Duke Cunningham - Education and Military Service

Education and Military Service

Cunningham graduated from Shelbina High School in 1959. He attended Kirksville Teacher's College for one year before transferring to the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. Cunningham graduated with a bachelor's degree in education and physical education in 1964; he obtained his M.A. in education the following year. He was hired as a physical education teacher and swimming coach at Hinsdale Central High School where he stayed for one year. Two members of his swim team competed in the 1968 Olympics, where they earned a gold and a silver medal. Cunningham joined the United States Navy in 1967.

During his service, Cunningham and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) "Irish" Driscoll became the only Navy aces in the Vietnam War, flying an F-4 Phantom II from aboard aircraft carriers, and recording five confirmed kills. Though he did train with the instructor pilots of the department within fighter squadron VF-121 "Pacemakers" that later became the US Navy's Fighter Weapon School, he was not a graduate of TOPGUN, nor was he selected, at least officially, to participate in actual TOPGUN training. He was undergoing F-4 conversion training with VF-121 at the time, in the late 1960s.

Cunningham downed a MiG-17 which was supposedly piloted by North Vietnam Air Force fighter ace Col. Nguyen Toon, aka, "Colonel Tomb". Although "Colonel Tomb" was actually a myth, a North Vietnamese Air Force pilot from the 921st Fighter Regiment named Nguyen Van Coc did score 9 aerial victories during the war, and his aircraft (number 4326) was adorned with 13 air combat kills. Photographs of this particular MiG-21 had been circulated in numerous western publications during the late 1960s, which likely influenced the growth of the legendary "Colonel Tomb". Like many pilots on both sides, they flew what aircraft were available, and the 13 kill markings on MiG-21 #4326 were from several pilots within the 921st Fighter Regiment, including one aerial victory by Van Coc himself on May 7, 1968, when he downed an F-4 Phantom (BuNo 151485).

Like many fighter pilots in most countries, they held a high regard for tough competition and the North Vietnamese Air Force, no doubt, helped perpetuate the myth of "Colonel Toon", or "Tomb". "Colonel Toon" was not only skilled but unorthodox, as Cunningham found out, when the Navy pilot made an elementary tactical error engaging him. Cunningham climbed steeply, and the MiG pilot surprised Cunningham by climbing as well. The resulting dogfight became extended, with both aircraft engaging in a series of vertical rolling scissors maneuvers. Remembering his training with VF-121, Cunningham finally forced the MiG out ahead of him and destroyed it with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile.

Cunningham was reportedly almost court-martialed while an instructor at TOPGUN for allegedly breaking into his commanding officer's office to compare his record and fitness reports with those of his colleagues — a charge denied by Cunningham, but supported by two of his superior officers at the time. Regardless of the controversy, there was little doubt about Cunningham's piloting abilities. He was one of the most highly decorated United States Navy pilots in the Vietnam War, receiving the Navy Cross once, the Silver Star twice, the Air Medal 15 times, and the Purple Heart for wounds he received under enemy fire.

After returning from Vietnam in 1972, he became an instructor at the Navy's TOPGUN school for fighter pilots at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

Cunningham was a commentator on the History Channel program "Dogfights: The Greatest Air Battles", in the Vietnam War segment, where he discussed his experiences as a fighter pilot. The episode originally aired September 16, 2005. Another interview with Cunningham was featured on the 1987 PBS broadcast of the NOVA special "Top Gun And Beyond", during which he recounted his engagement with the mysterious aviator known only by the name "Colonel Tomb".

In 1985, Cunningham earned an MBA from National University. He retired from the Navy with the final rank of Commander in 1987, settling in Del Mar, a suburb of San Diego. He became nationally known as a CNN commentator on naval aircraft in the run-up to the Persian Gulf War.