Flying Attack Missions over Vietnam in a Douglas A4 'Skyhawk' with Ron Cinniger at the Next Oregon 8th Air Force Historical Society Meeting August 12, 2006
One pilot flying a Grumman A4 "Skyhawk" during the Vietnam war carried a larger bomb load than a B-17 "Flying Fortress" crewed by 10 men. Ron Cinniger will talk about his combat flying in the mid 1960s to members of the 8th Air Force who had done their combat flying 20+ years earlier.
(PRWEB) July 17, 2006 -- Judge Ron Cinniger, presently a Circuit Judge in Multnomah County in Oregon, was an A-4 "Skyhawk" pilot serving aboard the USS Hancock (CV-19) in the mid-1960s. He was a member of VA 216, the "Black Diamonds."
Ron will talk about the Navy combat air operations as they were conducted from Yankee Station, off the coast of Vietnam. These include cyclical strikes and Alpha strikes. He will describe how close air support missions were conducted as well as those against the Ho Chi Minh trail and other targets.
Ron's description of the type of aircraft that he flew, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, and its capabilities should be of great interest to those who flew during World War II over Europe in B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, B-26s and the fighters of the Eighth Air Force. In short, one pilot flying a single-engine aircraft could carry more ordnance further and faster than 10 men in a B-17 could in World War II. In this I expect that he will describe the types of air defenses that were put up by the North Vietnamese and will talk about specific missions and challenges that he faced.
Also of great interest will be his description of carrier air operations; launches, landings, air-to-air refueling and the like. Life aboard a carrier like the Hancock was totally different than what the 8th Air Force experienced on their bases in England from 1942-45.
Doors open at 10:00 for the August 12, 2006 meeting and the meeting adjourns at 2 PM. Social hour starts at 10:30. Call to order of the meeting starts at 11:30. Lunch starts at Noon and the presentation starts at 1 PM. The meeting room in on the North side of the building. Drive past the main entrance to park and enter into the meeting room.
Lunch can be purchased at the Elks Lodge and costs $9.50 per person. Lunch consists of sandwiches, rolls, condiments and coffee or tea. You must contact Tom Philo at 503-350-3744 ONLY if you plan to eat at the meeting so he can get an accurate headcount. You can also notify him via e-mail at secretary @ 8thafhsoregon.com.
The Beaverton Elks Lodge address is:
3500 SW 104th Avenue
Beaverton, Oregon 97005-1941
Elks Lodge web site: http://www.teleport.com/~elks1989
The 8th AFHS main web site is at: http://www.8thafhs.org
The Oregon chapter web site is at: http://www.8thafhsoregon.com/
Meetings are held on the first Saturday of the first full week of February, May, August, & November.
The "Mighty Eighth" is the United States Army Air Forces Bomber and Fighter Command that flew strategic precision daylight bombing missions against Germany in World War II from July 4, 1942 until May 8, 1945 - VE Day - in Europe.
Meetings are free and anyone can attend. You do not have to be a member to attend any meeting.
People interested in learning more about the 8th Air Force, or to pass on what they know to others concerning the 8th AF contribution and other aviation unit histories that brought victory to the Allies in the European theatre of war (ETO) or other combat theatres, are encouraged to join the Oregon Chapter. Please fill out a membership form at the meeting. The annual dues is $10. In addition, you have to join the national organization whose dues are $25 a year. The national chapter puts out a quarterly magazine while the Oregon chapter puts out a quarterly newsletter.
The Oregon Chapter of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society is a registered non-profit corporation in the State of Oregon. Money contributed above the annual dues is normally tax-deductible.
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