THOMAS M. GARDINER, III, LTJG, USN
Thomas Gardiner, III '50
Lucky Bag
From the 1950 Lucky Bag:
THOMAS MOIR GARDINER III
Oakland, California
Another enthusiastic member of California's far-flung Chamber of Commerce, Hap tore himself away from the Bay area to become Oakland's threat to national security. Since then his adventurous personality and ability to enmesh himself in Henry Aldrich difficulties have kept him on top of the Bancroft popularity poll. Tom's sizzling southpaw strokes won many a victory for Navy on the tennis courts. Seldom finding it necessary to strain academically, his evening study hours were devoted to helping befuddled Math buckets, and to picking up evening radio shows. His effervescent humor and good-natured cooperation, combined with genuine leadership, form the attributes necessary for success when prepping ends on the Severn.
THOMAS MOIR GARDINER III
Oakland, California
Another enthusiastic member of California's far-flung Chamber of Commerce, Hap tore himself away from the Bay area to become Oakland's threat to national security. Since then his adventurous personality and ability to enmesh himself in Henry Aldrich difficulties have kept him on top of the Bancroft popularity poll. Tom's sizzling southpaw strokes won many a victory for Navy on the tennis courts. Seldom finding it necessary to strain academically, his evening study hours were devoted to helping befuddled Math buckets, and to picking up evening radio shows. His effervescent humor and good-natured cooperation, combined with genuine leadership, form the attributes necessary for success when prepping ends on the Severn.
Biography & Loss
From Heroes of the US Naval Academy:
Thomas Moir Gardiner III was born on October 9, 1928 in Kern, California to Mr. Thomas M. Gardiner Jr. and Mrs. Mildred Taylor Davis. At two, his father passed away due to pneumonia. He was nominated to United States Naval Academy from California. At the Academy, he was a varsity letterman on the Navy Tennis team. Midshipman Gardiner graduated 102 of 691 Midshipmen on June 2, 1950.
Ensign Gardiner remained at the Naval Academy after graduation teaching steam to Fourth Class Midshipmen (Plebes).
Ensign Gardiner received flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.
In March 1952, LTJG Gardiner was assigned to Fighter Squadron 93 (VF-93), the “Blue Blazers,” aboard the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47), for the last eight months of the Korean War. He flew the F9F-2 Panther. For his actions he was awarded seven Air Medals and Meritorious Unit Commendation. On July 30, 1953, upon return to the United States, LTJG Gardiner married Miss Patricia Lee Peyton in the Chapel of Naval Air Station Treasure Island, Alameda California.
Returning to Alameda, VF-93 and LTJG Gardiner transitioned to the F9F-5 Panther. Ordnance training was conducted in Fallon, Nevada followed by carrier qualification cruises from San Diego aboard Philippine Seas and USS Boxer (CVA-21) and again off San Francisco on the USS Yorktown (CVA-10).
In April 1954, VF-93 and LTJG Gardiner flew to Norfolk to embark on the USS Hornet (CVA-12).
On May 11, 1954, LTJG Gardiner and VF-93 deployed on Hornet now flying the F9F-5 Panther. After operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean., Hornet joined 7th Fleet in the South China Sea.
On July 23, 1954, two Communist Chinese warplanes shot down a British airliner 30 miles south of Hainan Island in the South China Sea. 10 of the 18 persons aboard were killed. The British airliner, a DC-3 Sky-Master operated by Cathay Pacific Airlines, was fired on at 0645 by two Russian-built La-7 propeller-driven fighter planes. The Sky-Master, with 14 passengers and crew-members aboard, was attacked en route from Singapore to Hong Kong. Captain Philip Blown, the airliner's pilot, told rescuers that the Communist planes flew alongside the transport and looked it over before dropping back and opening fire.
On July 25, 1954, Hornet and Philippine Seas were in the South China Sea near the Parcel Islands engaged in search operations for possible survivors of the British airline shot down by Communist planes. On July 26, 1954, search planes from her task group shot down two attacking Chinese Communist fighter planes. At 1005, two propeller-driven Douglas AD Sky-Raiders and a Corsair were attacked by two La-7 aircraft and a Chinese gunboat over the South China Sea more than 12 miles from Hainan. The Americans engaged in a brief dogfight and shot down both Communist fighter planes.
On July 27, 1954, LTJG Gardiner was killed in line of duty during continuing air operation. After landing his plane swerved to port off the flight deck and plunged into the sea. His aircraft a F9F-5 sank immediately.
LTJG Gardiner is buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, Alameda County, California.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Twenty-one months earlier, Thomas’ brother Ens. Charles S. Gardiner lost his life at the age of 22 while flying a jet training mission out of Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. In their memory, $5 was donated to the 1954 Veterans Hospital Christmas fund in Oakland, California.
Thomas was a graduate of Oakland High School and was the student body president.
He was survived by his wife, the former Patricia Lee Peyton. They would have celebrated their first wedding anniversary in three days. He was also survived by his mother Mrs. Mildred Taylor (Richard M. A.) Davis. His father predeceased him. Thomas' mother married Dr. Robert Spencer Leet in April 1963, and she died in 1992. Thomas was also survived by his uncle Harold Saxon Taylor.
He is buried in California.
Photographs
From Fallen Heroes of the US Naval Academy
"LTJG Thomas Moir Gardiner, III served aboard the USS Hornet, in July 1954 his plane veered over the side and sank almost immediately during operations in the China Sea. This is a photograph of his memorial service on July 27th 1954 aboard the USS Hornet."
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