Page 5 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2020-1

Editor’s Corner
Lew Jennings
This edition highlights U.S. Air Force Special Operations from Vietnam to Afghanistan, with a peek at the history of the Air Commandos and featuring personal stories of valor of our members.
Dean Hunter was an Air Commando in Vietnam in the early 1960s, flying highly modified T-28D Trojans as attack aircraft providing close air support to ground forces and covering Ranch Hand C-123s flying low and slow on defoliant missions. He flew 166 combat missions, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and Silver Star. All these years later, his heroic actions where he flew three consecutive combat missions saving a Special Forces Camp from being overrun by insurgents and credited with 400 enemy dead, are currently being reviewed for possible upgrade to the Medal of Honor. He has written a vivid memoir of his military service titled “For Love of Life and Country”.
John Calamos was a Forward Air Controller (FAC) with the 20th Tactical Air Control Squadron flying Cessna 0-2 Skymasters, when he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions to save a Special Forces Camp on the night of 28 September 1968 in Mark Carlson’s story “Cleared
in Hot!”. Our thanks to John Mollison for his beautiful illustration of Calamos’ 0-2 Skymaster “Lopez 58”.
The incredible story is told of recently retired USAF Colonel Greg Roberts leading a record-setting two-helicopter
rescue flying Russian-made MI-17s that saved over 2,000 Afghan civilians during devastating floods.
Bob Certain vividly recalls the night he was shot down during the largest B-52 bombing campaign of the Vietnam
War, Linebacker II.
We step back further in time to WWII to witness the incredible feats of Ace of Aces Major Dick Bong credited with
40 air-to-air victories flying P-38 Lightnings against Japanese air forces, earning him the Medal of Honor and seven Distinguished Flying Crosses.
And, as always, included are member citations describing their heroism and extraordinary achievement earning the Distinguished Fly Cross. Please also see Pages 74 and 75 where Bruce Schwanda earns his first DFC back in 1967 as a Marine Helicopter Gunship pilot in Vietnam, then returns three years later to earn his second DFC flying A-4 Skyhawks!
On the local fronts, we celebrate the 100th birthdays of George Mobbs, Bob Cardenas and Charles McGee. We also congratulate General Cardenas for receiving the Bob Gilliland Award and General McGee on his recent promotion to Brigadier General!
Bill Heard takes us to the ceremony at Miramar National Cemetery for installation of the stunning black granite Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial. Larry Yarham follows up with the details on the process it takes to install a DFC Memorial at a VA National Cemetery near you.
We witness a chance meeting of two Vietnam vets, Steve Brown and Dennis Schoville, at a Veterans Day Reunion 50 years after both took shots to their flight helmets in the same battle.
And another big shout-out to our sponsor Milbrandt Vineyards. Our DFCS Reserve Syrah sold out, netting the Society over $14,000! Now they have produced another really fine wine for us, a very special DFCS Reserve Red Blend. DFCS Members get a whopping 30% discount on case purchases. The Society receives over 50% of the proceeds from the sales, so not only are you buying a great wine, you’re helping out the Distinguished Flying Cross Society as well.
In the next issue of the DFC Society News Magazine, Winter 2020, it is Go Navy! Dan Moore takes us on a tour of WWII Navy Fighter Squadron VF-17 Jolly Rogers flying their Chance Vought F4U Corsairs from the Solomon Islands in the Pacific. The Jolly Rogers were the top Corsair Squadron in WWII with 11 Aces and 152 air-to-air victories! The Squadron followed that up with a tour aboard the USS Hornet flying F6F-5 Hellcats, scoring another 161 victories and 12 Aces. VF- 17’s total of 313 victories was the highest of any Navy squadron in WWII.
On a somber note. We hope this issue of DFC Society News Magazine provides some much-needed respite from the battle we are all fighting against the COVID19 Coronavirus. Our hearts go out to our First Responders, Medical Personnel and Care Givers on the front lines and especially to those who have been tragically lost. May better times lie ahead. -Ed.
SUMMER 2020 / DFCS News Magazine / 5