BETHEA, HARRY E. JR., – NAVY – LT JG
Class of 1962Service: U.S. Navy
Service Dates: 1966-1970
Rank: LT JG
MOS: Helicopter Pilot
Notable: Pilot for Apollo 7 Recovery
On graduating from NHHS (Class of 1962), Harry attended and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Class of 1966). He then joined the US Navy and served from 1966 to 1970 aboard the aircraft carriers USS Essex and USS Wasp in the North Atlantic attached to CAG 54 for anti-submarine warfare. In the latter years of his service, he became a primary flight instructor for Marine Aviation at Saufley Field, Pensacola, Florida. One highlight of LT (JG) Bethea’s tour of duty was to fly “Rescue 3” for the return of the Apollo 7 Mission—NASA’s first crewed flight with Donn Eisele Isley, Walter Cunningham, and Walter Schirra aboard. Later Harry worked for Texaco Aviation and then in the real estate business for several years in both Georgia and then Florida. Harry earned a second degree in horticulture and then moved back to Georgia and established and owned a specialty plant nursery. After fifty years away, in 2024, he returned to Wilmington, North Carolina, his hometown.
Accolades: Flew “Rescue 3” for the return of the Apollo 7 Mission—NASA’s first crewed flight with Donn Eisele Isley, Walter Cunningham, and Walter Schirra aboard.
Accolades: Flew “Rescue 3” for the return of the Apollo 7 Mission—NASA’s first crewed flight with Donn Eisele Isley, Walter Cunningham, and Walter Schirra aboard.