John William Cunningham

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres Chacon on August 28, 2004:

John William Cunningham Born May 11, 1927 - Died April 4, 2003 John William Cunningham was born in Iowa City, Iowa on 11 May 1927 and was appointed to West Point from the 1st Congressional District. His West Point classmates recall: "Having attended college and served in the Army prior to entrance, John never had too much trouble with academics and cadet life. Affectionately called 'the walking ghost' by his more robust room-mates, he always took a couple more vitamins and kept on existing through his four years. John's hobbies are music and sack between reveille and police call; his ambition is to fly jets." During his cadet days John was with the Catholic Choir; on the Boxing Team, earning Numerals and a Minor "A"; with the Cadet Orchestra; with the Portuguese Club; and was a Cadet Sergeant his first class year. Upon graduation John went in the Air Force and after flying training reported to the 436th Fighter-Bomber Squadron where he served from 1952 to 1954. His next assignment was to the 416th Fighter-Bomber Squadron from 1955 to 1956. In 1958 John was named an Instructor Pilot for B-47's with the Air Training Command and in 1959 went with the 49th Bomb Squadron where he served until 1961 and was awarded the Commendation Medal for distinguished service. In 1963 John earned a Master of Science degree in Astronautics from Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson, Ohio and was then assigned to the Corona Satellite Program in Latin America where he served from 1963 to 1968 and was awarded a second Commendation Medal for distinguished service. From 1968 to 1969 John served with the 5th Air Force in Korea and then was named Assistant Director of Engineering and Test Manager of DSCS II from 1969 to 1971. John's next assignment was as Director of Engineering with FLTSAT Command System where he served from 1974 to 1975 when he was named to his last military post as Director of Program Control for the Airborne Warning and Control System. He served as such from 1975 to 1977 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. John retired in 1977 from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. After retirement John served as a Senior Engineer in Quality Assurance with the Stone and Webster Electronics Corporation from 1977 to 1979 and then became a Consultant in Quality Assurance. He retired for a second time in 1988. John and his wife Peggy made their home in Chelmsford, Massachusetts until his death on April 4, 2003. Meo bon amigo John Cunningham. Vece foi o mehlor parlante de portugues de nossa clase, par excellance. Bon Voyage. Seo amigo, Andy Chacon Click to find out what makes Fly Boys tick Air Force Values ufa

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