Richard F. Pruneda

Born and raised in Union City, Ca. Graduated from James Logan High School in 1971. I joined the Air Force in October 1971. Completed basic training and continued to Basic helicopter school at Sheppard AFB Texas. In March 1972 my first PCS move was to Hill AFB and assigned to 1550th Air Training Wing and work on HH-43B as a mechanic and obtained a 7-Level.
 
In May 1974 received orders to 40th Air Rescue Group Det. 9 in South East Asia, NKP (Nakhon Phanom alias name: Little Fanny) RTAB, Thailand for back-up rescue support and for drop-off of elite forces into (Laos/Cambodia) for Vietnam closure. Besides maintaining HH-43F helicopters I was also assign to assist in maintenance and also as crew chief on HH-53C (Heavy lift) during the last 5 months assign at NKP (due to no maintenance personal not being replaced from stateside). Also assisted in deactivation of two HH-43F at Det. 3 Ubon RTAB, Thailand.