Hal Wellman Vincent (September 24, 1927 – April 28, 2015) was a naval aviator in the United States Marine Corps who retired at the rank of major general. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he commanded at the squadron, group and wing level during his career. He flew more than 10,000 hours in over 165 different aircraft and was the first Marine Aviator to fly Mach 2.0.[1][2]
From April 1960 until April 1962, he was assigned to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, as the Conventional Weapons Project Officer and test pilot with Air Development Squadron 5 (VX-5). In this role he was responsible for the development of tactics and delivery methods for both nuclear weapons and conventional munitions.[4] Of note during this tour he performed a demonstration for then President of the United StatesJohn F. Kennedy.[2] Reassigned to MCAS El Toro in April 1962, he served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer for VMFA-314. The squadron became the first Marine squadron to transition to the new F-4B Phantom II. During this tour he also took part in their Western Pacific deployment to Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan from April to November 1964. In November 1964, he became the aviation member of the Amphibious Warfare Presentation Team, which operated from MCB Quantico, Virginia. He assumed duties as Assistant Chief of the Aviation Branch at the Education Center, July 1966 until June 1967. During the tour he was awarded a Certificate of Equivalency for completion of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and promoted to lieutenant colonel. From 7 August 1967 through 14 June 1968, he served as the Commanding Officer of VMFA-312, at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina.[5] From August 1968 until June 1969, then LtCol Vincent attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.
Vietnam & the 1970s
Following his graduation from ICAF, his next assignment was in Vietnam with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as Executive Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 13, based at the Chu Lai Air Base. During the tour, he flew 242 combat missions in eight types of fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft.[1] He was promoted to colonel in August 1970, and the following month was transferred to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where he served as Officer-in-Charge of the Aviation Maintenance/Management Branch, G-4 (Logistics) Section, Headquarters, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. In July 1971, he assumed the position as Officer-in-Charge of the Aviation Weapons Systems Branch of the G-4 (logistics) Section. From June 1972 through May 1973, he served as Commanding Officer of Marine Combat Crew Readiness Training Group 10 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. He returned to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing in July 1973, and assumed duty as Chief of Staff.
Promotion to General and retirement
He was advanced to brigadier general on February 27, 1976, and assigned duties as Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Policy, Joint Exercises, Commander in Chief, Atlantic, at Norfolk, Va., in June 1976. On May 15, 1978, he was advanced to major general and assigned duty as
Commanding General, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina in June 1978. He assumed duty as Deputy Commander, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., in August 1980. General Vincent served in this assignment until his retirement on 1 May 1981.
Later years, personal life and death
On 20 February 1987, a man attempted to plant a bomb inside the 1968 Dodge Dart that Vincent was driving outside of a Laguna Hills, California office building. The man, who had been involved in a lawsuit with Vincent over land in Oregon, was killed when the device prematurely exploded. At the time, Vincent was part owner of Double "O" Enterprises which sold NFL merchandise.[6]
.svg){kind=small}
