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Col. Louis Henry Bernasconi was born on 21 May 1931 in Napa, Napa, California, United States to Louis Henry Bernasconi and Mary Regusci. [1] [2] [3]
Lou graduated from Napa High School, Napa, California in 1949. He went to Napa College in Napa, California, played football and was the college student body president. He then graduated from Fresno State College, Fresno, Fresno, California in 1953 with a Bachelor's degree in business administration. He was in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program there and was commissioned on 8 June 1954. [4]
He attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, in Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama from August 1965 to June 1966.[5][6]
After his release from incarceration, he attended Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama from August 1973 to May 1974.[7]
He married twice.
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He went on active duty 7 January 1955 and attended Pilot Training at Marana Air Force Base, Marana, Pima, Arizona from January to April 1955. From there he went to Aircraft Observer Training at James Connally Air Force Base, Waco, McLennan, Texas and graduated in May 1956.[12]
Lou went to Mather Air Force Base, Sacramento County, California to undergo Navigator Strategic Bomber Training from which he graduated in September 1956. He became a B-36 Peacemaker Navigator-Bombardier with the 334th Bomb Squadron at Biggs Air Force Base in El Paso, El Paso, Texas from October 1956 to April 1959.
From April 1959 to June 1962 he was assigned as a B-52 Stratofortress Navigator-Bombardier and Radar-Navigator with the 301st Bomb Squadron at Eglin Air Force near Valparaiso, Okaloosa, Florida.[13]
In June 1962 he went to Ramey Air Force Base, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to join the 60th Bomb Squadron as a B-52 Radar-Navigator. Then Major Bernasconi left there in July 1965 to attend Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama.
From July 1966 to September 1970 he was at the Air Force Special Weapons Command Center at Kirkland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico.
From September 1970 to September 1971, Colonel Bernasconi served as a C-123 Provider Navigator with the 315th Tactical Airlift Wing and the 311th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam. He went back to the states in October 1971 to serve as a B-52 Radar-Navigator with the 20th Bomb Squadron at Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas. He deployed to Southeast Asia twice with the 20th Bomb Squadron. Once from April 1972 to October 1972 and the second in December 1972.[14]
Prisoner of War from 22 December 1972 to 29 March 1973. [15] [16] [17]
While on temporary duty in Southeast Asia, flying in what has been called the Linebacker, on the 4th day of an 11 day intense bombing operation, in a B-52D flown by Lieutenant Colonel John H. Yuill that had a crew of five men and acting as Radar Navigator, he was forced to eject over Hanoi, North Vietnam on 22 December 1972. The entire crew was captured. The names of the other five crew members were Lieutenant Colonel John H. Quill, Captain David L. Drummond, Lieutenant William T. Mayall, Lieutenant Colonel William W. Conlee and Staff Sergeant Gary L. Morgan. All were released during Operation Homecoming.
He was captured on 22 December 1972, the same day he ejected. His B-52D bomber Blue 01 had been hit during a raid over North Vietnam. At first his family was notified that he was missing, but within hours the North Vietnamese paraded he and his fellow crewmen in Hanoi, North Vietnam for publicity.
Lou was released on 29 March 1973 in Operation Homecoming. He was hospitalized briefly at Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, Travis, California and then attended War College.
After his return from North Vietnam, his last assignment was at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico as director of the Laser Engineering and Applications for Prototype System (LEAPS) at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory until July 1980. He had served three tours in Vietnam.
The full ribbon bar is available here.
He retired from the United States Air Force on 1 July 1980.[18]
Colonel Bernasconi died on 29 May 2010 in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States. He was buried at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Plot: Section 8, Site 179. Find A Grave: Memorial #72874542 [19]
Darlene Scott Kerr created Bernasconi-14 profile on 5 October 2015, added bio and sources. Part of personal Vietnam POW project. Not a family member of mine. If a family member wishes to take this over and has more information, please let me know.
B > Bernasconi > Louis Henry Bernasconi Jr.
Categories: 4th Allied P.O.W. Wing | Wounded in Action, United States of America, Vietnam War | United States Air Force, Vietnam War | Hỏa Lò Prison | Aviators | Legion of Merit | Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) | Bronze Star Medal | Purple Heart | Air Medal | Napa, California | Napa County, California | Fresno State College | Fresno, California | Fresno County, California | Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico | Prisoners of War, United States of America, Vietnam War