Changes

==Naval Service==

==Naval Service==

Cunningham earned a commission in the [[US Navy]] in 1967, and served a tour in Vietnam as an [[F-4 Phantom]] pilot aboard the [[aircraft carrier]] USS ''America''.  After his tour, he was one of the first graduates of the then-new “Post-Graduate Course on Fighter Weapons, Tactics, and Doctrine”, more commonly known as [[Top Gun]].  This experience served him well when he went to back to [[Vietnam]] aboard the carrier USS ''Constellation''.  Driscoll’s squadron flew the F-4J, the newest Navy version of the Phantom.

Cunningham earned a commission in the [[US Navy]] in 1967, and served a tour in Vietnam as an [[F-4 Phantom]] pilot aboard the [[aircraft carrier]] USS ''America''.  After his tour, he was one of the first graduates of the then-new “Post-Graduate Course on Fighter Weapons, Tactics, and Doctrine”, more commonly known as [[Top Gun]].  This experience served him well when he went to back to [[Vietnam]] aboard the carrier USS ''Constellation''.  Driscoll's squadron flew the F-4J, the newest Navy version of the Phantom.

On January 19, 1972, Cunningham and his back-seater, William “Irish” Driscoll, scored their first kill, a [[MiG-21]], while on AAA suppression duty in support of a photo-reconnaissance mission.  It was the first American air-to-air victory over Vietnam in over two years.  On May 8, 1972, Navy [[A-6 Intruder]]s were sent to mine [[Haiphong]] harbor.  Cunningham and Driscoll flew with the escort, and scored their second victory, a [[MiG-17]], with a [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|Sidewinder]] missile.

On January 19, 1972, Cunningham and his back-seater, William “Irish” Driscoll, scored their first kill, a [[MiG-21]], while on AAA suppression duty in support of a photo-reconnaissance mission.  It was the first American air-to-air victory over Vietnam in over two years.  On May 8, 1972, Navy [[A-6 Intruder]]s were sent to mine [[Haiphong]] harbor.  Cunningham and Driscoll flew with the escort, and scored their second victory, a [[MiG-17]], with a [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|Sidewinder]] missile.

May 10 was the first day of [[Operation Linebacker]], a bombing campaign designed to disrupt North Vietnamese supply lines and put pressure on the North Vietnamese to withdraw from South Vietnam.  Cunningham was assigned to a bombing mission on the Hai Dong railyards, and had just completed a bombing run on a warehouse when he spotted four MiG-17s heading toward him.  Using the Phantom’s greater power, he was able to out-maneuver them and shot one down with a Sidewinder.  Surveying the developing furball, Cunningham saw a Phantom below him with three MiGs on its tail.  Cunningham followed and downed one of the MiGs with another Sidewinder.  He then evaded a MiG that had latched onto his plane, and headed for the coast and the ''Constellation''.  He was intercepted, however, by another MiG-17 that made a head-on pass.  The enemy plane failed to score any hits, but came around again, and soon Cunningham and Driscoll were involved in a turning [[dogfight]] with the more maneuverable MiG.  Both planes turned, rolled, and did everything possible to try to get into a good firing position.  Then, with the enemy plane behind him, Cunningham used the old trick of throttling back and deploying the [[speed brake]], forcing the MiG to pop out in front.  The North Vietnamese pilot dove for the deck to escape, but his luck had run out.  Cunningham fired a Sidewinder at long range (for a Sidewinder).  It tracked, and destroyed the MiG.  There was no parachute.

May 10 was the first day of [[Operation Linebacker]], a bombing campaign designed to disrupt North Vietnamese supply lines and put pressure on the North Vietnamese to withdraw from South Vietnam.  Cunningham was assigned to a bombing mission on the Hai Dong railyards, and had just completed a bombing run on a warehouse when he spotted four MiG-17s heading toward him.  Using the Phantom's greater power, he was able to out-maneuver them and shot one down with a Sidewinder.  Surveying the developing furball, Cunningham saw a Phantom below him with three MiGs on its tail.  Cunningham followed and downed one of the MiGs with another Sidewinder.  He then evaded a MiG that had latched onto his plane, and headed for the coast and the ''Constellation''.  He was intercepted, however, by another MiG-17 that made a head-on pass.  The enemy plane failed to score any hits, but came around again, and soon Cunningham and Driscoll were involved in a turning [[dogfight]] with the more maneuverable MiG.  Both planes turned, rolled, and did everything possible to try to get into a good firing position.  Then, with the enemy plane behind him, Cunningham used the old trick of throttling back and deploying the [[speed brake]], forcing the MiG to pop out in front.  The North Vietnamese pilot dove for the deck to escape, but his luck had run out.  Cunningham fired a Sidewinder at long range (for a Sidewinder).  It tracked, and destroyed the MiG.  There was no parachute.

Cunningham and Driscoll had become the first American aces of the Vietnam War, but their adventure wasn’t over.  A [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] caught them by surprise and exploded near enough to damage the plane's hydraulic systems, making it increasingly hard to control.  Cunningham was able to make it out to sea before the systems gave out entirely, putting the plane into a spin.  Cunningham and Driscoll ejected safely, and were quickly picked up by a Navy [[helicopter]].  For the day’s actions, both pilots were awarded the [[Navy Cross]].<ref>''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  The North Vietnamese claimed later that Cunningham's plane was downed by a missile from a MiG-21.

Cunningham and Driscoll had become the first American aces of the Vietnam War, but their adventure wasn't over.  A [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] caught them by surprise and exploded near enough to damage the plane's hydraulic systems, making it increasingly hard to control.  Cunningham was able to make it out to sea before the systems gave out entirely, putting the plane into a spin.  Cunningham and Driscoll ejected safely, and were quickly picked up by a Navy [[helicopter]].  For the day's actions, both pilots were awarded the [[Navy Cross]].<ref>''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  The North Vietnamese claimed later that Cunningham's plane was downed by a missile from a MiG-21.

After the war, Cunningham served as a Top Gun instructor, then went on to various staff and command assignments.  He retired from the Navy in 1987, as a commander.

After the war, Cunningham served as a Top Gun instructor, then went on to various staff and command assignments.  He retired from the Navy in 1987, as a commander.