Duke Cunningham - Revision history

DavidB4-bot: /* Naval Service */Spelling, grammar, and general cleanup, typos fixed: wasn’t → wasn't, ’s → 's (3)

2019-12-04T02:57:34Z

Naval Service: Spelling, grammar, and general cleanup, typos fixed: wasn’t → wasn't, ’s → 's (3)

DavidB4-bot: /* External links */HTTP --> HTTPS [#1], replaced: http://www.youtube.com → https://www.youtube.com

2018-09-26T15:29:02Z

External links: HTTP --> HTTPS [#1], replaced: http://www.youtube.com → https://www.youtube.com

DavidB4-bot: /* External links */Spelling/Grammar Check, typos fixed: Youtube → YouTube

2016-06-29T23:31:57Z

External links: Spelling/Grammar Check, typos fixed: Youtube → YouTube

DavidB4-bot: clean up

2016-06-27T03:55:31Z

clean up

Markman: cats

2011-11-26T22:27:42Z

cats

Frey: Links

2008-12-28T02:39:55Z

Links

Learn together: /* Naval Service */

2008-11-12T21:00:10Z

Naval Service

Learn together at 20:56, November 12, 2008

2008-11-12T20:56:55Z

DRamon: /* Congressional Service */

2008-10-25T19:35:44Z

Congressional Service

Frey: /* Naval Service */ Fixed Mig names, cleaned up a little

2008-10-25T18:48:21Z

Naval Service: Fixed Mig names, cleaned up a little

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 ==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.
-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.

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 ==External links==
 *[http://www.acepilots.com/vietnam/cunningham.html Randy Cunningham: F-4 Phantom Pilot and Navy Ace] at AcePilots.com
-*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkKbOtedzoQ Computer re-enactment of Duke's last air battle] at YouTube.
+*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkKbOtedzoQ Computer re-enactment of Duke's last air battle] at YouTube.
 ==Further reading==

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 ==External links==
 *[http://www.acepilots.com/vietnam/cunningham.html Randy Cunningham: F-4 Phantom Pilot and Navy Ace] at AcePilots.com
-*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkKbOtedzoQ Computer re-enactment of Duke's last air battle] at Youtube.
+*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkKbOtedzoQ Computer re-enactment of Duke's last air battle] at YouTube.
 ==Further reading==

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 He resigned on November 28, 2005, when it was found that he had been receiving illicit bribes totalling $2.4 million.  This included receiving luxury gifts like a yacht (reportedly called the "Duke Stir") and expensive jewelry.  Since he didn't report accepting bribes to the IRS, he underreported his income for 2004.
-Cunningham denied the charges at first, but later repented and came clean with a tearful and moving apology to his family, friends, and constituents. The bribes were received by Randall Cunningham in exchange for lucrative defense contracts for the Pentagon to local California contractors and businessmen. On March 3, 2006, he received a sentence of eight years and four months in prison and an order to pay $1.8 million in restitution<ref>http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/index.html</ref>.
+Cunningham denied the charges at first, but later repented and came clean with a tearful and moving apology to his family, friends, and constituents. The bribes were received by Randall Cunningham in exchange for lucrative defense contracts for the Pentagon to local California contractors and businessmen. On March 3, 2006, he received a sentence of eight years and four months in prison and an order to pay $1.8 million in restitution.<ref>http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/index.html</ref>
 Cunningham was succeeded by former congressman [[Brian Bilbray]], also a Republican, following a special election.
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 <references/>
-==External Links==
+==External links==
 *[http://www.acepilots.com/vietnam/cunningham.html Randy Cunningham: F-4 Phantom Pilot and Navy Ace] at AcePilots.com
 *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkKbOtedzoQ Computer re-enactment of Duke's last air battle] at Youtube.
-==Further Reading==
+==Further reading==
 ''Fox Two: The Story of America’s First Ace in Vietnam'', by Randy Cunningham, Mesa, Ariz.: Champlin Fighter Museum, 1989.

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 ==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.
-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 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 [[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.

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 {{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Duke}}
-[[Category:United States Representatives]]
+[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
 [[Category:Republican Party]]
 [[Category:United States Navy]]