ESTOCIN FFG 15

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Oliver Hazard Perry Class Guided Missile Frigate Keel Laid 2 April 1979 - Launched 3 November 1979 USS ESTOCIN FFG-15 Commissioned 10 January 1981 Assigned to Naval Reserve Force at Philadelphia PA, 30 September 1986 Decommissioned 3 April 2003 TCG GOKSU F-497 (Turkish Naval Service) Transferred to Turkey 3 April 2003

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

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1. USS Estocin FFG-15 Covers Page 1    (1985-2003)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

Locy Type 2-1p(n+) (USS, USN)

1985-02-09

Note:

 

Locy Type 9-1(n+u) (USN,USS,"FFF")

1985-02-09

Note:

 

Locy Type LDC 2tn+u (USS)

2003-04-04

Decommissioning, cachet by the Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Locy Type LDC 9n+u (USS)

2003-04-04

Decommissioning, cachet by the Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Locy Type LDC F

2003-04-04

Decommissioning, cachet by the Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

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USPS Pictorial Postmarks

 

USPS Pictorial Postmark "Decommissioning Station" Jacksonville FL

2003-04-03

Decommissioning, cacheted.

 

Other Information

USS ESTOCIN earned the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the United States Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, the Navy Battle "E" Ribbon and also received a Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Captain Michael John Estocin, USN (27 April 1931 – 26 April 1967 (presumed)
        Estocin entered the Naval Aviation Cadet program on June 11, 1954, and was commissioned in September 1955. While serving as Lieutenant Commander in Attack Squadron 192, operating off of USS TICONDEROGA CVA-14. On April 26 1967, he supported a strike over Haiphong, North Vietnam and his A-4 plane sustained severe damage, causing the loss of the aircraft. Subsequent searches revealed no trace of the plane. It is unknown whether he was able to eject from the jet, and his final fate is uncertain. For his actions during two missions, Estocin was promoted to Captain in absentia, and awarded The Medal of Honor.
        In addition to the Medal of Honor, Capt. Estocin earned the Distinguished Flying Cross medal, the Purple Heart Medal (2 awards), the Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 12, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat "V", the Navy Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross) Medal with palm and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Capt. Estocin is also authorized to wear the Naval Aviator badge.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Quay Marie (Hampton) Estocin, Capt. Michael J. Estocin's widow.

 

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