An ACE goes down in flames.

"Mike Weeks" wrote in message
oups.com...

Again based on news reports, nothing specific mentioned dealing with
naval aviation.

Not on the level you're discussing Mike, but I can assure you, there will be
an unwritten and fairly silent but brutal ramification within the naval
fighter community.
Cunningham was the top dog in VN..number 1....the bragging rights if you
will. Ritchie has always been merely the good natured runner up at any O
club bar on any naval fighter base since the Viet Nam War. You know fighter
pilots. It's all in fun and very friendly, but deadly serious at the same
time. This kind of reversal doesn't go down well at Squadron level.
Cunningham did it for the navy in VN, and they have been enjoying that and
engaging in friendly harassment with their AF counterparts ever since the
war.
Now Cunningham has handed these guys the ultimate wet towel and from what I
know of the fighter community, the navy fighter community will NEVER forgive
him, even if it's just for that last round at the bar the Air Force would
normally have paid for.
Cunningham is a classic example of a good man gone bad! I can't think of
anyone in my lifetime who had more going for him and ended up with less than
Randy.
Dudley Henriques