Phil Fessenden served 30 years across the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant — the highest enlisted rate. One of the defining moments of his career came during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, when he was a member of Light Photographic Squadron 62.

His squadron flew modified Crusader fighters on low-altitude aerial reconnaissance missions over Cuba, photographing Soviet nuclear missiles from just 60,000 feet — close enough, Fessenden recalled, to read the Camel cigarette brand on a pack a man was holding in his hand below.

"Our cameras were so good our Crusaders could take aerial photographs from 60,000 feet and read the 'Camel' cigarette brand on the pack of cigarettes a man was holding in his hand. Our squadron was all over the place during the missile crisis."

President John F. Kennedy presented Light Photographic Squadron 62 with a Presidential Unit Citation for their role capturing evidence of the Russian missiles — a pivotal moment in averting World War III.

After the Navy, Phil transitioned to the Air Force as an aviation electronics Tech-Sergeant supporting the F-4 Phantom. He served in Vietnam and the Panama Canal Zone, and retired in 1985 after three decades of service.

Phil and his wife Judy moved to Port Charlotte and later to Florida in 2000. He is survived by two adult children, Deborah and Drew.

January 22, 2017 — Rest in Honor