RFT 272: F-105 Pilot/Aerobatic Coach John Morrissey

John Morrissey flew the F-105 over North Vietnam, completing 100 missions, and then was assigned to the Air Force fighter Weapons School as an instructor, returning to Vietnam numerous times to train pilots on tactics and weapons employment in actual combat conditions. During Operation Linebacker II, he again returned to Vietnam in the A-7D as a CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) strike commander, call-sign "Sandy".

After retiring from the Air Force in the rank of Colonel, John competed in aerobatics, then started an Aerobatics School, Great Planes Aerobatics.

From the International Aerobatic Club:

John was the winner of the Known program at the 1997 World Advanced Aerobatic Championships in Lawrence, Kansas and was one of the first Americans to participate in WAAC in 1995 (then called the AWAC). At that time, CIVA did not award medals in the Known (then called the “Q”) as the results did not count. Later, however, those rules were changed so the Known would count if only two flights were flown due to weather delays.

Congratulations to John for this long overdue award. John is shown at left below with this prestigious medal around his neck. He is one of America’s finest aerobatic pilots, a valued and proven coach, and a great promoter of aerobatics.

To learn more about the Thud mission in Vietnam, watch this outstanding movie, available on Amazon Prime:

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