Bio, Fellowes, John H. "Jack"

We all have memories of many of the fine human beings we met in prison and Jack is certainly one of them. His attitude was contagious because it was Upbeat in a place of pain and sorrow, his sense of humor kept a smile on your face and he was always complimentary, never judgmental.

Jack made the best of each day and helped those years to slide by with a minimum of internal conflict. He was a gentleman and a friend and he will be missed, but he will always be remembered. Thank God for Jack Fellows!

Quincy Collins

Name: John Heaphy "Jack" Fellowes
Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy
Unit: Attack Squadron 65, USS CONSTELLATION (CVA 64)
Date of Birth: 22 November 1932
Home City of Record: Virginia Beach VA
Date of Loss: 27 August 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 184700N 1052700E (WF474767)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A6A
Missions: 55
Other Personnel in Incident: George T. Coker (released POW)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W.
NETWORK 2023.

REMARKS: 730304 RELSD BY DRV

SYNOPSIS: The USS CONSTELLATION provided air power to the U.S. effort in
Vietnam early in the war, having participated in strikes against Loc Chao
and Hon Gai in North Vietnam during August 1964. One of the first American
POWs of the war, and certainly one of the most well-known, LTJG Everett
Alverez, launched from her decks and was captured during this series of
strikes in 1964. The CONSTELLATION was large and carried a full range of
aircraft. Fighters from her air wing, CVW-14, earned the carrier the
Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1968 during a particularly intense period
of air attacks. VF-96, a premier fighter squadron awarded the Clifton Trophy
two straight years, flew from the CONSTELLATION in October 1971. During this
period, two of her pilots, LT Randall H. Cunningham and LTJG William
"Willie" Driscoll became the first American aces of the Vietnam War, having
shot down five Russian-made MiG enemy aircraft. The CONSTELLATION remained
on station throughout most of the war.

LCDR John H. "Jack" Fellowes was a pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 65
onboard the USS CONSTELLATION. On August 27, 1966, he and his
Bombardier/Navigator (BN), LTJG George T. Coker, launched in their A6A
Intruder all-weather attack aircraft on a strike/bombing mission into North
Vietnam.

When the flight was about 20 miles northwest of the city of Vinh in Nghe An
Province, Fellowes' aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire or debris from a
surface-to-air missile (SAM) in the right wing which caused the aircraft to
enter a flat spin forcing both crewmen to eject. Their wingman sighted two
parachutes at approximately 2,000 feet, and manually operated emergency
radio beeper signals commenced and persisted as the wingman maneuvered to
keep the chutes in sight. The area was about 18 miles inland in a
well-populated area. The terrain was primarily flat with rice paddies and
numerous houses and villages. There was little to offer concealment.

Moderate flak was encountered as the two parachutes passed 1,000 feet. Due
to poor weather visibility and enemy flak, the wingman lost sight of the two
chutes as they passed below 50 feet. An intensive search effort was
conducted despite moderate to heavy flak for nearly 3 hours, but the
parachutes were not spotted on the ground, nor were emergency beepers heard
any longer. Both Fellowes and Coker were classified Missing in Action.

Later that day, Radio Hanoi announced, "The Armed Forces and people in Nghe
An Province this morning shot down two U.S. aircraft during two
counterattacks within ten minutes. At 1030 hours, one of the two U.S. planes
was shot down on the spot at the first round while intruding into the
airspace over the western part of the province. The aggressor pilot was
captured. Ten minutes later, flights of U.S. aircraft send to the rescue of
the U.S. air pirate had to flee in disorder in the face of accurate ground
fire. One of them was knocked down." (NOTE: No other Americans were captured
or listed as missing on that date.) When this information was received, both
men were reclassified Prisoner of War.

During their captivity, Coker and Fellowes suffered along with their fellow
POWs. Torture and deprivation was commonplace. Fellowes arms were both
permanently damaged by manipulation in the "ropes", a common
torture-technique. Coker actually escaped in December 1970 with another
American. The two swam down the Red River, but were recaptured. Coker was
found buried in a mud bank attempting to conceal his location from his
captors.

Fellowes and Coker were held in various prisoner of war camps -- Cu Loc, Hoa
Lo (Hanoi Hilton), Alcatraz -- in and around Hanoi throughout the duration
of the war. On March 4, 1973, they were both released as part of Operation
Homecoming.

Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing,
prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S.
Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified
information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive
today. These reports are the source of serious distress to many returned
American prisoners. They had a code that no one could honorably return
unless all of the prisoners returned. Not only that code of honor, but the
honor of our country is at stake as long as even one man remains unjustly
held. It's time we brought our men home.

George T. Coker was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant during the period he
was prisoner of war. He remained in the Navy and attained the rank of
Commander. In 1986, Coker resided in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

John H. Fellowes was promoted to the rank of Commander during the period he
was prisoner of war. He remained in the Navy and attained the rank of
Captain. He retired from the Navy and as of 1989, resided in Annapolis,
Maryland.

==========================================================
Jack Fellowes retired from the United States Navy as a Captain in July of
1986. He and his wife Pat reside in Maryland.

March 6, 2010
The Fellowes' daughter lost her fight for life. She suffered from ALS. Our prayers
and deepest sympathy are with her family at this time.
======================================================

We are truly saddened at the sudden loss of our dear friend, Jackie Fe. His wonderful
emails and charming smile will remain with us forever. Be careful of the hugs in heaven
Jackie Fe.... the glass will always be full. Chuck and Mary

Jack H. Fellowes, a Navy pilot from Virginia Beach who served six and a half years
as a prisoner of war during Vietnam, died Monday at age 77 in Annapolis, Md....

Jack Fellowes died on Monday, May 3, at his home in Annapolis. Funeral mass/service
will be on Friday, May 14, at 1000 at the Naval Academy Chapel.