAM on the launch pad. Four F-105Ds who were accompanying them finished off the SAM site with additional rockets and 20mm cannon fire. Lamb and Donovan were each awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for having killed the first SAM site.
When the fraternal “Society of Wild Weasels” was created in 1967, Jack Donovan and Allen Lamb were charter members.
After returning stateside, he went on to help lay the groundwork for the USAF Wild Weasel School which by that time had converted to F-105G aircraft. Jack was a leading advocate for the development of the F-4G Advanced Wild Weasel in the early 1970’s. In addition to his medals and commendations and in honor of his distinguished service, the Air Force Navigator School in San Antonio awards a trophy in his name to the top Electronic Warfare graduate in each class.
Jack died on April 11, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona. A Funeral Mass was held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Tucson, Arizona.
On November 20, 2015, Major John Edward "Jack" Donovan was interned at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony was finalized with a missing man four ship flown by the McEntire Air National Guard Base 157th Fighter Squadron flying the F-16C/D Wild Weasel.
Published in Arizona Daily Star (Apr. 15, 2015):
John Edward "Jack" Donovan, Sr. (Major, USAF Ret), 82, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Jack was born in Butte, Montana, on April 4, 1933, to Richard and Julia Piazzola Donovan.
A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Tucson.
On November 25, 1954, Jack married the love of his life, Joyce Becky.
Upon graduating from the University of Montana in 1956, he entered the US Air Force and completed navigator and electronic warfare officer training. During their 60 years of marriage, the Air Force life suited their shared sense of adventure, taking them from Japan to Las Vegas and many places in between.
For many years they settled down on the Gulf of Mexico in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Happy family memories with their four sons centered around camping, boating, and travel. Jack enjoyed auto repair, carpentry projects, and a good book. Jack was admired for his integrity, sense of humor, honesty, and love of his family. Jack and Joyce also enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives.
Jack's initial assignments in the Air Force were in the B-66 and B-52 bombers before he was assigned to the then-classified Wild Weasel mission. On December 22, 1965, then-Captain Donovan and his pilot, in their F-100F, were the first to successfully target and destroy a North Vietnamese SAM site. For his effort, Jack was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1974, Jack remained a leader in promoting the value of electronic warfare. In 1989, Jack accepted a position with the Air National Guard Test Center in Tucson, AZ.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; and sons, Jack, Jr. (Carol), Joe (Jeff), Mike (Marjorie), and Patrick (Deborah). Jack delighted in his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Grandchildren: Chris (Katie) Donovan, Karen Donovan (Brandon) Neff, LT Jennifer Donovan (USN), Becca Donovan, Anne Donovan, Michael (Susan) Donovan, and Julia Donovan. Great-grandchildren: Jacob and Alex Donovan and Bryce Neff. He is also survived by a sister, Arlene Hill; and a brother, Richard (Joanne) Donovan.
While attending the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana Jack married Joyce Becky on November 24, 1954. When Jack graduated from the University of Montana in 1956 he entered U.S. Air Force Navigator training at Harlingen AFB, Texas. Upon completion of Navigator training he attended Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) training at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. Jack’s initial assignment was to the B-66 and later to the B-52. As a B-52 EWO, Jack received an Air Medal for his actions in February 1965 when an aerial refueling malfunction pumped nearly 3,000 pounds of fuel into the crew compartment of his B-52.
In 1965, he was assigned to the then classified Wild Weasel mission. Only after arriving at Tyndall AFB, Florida, were the newly assigned Wild Weasels told what their actual mission would be. Brigadier General Kenneth Dempster, the man in charge of the Wild Weasel project, explained to them that the Air Force had upgraded some of old two seat F-100F, Super Saber, aircraft with the new AN/APR-25 Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) system which could tell the direction to a Russian SA-2 Surface to Air Missile (SAM) site and also warn them of a launch. Their mission was to fly this ten year old aircraft into North Vietnam in front of the strike force, hunt for a SAM site and then destroy the SAM site. When the briefing was over the General asked if there were any questions to which Captain Jack Donovan responded with:
“You want me to fly in the back of a little tiny fighter aircraft with a crazy fighter pilot who thinks he’s invincible, home in on a SAM site in North Vietnam, and shoot it before it shoots me, you gotta be shittin’ me!”
Jack’s comment, You Gotta Be Shitting Me (YGBSM), became the motto of the Wild Weasels and remains so to this today. The backseat Weasel EWO's were called "Bears".
In early November 1965, after their training at Tyndall was completed, the five new Weasel aircrews led by Major Garry Willard flew their modified F-100F’s to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand and were assigned to the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Captains Allen Lamb (Pilot) and Jack Donovan (EWO) achieved the first Wild Weasel SAM kill on Dec. 22, 1965, while covering the strike force northwest of Hanoi, North Vietnam. They located a SAM site at Yen Bai about 75 miles northwest of Hanoi and fired a salvo of 2.75 inch rockets along with 20mm cannon fire igniting a SAM on the launch pad. Four F-105Ds who were accompanying them finished off the SAM site with additional rockets and 20mm cannon fire. Lamb and Donovan were each awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for having killed the first SAM site.
When the fraternal “Society of Wild Weasels” was created in 1967, Jack Donovan and Allen Lamb were charter members.
After returning stateside, he went on to help lay the groundwork for the USAF Wild Weasel School which by that time had converted to F-105G aircraft. Jack was a leading advocate for the development of the F-4G Advanced Wild Weasel in the early 1970’s. In addition to his medals and commendations and in honor of his distinguished service, the Air Force Navigator School in San Antonio awards a trophy in his name to the top Electronic Warfare graduate in each class.
Jack died on April 11, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona. A Funeral Mass was held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Tucson, Arizona.
On November 20, 2015, Major John Edward "Jack" Donovan was interned at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony was finalized with a missing man four ship flown by the McEntire Air National Guard Base 157th Fighter Squadron flying the F-16C/D Wild Weasel.
Published in Arizona Daily Star (Apr. 15, 2015):
John Edward "Jack" Donovan, Sr. (Major, USAF Ret), 82, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Jack was born in Butte, Montana, on April 4, 1933, to Richard and Julia Piazzola Donovan.
A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Tucson.
On November 25, 1954, Jack married the love of his life, Joyce Becky.
Upon graduating from the University of Montana in 1956, he entered the US Air Force and completed navigator and electronic warfare officer training. During their 60 years of marriage, the Air Force life suited their shared sense of adventure, taking them from Japan to Las Vegas and many places in between.
For many years they settled down on the Gulf of Mexico in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Happy family memories with their four sons centered around camping, boating, and travel. Jack enjoyed auto repair, carpentry projects, and a good book. Jack was admired for his integrity, sense of humor, honesty, and love of his family. Jack and Joyce also enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives.
Jack's initial assignments in the Air Force were in the B-66 and B-52 bombers before he was assigned to the then-classified Wild Weasel mission. On December 22, 1965, then-Captain Donovan and his pilot, in their F-100F, were the first to successfully target and destroy a North Vietnamese SAM site. For his effort, Jack was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1974, Jack remained a leader in promoting the value of electronic warfare. In 1989, Jack accepted a position with the Air National Guard Test Center in Tucson, AZ.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; and sons, Jack, Jr. (Carol), Joe (Jeff), Mike (Marjorie), and Patrick (Deborah). Jack delighted in his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Grandchildren: Chris (Katie) Donovan, Karen Donovan (Brandon) Neff, LT Jennifer Donovan (USN), Becca Donovan, Anne Donovan, Michael (Susan) Donovan, and Julia Donovan. Great-grandchildren: Jacob and Alex Donovan and Bryce Neff. He is also survived by a sister, Arlene Hill; and a brother, Richard (Joanne) Donovan.
John Edward ‘Jack’ Donovan was born in Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana on April 4, 1933 to Julia Piazzola (1906-1978) and Richard Patrick Donovan (1905-1965).
While attending the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana Jack married Joyce Becky on November 24, 1954. When Jack graduated from the University of Montana in 1956 he entered U.S. Air Force Navigator training at Harlingen AFB, Texas. Upon completion of Navigator training he attended Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) training at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. Jack’s initial assignment was to the B-66 and later to the B-52. As a B-52 EWO, Jack received an Air Medal for his actions in February 1965 when an aerial refueling malfunction pumped nearly 3,000 pounds of fuel into the crew compartment of his B-52.
In 1965, he was assigned to the then classified Wild Weasel mission. Only after arriving at Tyndall AFB, Florida, were the newly assigned Wild Weasels told what their actual mission would be. Brigadier General Kenneth Dempster, the man in charge of the Wild Weasel project, explained to them that the Air Force had upgraded some of old two seat F-100F, Super Saber, aircraft with the new AN/APR-25 Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) system which could tell the direction to a Russian SA-2 Surface to Air Missile (SAM) site and also warn them of a launch. Their mission was to fly this ten year old aircraft into North Vietnam in front of the strike force, hunt for a SAM site and then destroy the SAM site. When the briefing was over the General asked if there were any questions to which Captain Jack Donovan responded with:
“You want me to fly in the back of a little tiny fighter aircraft with a crazy fighter pilot who thinks he’s invincible, home in on a SAM site in North Vietnam, and shoot it before it shoots me, you gotta be shittin’ me!”
Jack’s comment, You Gotta Be Shitting Me (YGBSM), became the motto of the Wild Weasels and remains so to this today. The backseat Weasel EWO's were called "Bears".
In early November 1965, after their training at Tyndall was completed, the five new Weasel aircrews led by Major Garry Willard flew their modified F-100F’s to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand and were assigned to the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Captains Allen Lamb (Pilot) and Jack Donovan (EWO) achieved the first Wild Weasel SAM kill on Dec. 22, 1965, while covering the strike force northwest of Hanoi, North Vietnam. They located a SAM site at Yen Bai about 75 miles northwest of Hanoi and fired a salvo of 2.75 inch rockets along with 20mm cannon fire igniting a SAM on the launch pad. Four F-105Ds who were accompanying them finished off the SAM site with additional rockets and 20mm cannon fire. Lamb and Donovan were each awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for having killed the first SAM site.
When the fraternal “Society of Wild Weasels” was created in 1967, Jack Donovan and Allen Lamb were charter members.
After returning stateside, he went on to help lay the groundwork for the USAF Wild Weasel School which by that time had converted to F-105G aircraft. Jack was a leading advocate for the development of the F-4G Advanced Wild Weasel in the early 1970’s. In addition to his medals and commendations and in honor of his distinguished service, the Air Force Navigator School in San Antonio awards a trophy in his name to the top Electronic Warfare graduate in each class.
Jack died on April 11, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona. A Funeral Mass was held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Tucson, Arizona.
On November 20, 2015, Major John Edward "Jack" Donovan was interned at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony was finalized with a missing man four ship flown by the McEntire Air National Guard Base 157th Fighter Squadron flying the F-16C/D Wild Weasel.
Published in Arizona Daily Star (Apr. 15, 2015):
John Edward "Jack" Donovan, Sr. (Major, USAF Ret), 82, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Jack was born in Butte, Montana, on April 4, 1933, to Richard and Julia Piazzola Donovan.
A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Tucson.
On November 25, 1954, Jack married the love of his life, Joyce Becky.
Upon graduating from the University of Montana in 1956, he entered the US Air Force and completed navigator and electronic warfare officer training. During their 60 years of marriage, the Air Force life suited their shared sense of adventure, taking them from Japan to Las Vegas and many places in between.
For many years they settled down on the Gulf of Mexico in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Happy family memories with their four sons centered around camping, boating, and travel. Jack enjoyed auto repair, carpentry projects, and a good book. Jack was admired for his integrity, sense of humor, honesty, and love of his family. Jack and Joyce also enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives.
Jack's initial assignments in the Air Force were in the B-66 and B-52 bombers before he was assigned to the then-classified Wild Weasel mission. On December 22, 1965, then-Captain Donovan and his pilot, in their F-100F, were the first to successfully target and destroy a North Vietnamese SAM site. For his effort, Jack was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1974, Jack remained a leader in promoting the value of electronic warfare. In 1989, Jack accepted a position with the Air National Guard Test Center in Tucson, AZ.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; and sons, Jack, Jr. (Carol), Joe (Jeff), Mike (Marjorie), and Patrick (Deborah). Jack delighted in his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Grandchildren: Chris (Katie) Donovan, Karen Donovan (Brandon) Neff, LT Jennifer Donovan (USN), Becca Donovan, Anne Donovan, Michael (Susan) Donovan, and Julia Donovan. Great-grandchildren: Jacob and Alex Donovan and Bryce Neff. He is also survived by a sister, Arlene Hill; and a brother, Richard (Joanne) Donovan.
While attending the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana Jack married Joyce Becky on November 24, 1954. When Jack graduated from the University of Montana in 1956 he entered U.S. Air Force Navigator training at Harlingen AFB, Texas. Upon completion of Navigator training he attended Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) training at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. Jack’s initial assignment was to the B-66 and later to the B-52. As a B-52 EWO, Jack received an Air Medal for his actions in February 1965 when an aerial refueling malfunction pumped nearly 3,000 pounds of fuel into the crew compartment of his B-52.
In 1965, he was assigned to the then classified Wild Weasel mission. Only after arriving at Tyndall AFB, Florida, were the newly assigned Wild Weasels told what their actual mission would be. Brigadier General Kenneth Dempster, the man in charge of the Wild Weasel project, explained to them that the Air Force had upgraded some of old two seat F-100F, Super Saber, aircraft with the new AN/APR-25 Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) system which could tell the direction to a Russian SA-2 Surface to Air Missile (SAM) site and also warn them of a launch. Their mission was to fly this ten year old aircraft into North Vietnam in front of the strike force, hunt for a SAM site and then destroy the SAM site. When the briefing was over the General asked if there were any questions to which Captain Jack Donovan responded with:
“You want me to fly in the back of a little tiny fighter aircraft with a crazy fighter pilot who thinks he’s invincible, home in on a SAM site in North Vietnam, and shoot it before it shoots me, you gotta be shittin’ me!”
Jack’s comment, You Gotta Be Shitting Me (YGBSM), became the motto of the Wild Weasels and remains so to this today. The backseat Weasel EWO's were called "Bears".
In early November 1965, after their training at Tyndall was completed, the five new Weasel aircrews led by Major Garry Willard flew their modified F-100F’s to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand and were assigned to the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Captains Allen Lamb (Pilot) and Jack Donovan (EWO) achieved the first Wild Weasel SAM kill on Dec. 22, 1965, while covering the strike force northwest of Hanoi, North Vietnam. They located a SAM site at Yen Bai about 75 miles northwest of Hanoi and fired a salvo of 2.75 inch rockets along with 20mm cannon fire igniting a SAM on the launch pad. Four F-105Ds who were accompanying them finished off the SAM site with additional rockets and 20mm cannon fire. Lamb and Donovan were each awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for having killed the first SAM site.
When the fraternal “Society of Wild Weasels” was created in 1967, Jack Donovan and Allen Lamb were charter members.
After returning stateside, he went on to help lay the groundwork for the USAF Wild Weasel School which by that time had converted to F-105G aircraft. Jack was a leading advocate for the development of the F-4G Advanced Wild Weasel in the early 1970’s. In addition to his medals and commendations and in honor of his distinguished service, the Air Force Navigator School in San Antonio awards a trophy in his name to the top Electronic Warfare graduate in each class.
Jack died on April 11, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona. A Funeral Mass was held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Tucson, Arizona.
On November 20, 2015, Major John Edward "Jack" Donovan was interned at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony was finalized with a missing man four ship flown by the McEntire Air National Guard Base 157th Fighter Squadron flying the F-16C/D Wild Weasel.
Published in Arizona Daily Star (Apr. 15, 2015):
John Edward "Jack" Donovan, Sr. (Major, USAF Ret), 82, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Jack was born in Butte, Montana, on April 4, 1933, to Richard and Julia Piazzola Donovan.
A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Tucson.
On November 25, 1954, Jack married the love of his life, Joyce Becky.
Upon graduating from the University of Montana in 1956, he entered the US Air Force and completed navigator and electronic warfare officer training. During their 60 years of marriage, the Air Force life suited their shared sense of adventure, taking them from Japan to Las Vegas and many places in between.
For many years they settled down on the Gulf of Mexico in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Happy family memories with their four sons centered around camping, boating, and travel. Jack enjoyed auto repair, carpentry projects, and a good book. Jack was admired for his integrity, sense of humor, honesty, and love of his family. Jack and Joyce also enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives.
Jack's initial assignments in the Air Force were in the B-66 and B-52 bombers before he was assigned to the then-classified Wild Weasel mission. On December 22, 1965, then-Captain Donovan and his pilot, in their F-100F, were the first to successfully target and destroy a North Vietnamese SAM site. For his effort, Jack was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1974, Jack remained a leader in promoting the value of electronic warfare. In 1989, Jack accepted a position with the Air National Guard Test Center in Tucson, AZ.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; and sons, Jack, Jr. (Carol), Joe (Jeff), Mike (Marjorie), and Patrick (Deborah). Jack delighted in his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Grandchildren: Chris (Katie) Donovan, Karen Donovan (Brandon) Neff, LT Jennifer Donovan (USN), Becca Donovan, Anne Donovan, Michael (Susan) Donovan, and Julia Donovan. Great-grandchildren: Jacob and Alex Donovan and Bryce Neff. He is also survived by a sister, Arlene Hill; and a brother, Richard (Joanne) Donovan.
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