DRISCOLLWILLIAMTRANS

Interview with William Driscoll, transcript, 1974

 

1974-03-15

 

Interviewer: Bowling, R. A.

Lt. Willy Driscoll became famous during the Vietnam War for being one of the Navy's only two flying aces during the war, along with his pilot Lt. Randall "Duke" Cunningham. Together, Driscoll and Cunningham shot down a total of five enemy aircraft in 1972, a feat for which both soldiers were highly decorated. Driscoll was the first RIO (Radio Intercept Officer) ace in aviation history. He later became an instructor at the famous TOPGUN naval academy (Navy Fighter Weapons School) for aerial fighter training. Still later, Driscoll worked in real estate in San Diego and also as a motivational speaker. In this interview, Driscoll relates in detail his dogfights in 1972, including the shooting down of five MIGs, and his tactics in avoiding enemy surface-to-air missiles (SAM). He also describes how his own plane was finally downed by a SAM and their subsequent rescue by friendly forces. Driscoll further discusses the anti-war movement and how it had no effect on him or any of his immediate cLt. Willy Driscoll became famous during the Vietnam War for being one of the Navy's only two flying aces during the war, along with his pilot Lt. Randall "Duke" Cunningham. Together, Driscoll and Cunningham shot down a total of five enemy aircraft in 1972, a feat for which both soldiers were highly decorated. Driscoll was the first RIO (Radio Intercept Officer) ace in aviation history. He later became an instructor at the famous TOPGUN naval academy (Navy Fighter Weapons School) for aerial fighter training. Still later, Driscoll worked in real estate in San Diego and also as a motivational speaker. In this interview, Driscoll relates in detail his dogfights in 1972, including the shooting down of five MIGs, and his tactics in avoiding enemy surface-to-air missiles (SAM). He also describes how his own plane was finally downed by a SAM and their subsequent rescue by friendly forces. Driscoll further discusses the anti-war movement and how it had no effect on him or any of his immediate contemporaries. After the war, Driscoll interviewed his fellow pilots who had been shot down, and learned that the vast majority of them considered themselves as professionals doing a job that they believed to be right.

Radio intercept officers; William "Willy" Driscoll; Navy Fighter Weapons School; Dogfights; Missiles; Anti-war movements; Vietnam war; Vietnam veterans; Veterans; Roland A. Bowling; Randall Cunningham; United States Navy; Fighter Squadron 96; United States Ship Constellation; Colonel Toon; Aircraft carriers; Aviators; Aviation Officer Candidate School; Dilbert Dunders; McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs; Jane Fonda; Joan Baez; Keep the Connie Home; Yankee Station; Ho Chi Minh trail; Forward air controllers; Bombing; Surface-to-air missiles; SAMs; Special operations; Military intelligence; Quan Lang Air Base; Radar-guided missiles; SPARROWs (missiles); Heat-seeking missiles; Sidewinders (missiles); Guided missiles; Easter Invasion; Dixie Station; Aerial combat; Alpha strikes; Bombers; Targeting dikes; Richard M. Nixon; Hai Phong Harbor; Flak suppressors; Hai Duong Railroad Yard; Dogfights; Prisoners of war; POWs; Anticommunism; Military medals

 

California - Miramar - Naval Air Station

© San Diego State University. All rights reserved.

 

 

English

 

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46 pages

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DRISCOLLWILLIAM

 

 

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