Posted on 08/27/2025 7:39:08 PM PDT by Ben Dover
Legendary fighter pilot and first US ace of the Vietnam War Randy “Duke” Cunningham passed away the afternoon of Aug. 27, 2025 at the age of 83 in Little Rock, Arkansas.
He was born 8 Dec 1941 in Los Angeles.
Cunningham has been in and out of the hospital for the eight months with heart problems and other issues.
Cunningham was a retired US Navy commander and former F-4 Phantom pilot in VF-96, who along with his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Willy “Irish” Driscoll was the first US ace of the Vietnam War.
He was an officer and pilot in the United States Navy for 20 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaviationgeekclub.com ...
Rest in peace, Hero Ace!
Rest in Peace, Patriot.
I thought his name sounded familiar. I didn’t know that he was a Vietnam era ace
Wasn’t he also a Congressman from Calif? RIP.
> I thought his name sounded familiar. <
As did I, so I looked it up. After the war Cunningham got caught up in a bribery scandal, and spent time in prison.
No matter. That does not take from his wartime service in the least. I was particularly impressed by this passage from the article:
“Cunningham’s action echoed events from 1972, when after his fifth kill several senior officers said they would recommend him for the Medal of Honor, US armed forces’ highest decoration.
The new ace replied, “Whatever I get, I want Willy [his Radar Intercept Officer] to get, or I will not accept it.” In the end, Cunningham and Driscoll were both awarded the Navy Cross, which is the US Navy and Marine Corps’ second-highest award.”
Yes, and a very dirty one. Resigned over taking bribes from a defense contractor, tax evasion, mail fraud, wire fraud. Basically the usual Congressional graft, only he got caught.
Quick addition to my post #8: Trump pardoned Cunningham near Trump’s last day in office in 2021.
Yet another good move by Trump.
> Yes, and a very dirty one. <
I noted that in my post #8. Some government officials look for bribes. Some are seduced into it. That doesn’t excuse things, of course. But could Cunningham be one of the latter?
Dang....Little Rock produced some damn good fighter aces. Cunningham, Floyd Fulkerson (well, almost an ace), Crenshaw, etc.
He is legendary if he was a real person.
It doesn’t matter he took the graft, etc., you want to find a way to excuse his behavior because he was a War Hero, he knew right from wrong and did it anyway.
I don’t think he should have had a pardon.
Compared to the treasonous congress critters slithering around nowadays, he was an angel.
Wasn’t not is. He wasn’t legendary if he actually lived.
King George V once commented on something like this situation. He said that even should a Victoria Cross holder be hanged for some terrible crime, he still deserves the respect of the award.
Georgie and I feel the same way. Don’t excuse the crime. And don’t ignore the bravery either.
Trump was right in issuing the pardon. I would feel differently had Cunningham not already served his sentence.
"Where do we get such men?"*
* (credit Bridges at Toko-Ri)
If I remember right, they had to fly the F-4 upside down to get back to the coast. Once they got close to American forces, they bailed.
I could be wrong, but, I think it was Cunningham.
That article reads like something out of the (North) Korean Central News Agency. Google Duke Cunningham and learn the rest of the story.
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