In 1963, Rear Admiral James Flatley piloted a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft aboard USS Forrestal — making the first carrier landings ever accomplished by a C-130. The aircraft had no tailhook and used no catapult for launch, yet managed to touch down and stop in approximately 270 feet of deck, and take off again in roughly 745 feet. The tests were designed to evaluate whether the C-130 could be used as a carrier onboard delivery (COD) aircraft capable of transporting heavy cargo directly to carrier battle groups at sea. While proven technically feasible, the concept was ultimately not pursued operationally due to the risks involved.
The video runs approximately 5 minutes and shows multiple landings and takeoffs.
First C-130 “Hercules” carrier landing — Rear Admiral James Flatley — USS Forrestal 1963 (4:52)
In Memoriam — Rear Admiral James H. Flatley III
January 9, 1934 – December 12, 2025
By Peg Eastman
Rear Admiral James (Jim) H. Flatley III died on December 12, 2025 and is mourned by the military and those who knew and loved him.
Jim’s career followed in the footsteps of his prestigious father, Vice Admiral James H. Flatley, Jr. During World War II, as a lieutenant commander and fighter pilot ace, the senior Flatley was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism during the Battle of the Coral Sea — the first carrier vs. carrier duel — and went on to form and command the VF-10 Grim Reapers aboard USS Enterprise, the most decorated aircraft carrier in WWII. He fought at Guadalcanal and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star for action against the Japanese forces in the Philippine Islands, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for peacetime contributions toward naval aviation safety. The fast frigate USS Flatley (FFG-21) was christened in his honor in 1983, and carrier aviation’s most prestigious award — the Flatley Award — has been presented annually since 1958 to the aircraft carrier on each coast with the safest operational record.
Naval Career
Like his father, Jim graduated from the Naval Academy and entered flight training at Pensacola in 1956. After his first fleet tour, he was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland. His test pilot projects were related to determining carrier suitability and flying qualities of thirteen different types of aircraft in an operational environment as measured against contract specifications.
In 1963, he was tasked with determining if the enormous C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft could operate safely from an aircraft carrier. His immediate response was “somebody has got to be kidding.” He, his co-pilot, and flight engineer won the admiration of the broader aviation community by demonstrating the feasibility of C-130 carrier operation by making 21 successful full-stop landings on USS Forrestal. The initial landings were made into gusting 50–70-knot winds with the ship’s deck pitching 30 feet up and down. The largest aircraft to ever land on a carrier, the C-130’s 132-foot wingspan cleared the Forrestal’s island structure by a mere 15 feet. For this seemingly impossible accomplishment, then Lt. Commander Flatley was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross — a decoration seldom presented in peacetime — and his crew received Air Medals.
Jim was later reassigned to the fighter community and flew three carrier-based 10-month combat tours in Vietnam piloting the F-4 Phantom. On the third deployment he commanded Fighter Squadron 31 aboard the carrier USS Saratoga, then in Vietnam waters for the culmination of that prolonged conflict. His squadron participated in flying cover for B-52 night raids over Hanoi, which finally caused North Vietnam to raise the white flag. Under his command, Fighter Squadron 31 received both the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award and the Fleet’s Battle Efficiency Award and was subsequently recognized as the Navy’s top fighter squadron.
During each of his three combat deployments, his squadrons never lost an aircraft despite accumulating more combat exposure than the assigned sister F-4 squadrons aboard the carrier. In testimony to Jim’s squadron fighting harder and smarter, the sister squadrons lost a total of twenty-one aircraft — seven during each of the deployments — compared to zero losses in Flatley’s squadrons.
After the Vietnam War, Jim went on to command a Navy multi-commodity supply ship, the USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98), the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-60), Carrier Battle Group Eight, and the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.
While commanding the USS Saratoga, the carrier hosted a group of midshipmen during their summer training. Among them was Seamus Flatley (James H. Flatley, IV). Seamus flew in the back seat of an F-4 Phantom with his dad as then Captain Flatley accomplished his 1,500th carrier landing — a Navy record at that point. Jim retired as a Rear Admiral after 31 years of distinguished active-duty service.
Community Service
In appreciation for what his country had given him and his family during his 108 months at sea, Jim pursued service to his community. In Charleston, he served as CEO of Patriots Point Development Authority and Executive Director of Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, and was instrumental in transforming Patriots Point into the state’s largest tourist attraction. He was Chairman of Bon Secours–St. Francis Hospital’s Advisory Board and the Roper Mount Pleasant Hospital. He was also an active parishioner of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant.
In recognition for his contributions, Jim was inducted into the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame in 2000 and was recognized by the South Carolina Hospital Association as Trustee of the Year in 2008. He was appointed Chairman of the Board of the South Carolina Maritime Security Commission, overseeing the South Carolina Navy Militia. He served on the board of directors for the USS Yorktown Foundation, the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership, and was a member of the Golden Eagle Association, the USO World Board of Governors, the United States Naval Institute, the Red River Valley River Rats, the Association of Naval Aviation, the Surface Naval Association, the Naval Submarine League, and an emeritus member of the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. For his significant contributions to the community, he was honored to receive the prestigious Order of the Palmetto from the Governor of South Carolina.
Family
Jim was married to the former Nancy Monica Christie of Norfolk, Virginia. Her father commanded a four-stack destroyer in World War II. Her brother was a Carrier Air Wing Commander and her nephew a Top Gun instructor. Nancy Flatley is recognized for both her culinary and seamstress skills, developed of necessity while left alone with six children for 108 months. Her sacrifice is a testimony to the plight of all Navy wives whose selflessness is a different, and just as important, form of service to our country.
Jim is survived by his wife Nancy, their six children, 22 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Three of Jim’s six children followed his path into military service along with seven of his grandchildren.
The Lowcountry and the nation have lost a distinguished patriot and public servant. According to Medal of Honor Recipient Major General James E. Livingston, USMC (ret.), “Jim Flatley was one of the most inspiring men in this community. A true leader.”
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