Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

Photo #: USN 1151717

Lieutenant Randall H. Cunningham
(center),
of Fighter Squadron 96 (VF-96)

In the VF-96 ready room aboard USS Constellation (CVA-64), describing how he downed three MiG-17 fighters in aerial combat over North Vietnam on 10 May 1972. At right is Cunningham's Radar Intercept Officer, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) William P. Driscoll. They had earlier downed two other enemy fighters, and were the Navy's only Vietnam War fighter "Aces".
Combat damage forced them to eject from their F-4J "Phantom II" just after the triple kill, but they were quickly rescued by a helicopter from USS Okinawa (LPH-3). After receiving a hot meal and dry clothing on board Okinawa they were flown back to Constellation to receive a joyous welcome.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1151717.

 

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than this digital image, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

22 May 2001