| 词条 | Mel Vojvodich |
| 释义 |
|name= Mele Vojvodich |birth_date= {{Birth date|1929|03|28}} |death_date= {{Death date and age|2003|11|03|1929|02|28}} |birth_place=Steubenville, Ohio |death_place= Schertz, Texas |placeofburial=Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery |placeofburial_label= |image= |caption= |nickname= |allegiance=United States of America |branch={{air force|United States}} |serviceyears= 1947–1983 |rank= Major General |commands= |unit= |battles=Korean War Vietnam War |awards= Distinguished Service Cross |laterwork= }}Mele Vojvodich Jr. (March 28, 1929 – November 3, 2003) was an American aviator and major general in the United States Air Force. [1] He was one of the initial five pilots who flew reconnaissance missions in the Lockheed A-12 surveillance aircraft over North Vietnam for the CIA. [2] BiographyEarly lifeMele Vojvodich Jr. was born in Steubenville, Ohio, to Mele Vojvodic who was Serbian. He graduated from Wintersville High School in Wintersville, Ohio.[3] In June 1947, he joined the US Air Force. [1] Korean WarVojvodich earned his pilot wings in 1950 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He would see action in the Korean War flying the Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star and the North American F-86. Vojvodich flew a reconnaissance mission 300 miles into communist China to detect the presence of Soviet-made bombers. Vojvodich completed a total of 125 combat missions. [3] Career highlightsAfter returning from Korea, Vojvodich served as Republic F-84 pilot and aircraft commander in the early 1950s at Turner Air Force Base in Georgia. He completed Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama six years after earning his wings. CIA careerVojvodich volunteered and was selected to fly the Lockheed A-12 for the CIA. He was transferred out of the USAF and "sheep dipped" into the CIA to fly as Government service employee. He would later be reinstated in the USAF.[2] Later careerIn 1971 he completed studies at the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington DC. Vojvodich was promoted to major general on May 1, 1980. He accumulated 6,000 flying hours in his career and retired in March 1983.[3] DeathVojvodich died in Schertz, Texas from leukemia in his home on November 3, 2003.[3] Military awards
Distinguished Service Cross citationThe President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Air Force) to Captain Mele Vojvodich, Jr., United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Pilot with the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, FIFTH Air Force, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea on 3 January 1953. On that date Captain Vojvodich volunteered to fly an unarmed RF-86 type aircraft on an extremely hazardous mission of greatest importance to United Nations forces. Captain Vojvodich, exhibiting outstanding personal courage and skill, flew his unarmed aircraft deep into heavily defended enemy territory despite constant attacks from enemy aircraft. On his way to the target complex, he experienced a complete radio failure, and in addition, his drop tanks failed to jettison. Notwithstanding these obstacles, Captain Vojvodich, recognizing the vital importance of his assigned mission, elected to complete the photograph runs on his targets, exposing himself to firing passes from enemy aircraft. In order to insure complete coverage, Captain Vojvodich returned to re-photograph his first target, despite the presence of numerous enemy aircraft in the area. The intelligence data Captain Vojvodich obtained at great personal risk was of immeasurable value to subsequent United Nations operation in Korea. See also{{Portal|United States Air Force}}
References1. ^1 {{cite web|title=Veteran Tributes|url=http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=403|publisher=veterantributes.org}} 2. ^1 {{cite web|last=Robarge|first=David|title=Archangel: CIA's Supersonic A-12 Reconnaissance Aircraft - From Drawing Board to Factory Floor|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/a-12/from-the-drawing-board-to-factory-floor.html|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}} 3. ^1 2 3 4 {{cite web|title=Serbica Americana – Mele "Mel" Vojvodich|url=http://www.eserbia.org/people/military/125-mele-mel-vojvodich|publisher=2014 Serbica Americana}} Bibliography{{Refbegin}}
16 : 1929 births|2003 deaths|United States Air Force generals|American air force personnel of the Korean War|American air force personnel of the Vietnam War|American Korean War pilots|American Vietnam War pilots|American people of Serbian descent|Aviators from Ohio|Deaths from cancer in Texas|Deaths from leukemia|People from Steubenville, Ohio|Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Recipients of the Legion of Merit|People of the Central Intelligence Agency |
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