Page 3 - DFCS News Magazine Winter 2011

make this happen.
Just this week, the House of Repre- sentatives passed a bill that will make the memorial at Riverside, CA a National DFC memorial. The next step is to get it passed in the Senate and signed by the President. Although we are nearing the end of the legislative year, we are hopeful that the Senate will pass the measure and that we will have a national DFC memorial at River- side. I want to thank Jim Champlin and others for their untiring work to
D By Chuck Sweeney
FCS member Dean “Diz” Laird celebrated his 90th birth-
day by doing something he never did during his 30 year career as a Naval Aviator. After appearing in the Coronado, CA Fourth of July Parade with the Lindbergh Chapter, Diz went out to Jamul, CA and went skydiving. This means that he jumped from a perfectly good airplane to see what it was like to para- chute to the ground rather than land in the airplane. He said that he came close to jumping out or ejecting several times both during combat in WWII and also later in his career. Lor- raine, his wife of 68 years and his daughter Geo were there to not only watch him jump and land but to also watch Geo’s hus- band Scott jump as Diz convinced him it would be fun. I always thought Scott was very level headed but I now have some doubts. A local television crew was also on hand to video tape the event that can be seen on: www.nbcsandiego.com/on- air/as-seen- on/Navy_Man_Freefalls_on_90th_Birthday_San_Diego- 125058974.html.
Diz is a very unique
member of DFCS as
he is the only Navy
Ace to shoot down
both German and
Japanese aircraft dur-
ing WWII. He shot
down the German
aircraft while flying the F4F Wildcat from the USS Ranger and the Japanese aircraft were destroyed while flying the F6F Hell- cat. During his Naval Aviation career, he accumulated over 8,000 hours of flight time including 4,700 hours in jet aircraft. His jet time included many hours in the A-6 flying them across the Pacific during the Vietnam War to replace dam- aged/destroyed aircraft which entailed numerous inflight refu- elings. Some of his most unusual flights were during the filming of “Tora, Tora, Tora”, the classic movie about the Japanese at- tack on Pearl Harbor. Ironically, Diz was one of the three princi- pal pilots flying the simulated Japanese airplanes in the film. These were modified T-6 Texans and BT-13 Valiants with signifi- cantly changed flight
characteristics but Diz managed to handle them quite well. He is a true Naval Aviation Icon who is still going strong.
“On Heroic Wings – Stories of the Distinguished Flying Cross” should be printed before this news magazine reaches you. Our intent is to get the book in the hands of each of you who pre- ordered it before the Christmas holidays. Once again, thank you to each of you who have ordered one or more of the books. I know you will enjoy it. Also, a special thanks to all of you who have ordered a “proof” copy of the book. Our goal was to use your donations to pay for the initial printing of the book and I’m happy to report that they did just that. For those who have not ordered a book, please consider doing so. For just $39.95 plus shipping and handling, you will get a first class publication about the DFC; one you will be proud of.
There is a registration form for the upcoming DFCS convention to be held in Seattle, Aug 19 – 23, 2012. This is going to be a great convention. Because of the history of The Boeing Company, the airplanes it built and their connection to many or our WWII DFC recipients, we are working with Boeing to make this a special event, especially for those WWII members who attend. If you are a WWII DFCS member, please make every effort to attend this convention.
Lastly, I asked for volunteers for vacant DFCS Board positions. Thank each of you who volunteered your time. The DFCS is growing and moving into new and unchartered territory and we need experienced an capable Board
members.
Bill Bradfield, Chairman DFC Society
First Lieutenant Michael L. Moriarty distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an EC-47 Pilot at Phu Cat Air Base, Republic of Vietnam on 17 September 1969. On that date, Lieutenant Moriarty flew an ex- tremely hazardous mission through adverse weather
conditions and through the constant threat of hostile ground fire and attack. The vital intelligence he collected significantly contributed to the furtherance of Allied goals in Southeast Asia. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by
Lieutenant Moriarty re- flect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Page 3 The Distinguished Flying Cross News