Paul Thomas Gillcrist (March 22, 1929 – June 30, 2016) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. After retirement from the Navy, he wrote non-fiction and fiction books and was a consultant for television.
His first deployment was with the "Satan's Kittens" of VF-191 flying from the carrier Oriskany. Gillcrist later served with the "Boomerangs" of VF-62 flying from the carriers Shangri-La and Lexington. During the Vietnam War, he served three tours with the "Iron Angels" of VF-53 flying 167 combat missions from the carriers Ticonderoga, Hancock and Bon Homme Richard. Gillcrist was given command of the squadron from March 1967 to March 1968 during his last two deployments.[2]
In 1981 at the age of 51, Gillcrist became the first flag officer to land an F-14 Tomcat on an aircraft carrier.[2]
He wrote novels as well as books on aviation and naval science topics.
Following his retirement, he became a technical consultant for the movie Thirteen Days and the television show JAG.[4] He died on June 30, 2016[1] and was interred at Miramar National Cemetery.[5]
Gillcrist, Paul T. Cobra. [Place of publication not identified]: [1st Books Library], 2000. ISBN1588202836
Gillcrist, Paul T. Crusader!: Last of the Gunfighters. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub, 1995. ISBN0887407668
Gillcrist, Paul T. Deadly Windfall: A Novel. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, 2006. ISBN9780595839650
Gillcrist, Paul T. Feet Wet: Reflections of a Carrier Pilot. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1990. ISBN0891413669
Gillcrist, Paul T. Sea Legs. San Jose, CA: Writer's Showcase, presented by Writer's Digest, 2000. ISBN0595145620
Gillcrist, Dan, Robert Gillcrist, and Paul T. Gillcrist. Spindrift: Stories from the Sea Services. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military/Aviation History, 1998. ISBN0764305905
Gillcrist, Paul T. Tomcat!: The Grumman F-14 Story. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub, 1994. ISBN0887406645