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First Name
Wendell
Middle Name
R.
Last Name
Alcorn
Birthdate
Hometown
Kittanning, PA
Rank
Lieutenant Commander
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Ray Alcorn graduated from Penn State University in 1961 and entered Naval Aviation Pre-Flight School in November 1961, receiving his commission on March 16, 1962. Alcorn was designated a Naval Aviator on June 14, 1963, and then attended the Naval Justice School from July to September 1963. He then joined Attack Squadron 36 at NAS Cecil Field, Florida, where he flew the A-4 Skyhawk. He completed a Mediterranean Cruise aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60) shortly before joining Air Group 9 aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) for a West Pac cruise. Lieutenant Alcorn began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia in early December 1965, and he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and taken as a Prisoner of War while flying his 29th combat mission on December 22, 1965.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Lieutenant Commander Alcorn was released during “Operation Homecoming “ on February 12, 1973. Lieutenant Commander Alcorn served as an instructor pilot with VA-174 at NAS Cecil Field from January 1974 to May 1975, and then served as Operations Officer for VA-83, also at Cecil Field, from June 1975 to July 1976. Alcorn served as the Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of VT-25 at NAS Chase Field, Texas, from August 1976 to 1978. He was head of the Tactical Air Training Branch on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare from July 1982 to May 1985, and then served as Chief of Staff for the Chief of Naval Air Training at Corpus Christi, Texas, from May 1985 to July 1987. Alcorn served as Commanding Officer of NAS Fallon, Nevada, from August 1987 to July 1989. His final assignment was as Dean of Students at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he served from June 1990 until his retirement from the Navy on June 30, 1992. After retiring from the Navy, Ray worked for Squaw Valley Ski Corporation, he managed the Truckee California Airshow, and he served as Commissioner for Veterans Affairs for the State of Nevada. Ray Alcorn died on March 12, 2020 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Silver Star (2)
- Purple Heart
- Navy Air Medal
- Bronze Star (3)
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release