United States of America
U.S. Navy · United States 
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Rear Admiral Upper Half Wilson F. Flagg served in the U.S. Navy. Wilson served aboard Naval Air Reserve - and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Wilson served in the Vietnam War. Wilson was married to Darlene E. Flagg. Wilson was 62 years old.
How He Died
Manner
Homicide
Cause
Multiple traumatic injuries
Place
Virginia
Biography
Rear Admiral, United States Naval Reserve, retired. He was aboard American Airlines flight 77 with his wife of more than forty years.
He finished at Corona High School in 1956 and the Naval Academy in 1961, and married his high school sweetheart immediately after graduation. He was designated a naval aviator in 1962 and qualified in the F-8 Crusader, and made three deployments aboard the Oriskany, two of them combat cruises.
He left active duty in 1967 and joined both American Airlines and the Naval Reserve, and made a career of each. In the reserve he commanded two air reserve F-8 squadrons and two force augment units, served at the Pentagon as special assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs and as assistant chief of naval operations for air warfare, and was deputy for reserve affairs to the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet. He was selected for rear admiral in 1986 and retired in 1995 with two stars. He retired from American Airlines as a captain in 1998.
He and his wife kept Daybreak Farm at Millwood in Virginia, and the neighbours watched the fields and fences and barns grow more beautiful under their care. Their grandchildren spent summers there.
He finished at Corona High School in 1956 and the Naval Academy in 1961, and married his high school sweetheart immediately after graduation. He was designated a naval aviator in 1962 and qualified in the F-8 Crusader, and made three deployments aboard the Oriskany, two of them combat cruises.
He left active duty in 1967 and joined both American Airlines and the Naval Reserve, and made a career of each. In the reserve he commanded two air reserve F-8 squadrons and two force augment units, served at the Pentagon as special assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs and as assistant chief of naval operations for air warfare, and was deputy for reserve affairs to the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet. He was selected for rear admiral in 1986 and retired in 1995 with two stars. He retired from American Airlines as a captain in 1998.
He and his wife kept Daybreak Farm at Millwood in Virginia, and the neighbours watched the fields and fences and barns grow more beautiful under their care. Their grandchildren spent summers there.
What Happened
Killed at the Pentagon on the morning of 11 September 2001, when American Airlines flight 77 struck the western face of the building at 9:37. A hundred and twenty-five people inside and fifty-nine aboard the aircraft were killed.
Survivors
His sons Marc and Michael, his sister Patricia, and four grandchildren.
Tributes
1
I did not know you, but I know what was taken that day. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Keepsakes
Service Record
U.S. Navy
USS Oriskany (CV-34)
Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare
The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
1961 – 1995
Commissioned from the Naval Academy in June 1961 and designated a naval aviator in 1962. Three deployments aboard USS Oriskany in the F-8 Crusader, two of them combat cruises off Vietnam. Left active duty in 1967 for the Naval Reserve, commanding two air reserve F-8 squadrons and two force augment units. Special assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs, assistant chief of naval operations for air warfare, and deputy for reserve affairs to the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet. Selected for rear admiral in 1986 and retired in 1995.
Conflicts
Awards & Decorations
14
For service and achievement
Air Medal Strike/Flight Numeral 5 ×5
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Combat V and Gold Star ×2
Unit awards
Campaign and service medals
National Defense Service Medal Bronze Service Star
Vietnam Service Medal Three Bronze Service Stars
Armed Forces Reserve Medal Silver Hourglass Device
Memorials
National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
Line 1938
Also Remembered
September 11, 2001 — The Pentagon
Family
Darlene E. Flagg
Spouse
1938 – 2001
Burial Information
Cemetery
United States Naval Academy Cemetery
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01m2f2chwf6re9m0twnn63k47d
Record added
September 14, 2026
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September 21, 2026
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Wilson F. Flagg
Rear Admiral Rear Admiral Upper Half
U.S. Navy
1961 - 1995
USS Oriskany (CV-34)
2
5
2
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