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Interview with Randall Cunningham, transcript, 1974

 

1974-03-22

 

Interviewer: Bowling, R. A.

Cunningham, a Vietnam veteran fighter pilot, was born on December 8, 1941. He first became famous during the Vietnam War for being one of the Navy's only two flying aces during the war, along with his radio intercept officer Lieutenant Willy Driscoll. Together, Cunningham and Driscoll shot down a total of five enemy aircraft in 1972, a feat for which both soldiers were highly decorated. Cunningham also credited himself with killing North Vietnam's leading ace "Colonel Toon," although this claim remains disputed due to speculation that Colonel Toon was a mythical creation.

Cunningham parlayed his military success into a political career, serving as a Congressman from California's 50th district over a period of 14 years starting in 1991. In a high-profile scandal in 2005, Cunningham pleaded guilty to accepting over $2 million in bribes, along with federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. He resigned from the House of Representatives on November 28, 2005, and served a federal prison sentence until June of 2013. In this 1974 interview, Cunningham describes in considerable detail the shooting down of five Russian Aircraft Corporation MiGs, including North Vietnam's leading ace "Colonel Toon," who according to legend had seven American kills to his credit at the time. Lt. Cunningham gives a concise description of the surface-to-air missile threat in Vietnam, particularly over the North, and the tactics used to avoid being hit by one. He also describes the air combat tactics used in engaging other fighters, and his encounter with Colonel Toon. Cunningham also gives his opinion on President Nixon's decision to mine Hai Phong harbor, and defends "protective reaction" strikes.

Randall H. Cunningham; Roland A. Bowling; Ho Chi Minh Trail; Willy DriscAlpha; Radio intercept officers; Russian Aircraft Corporation MiGs; F-4 Phantom IIs; Grumman A-6 Intruders; Targeting dikes; Vietnam veterans; Veterans; Protective reaction strikes; Quang Tri City; Missiles; Members of House of Representatives; Len Batterman; United States Ship Constellation; Free speech; oll; Colonel Toon; Vietnam War; Richard M. Nixon; Operation Proud Deep Alpha; Bombing of Laos; Jane Fonda; Ramsey Clark; Quang Lang Air Base; Bryan Grant; Jerry Sullivan; Aircraft carriers; Willy White; Morale; Easter Invasion; Magic Carpet flights; Dwight Timm; Red Crown (ship); Hai Drong Railroad Yard; Steve Rudloff; Matt Connoly; Aerial combat; Airplane crashes

 

California - Miramar - Naval Air Station

© San Diego State University. All rights reserved.

 

 

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