F-14 TomCat navigator’s name, aircraft in museum
James Cunningham and his Navy F-14 Tomcat.
York countians are known for earning their own piece of history seemingly everywhere.
Rick and Jeanne Cunningham e-mailed that observation recently with an example involving their own son, James:
The 26-year-old has manned the navigator’s seat in Navy F-14 Tomcats for three years.
The radar intercept officer, flying off the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, was part one of the last F-14 Tomcat missions before the Navy aircraft was retired… .
His last mission was a five-hour trip from the Persian Gulf over Baghdad to provide air support for a ground operation. The particular aircraft he was flying that day is being exhibited in the Pensacola Naval Air Museum as part of a permanent display honoring the F-14 Tomcat.
The name and call name of the pilot and navigator are painted on the side of the cockpit.
“It’s something James can show his children and grandchildren some day,” the proud father said.
York County indeed seems to constantly make claims on history.
