Mike Wade Oral History

Mike Wade served aboard Intrepid as an air intelligence officer in VA-34 during Intrepid’s second deployment to Vietnam in 1967. He began his interview by discussing his life before joining the Navy, stating that he grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, attended the University of Georgia, and graduated with a degree in chemistry. Wade then discussed his route to Navy flight training, noting that he had initially intended to be a pilot, before explaining why he eventually became an air intelligence officer. Wade stated that his time as a pilot provided him with the knowledge and insights that only a pilot would posses, which was helpful when briefing and debriefing pilots as an air intelligence officer aboard Intrepid. He also noted that his flight experience resulted in him becoming both the SERE (survival, escape, resistance and evasion) officer and the rules of engagement officer for Intrepid’s air wing. Wade explained that these roles involved informing pilots of what they were to do if they were shot down and what targets they could or could not attack during their missions. As the interview continued, Wade described Intrepid’s intelligence spaces, explained the processes involved in planning a mission, and discussed operations during bad weather. On a lighter note, he also covered topics such as entertainment aboard ship, practical jokes, and his homecoming. As the interview came to an end, Wade explained that after his active duty service, he remained in the Navy Reserve for another twenty-three years. He then concluded his interview by discussing how he remains in contact with his squadron mates from VA-34.