This page is in memory of Rick Bradley who passed away Tuesday, May 11, 1999.
Capt. Richard 'Rick' J. Bradley Jr. Navy pilot, Westford athlete; 53
Friday, May 14, 1999 (Lowell Sun Obituary)
NEWPORT, R.I. - Capt. Richard "Rick" Joseph Bradley Jr., 53, a decorated Navy
pilot and a former star athlete in Westford, Mass., died Tuesday, May 11, at Newport
Hospital after an extended illness. He was the husband of Christine (Taranto) Bradley .
He was born on March 8, 1946 in Arlington, Mass., a son of the late Richard Joseph
"Dick" Bradley and Kathleen (O'Brien) Bradley of Centerville, Mass. He grew up
in Westford and graduated from Westford Academy with the Class of 1963. At Westford
Academy, he was varsity football player and captain of the wrestling team. He went on to
captain the wrestling team at Boston College, where he graduated in 1967. Mr Bradley later
received his master's degree from Webster University.
Shortly after college he began a 26-year career with the Navy. Mr. Bradley received his
commission in the Navy through the Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1967, and was
designated a naval aviator in 1968. During his naval service, Capt. Bradley served two
tours of combat duty in Vietnam aboard the USS Enterprise and later assumed command of
fighter squadrons VF-213, the Black Lions, in 1986 and VF-124 in 1988. He piloted the F-14
Tomcat fighter jet, as well as the F-4 Phantom Jet, which he took on several missions over
Vietnam.
He was awarded one individual and 13 Strike Flight Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal
with Combat V and Gold Star, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious
Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Battle "E" and Sea Service
Ribbons, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals.
He was a member of the Naval War College Foundation, the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation,
as well as the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and was the first pilot to demonstrate the
F-14 jet in the 1975 Paris air show.
He attended the Naval War College for three years, and after retirement settled with his
family in nearby Newport.
In addition to his wife and mother, Mr. Bradley is survived by a daughter and son-in-law,
Lt. Daniel and Mrs. (Shannon K. Bradley ) Walent, both of Texas and Newport; a sister,
Patricia Bradley of Marco Island, Fla.; four brothers, Thomas K. Bradley of San Francisco,
Mark S. Bradley of Woodstock, Vt., Christopher P. Bradley of and John Bradley , both of
Westford; as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews living in the local area.
He was the brother of the late Robert P. Bradley , formerly of Westford and Arlington,
Mass.Capt. Richard 'Rick' J. Bradley Jr.
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© 1999 by MediaNews Group
The following links are from scans taken from the Lowell
Sun. Copies can be requested from the Lowell Sun for $.60 a piece.
Funeral
Announcement (Sunday 5/14/99)
Obituary (Sunday
5/14/99)
Captain Rick Bradley: Mission Accomplished (Front Page - Saturday 5/15/99)
Part 1
Part
2 Part 3
The following pictures were scanned by Jim Walent
from pictures borrowed from Chris Bradley (Shannon's Mom).
