Original U.S. Vietnam War USN Two Decorated APH-5 Flight Helmets & Medal Board Group of Navy Captain D. Jake Ward - Commander of USS Constellation & Competitor for Project Mercury

Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is the outstanding APH-5 flight helmet and medal board group of Navy Captain J. D. “Jake” Ward. During his career of 34 years he flew most of the Navy's tactical aircraft, serving mostly with the Pacific Fleet. Early in his career he completed the Navy's test pilot school and served 3 years as an engineering test pilot. Due to his early flight accomplishments, he was invited to participate in competition for follow-on Project Mercury astronaut program but subsequently ruled out due to being one year too old.

The Vietnam War represented a unique phase of his career. He was serving as the Executive Officer of an Aircraft Fighter Squadron embarked on the Aircraft Carrier USS Coral Sea when the war commenced in February 1965. During the next 8 years he made numerous deployments to the Tonkin Gulf while serving as Commanding Officer of a Fighter Squadron aboard the Coral Sea, Commander of an Attack Carrier Airwing aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Constellation, Executive Officer of the USS Coral Sea, and Commanding Officer of the Amphibious Force Ship USS Mobile and finally as Commander of the USS Constellation when the Vietnam War ended in 1973.

His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit (3 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross (5 awards), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (11 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (5 awards), Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation (3 awards), Good Conduct Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Naval Reserve Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

This outstanding grouping includes:

- Ward’s APH-5 Flight Helmet beautifully decorated with great colors and decals, showing to the back the fantastically put-together squadron insignia of Com Car Air Wing - 15 with their motto, VIS UNITA FORTIOR over CAG. Ward was commander of this wing from June 1966 to MArch 1967, serving 54 missions. The tinted visor is retained, and the interior shows heavy wear to the lining and headphones, with material disintegrating and falling out as always happens with these helmets. A truly phenomenal decorate helmet. 

- Ward’s second APH-5 Flight Helmet beautifully decorated with great blue colors and stars, with the squadron insignia decal to the back of Fighter Squadron One Fifty One (VF-151), with a decal to the side for Com Car Air Wing - 15, the unit he would command later. Ward commanded VF-151 from April 1965 until April 1966. The helmet retains its tinted visor, but the interior of this one is in much worse condition, with the headphones basically falling apart into your hands upon touching them. Regardless, this is an outstanding artifact to have survived, and these two helmets would look outstanding displayed together. 

- 11 ¼ x 14 ½” display board that was originally in a frame, with two of Ward’s ribbon bars, one mini-medal bar, and three medal bars, along with his gold Navy pilot wings, cap badge, and Navy Command at Sea breast badge. Also has his Captain rank (Navy Captain rank is Army Colonel rank). None of the medals are engraved. Fantastic display potential to have these framed in-between the two helmets!

- Ward’s membership cards for the Centurion Club, Double Centurion Club, Triple Centurion Club, and Night Centurion Club, outstanding pieces, all dated from 1959-1962. These were for 100 landings, 200 landings, 300 landings, and 100 night landings. 

- Four Centurion patches that correspond to his membership cards.

- Two Golden Eagles Patches and a Demon Driver patch.

This is an unprecedented flight helmet group to a Navy Captain who held several commands during the Vietnam War, ready for further research and display!