Jump to content

Mel Vojvodich: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Specified categories
 
(4 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|United States Air Force general}}
⚫
{{Refimprove|date=September 2014}}

⚫
{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name= Mele Vojvodich
|name= Mele Vojvodich
Line 22: Line 24:
}}
}}


'''Mele Vojvodich Jr.''' (March 28, 1929 – November 3, 2003) was an [[Americans|American]] [[aviator]] and [[Major general (United States)|major general]] in the [[United States Air Force]]. <ref name="tribute">{{cite web|title=Veteran Tributes|url=http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=403|publisher=veterantributes.org}}</ref> He was one of the initial five pilots who flew [[reconnaissance]] missions in the [[Lockheed A-12]] [[surveillance aircraft]] over [[North Vietnam]] for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. <ref name="robarge1">{{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}}</ref>
'''Mele Vojvodich Jr.''' (March 28, 1929 – November 3, 2003) was an [[Americans|American]] [[aviator]] and [[Major general (United States)|major general]] in the [[United States Air Force]].<ref name="tribute">{{cite web|title=Veteran Tributes|url=http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=403|publisher=veterantributes.org}}</ref> He was one of the initial five pilots who flew [[reconnaissance]] missions in the [[Lockheed A-12]] [[surveillance aircraft]] over [[North Vietnam]] for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].<ref name="robarge1">{{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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009211707/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|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2007|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==


===Early life===
===Early life===
Mele Vojvodich Jr. was born in [[Steubenville, Ohio]], to Mele Vojvodic who was [[Serbs|Serbian]]. He graduated from Wintersville High School in [[Wintersville, Ohio]].<ref name="eserbia1">{{cite web|title=Serbica Americana – Mele "Mel" Vojvodich|url=http://www.eserbia.org/people/military/125-mele-mel-vojvodich|publisher=2014 Serbica Americana}}</ref> In June 1947, he joined the US Air Force. <ref name="tribute"/>
Mele Vojvodich Jr. was born in [[Steubenville, Ohio]], to Mele Vojvodic who was [[Serbs|Serbian]]. He graduated from Wintersville High School in [[Wintersville, Ohio]].<ref name="eserbia1">{{cite web|title=Serbica Americana – Mele "Mel" Vojvodich|url=http://www.eserbia.org/people/military/125-mele-mel-vojvodich|publisher=2014 Serbica Americana}}</ref> In June 1947, he joined the US Air Force.<ref name="tribute"/>


===Korean War===
===Korean War===
Vojvodich earned his [[Aviator badge|pilot wings]] in 1950 at [[Nellis Air Force Base]] in [[Nevada]].
Vojvodich earned his [[Aviator badge|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 Union|Soviet]]-made bombers. Vojvodich completed a total of 125 combat missions. <ref name="eserbia1"/>
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 Union|Soviet]]-made bombers. Vojvodich completed a total of 125 combat missions.<ref name="eserbia1"/>


===Career highlights===
===Career highlights===
After returning from Korea, Vojvodich served as [[Republic F-84]] pilot and [[aircraft commander]] in the early 1950s at [[Turner Air Force Base]] in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. He completed [[Squadron Officer School]] at [[Maxwell Air Force Base]] in [[Alabama]] six years after earning his wings.
After returning from Korea, Vojvodich served as [[Republic F-84]] pilot and [[aircraft commander]] in the early 1950s at [[Turner Air Force Base]] in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. He completed [[Squadron Officer School]] at [[Maxwell Air Force Base]] in [[Alabama]] six years after earning his wings.


===CIA career===
===CIA career===
Line 40: Line 42:


===Later career===
===Later career===
In 1971 he completed studies at the [[National War College]] at [[Fort Lesley J. McNair]] in [[Washington DC]].
In 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.<ref name="eserbia1"/>
Vojvodich was promoted to major general on May 1, 1980. He accumulated 6,000 flying hours in his career and retired in March 1983.<ref name="eserbia1"/>
Line 83: Line 85:
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Air Force generals]]
[[Category:United States Air Force generals]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:American Korean War pilots]]
[[Category:American Korean War pilots]]
Line 89: Line 90:
[[Category:American people of Serbian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Serbian descent]]
[[Category:Aviators from Ohio]]
[[Category:Aviators from Ohio]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Texas]]
[[Category:Deaths from leukemia in Texas]]
[[Category:Deaths from leukemia]]
[[Category:People from Steubenville, Ohio]]
[[Category:People from Steubenville, Ohio]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Ohio]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Ohio]]
Line 96: Line 96:
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:People of the Central Intelligence Agency]]
[[Category:CIA personnel of the Vietnam War]]

Latest revision as of 00:47, 23 January 2024

Mele Vojvodich
Born(1929-03-28)March 28, 1929
Steubenville, Ohio
DiedNovember 3, 2003(2003-11-03) (aged 74)
Schertz, Texas
Buried
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1947–1983
Rank Major General
Battles/warsKorean War
Vietnam War
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross

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]

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Mele 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 War

[edit]

Vojvodich 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 highlights

[edit]

After 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 career

[edit]

Vojvodich 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 career

[edit]

In 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]

Death

[edit]

Vojvodich died in Schertz, Texas from leukemia in his home on November 3, 2003.[3]

Military awards

[edit]

Distinguished Service Cross citation

[edit]

The 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. General Orders: Headquarters, Far East Air Forces: General Orders No. 216 (May 2, 1953)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Veteran Tributes". veterantributes.org.
  2. ^ a b Robarge, David. "Archangel: CIA's Supersonic A-12 Reconnaissance Aircraft - From Drawing Board to Factory Floor". Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Serbica Americana – Mele "Mel" Vojvodich". 2014 Serbica Americana.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Robarge, David Archangel: CIA's Supersonic A-12 Reconnaissance Aircraft – From Drawing Board to Factory Floor Central Intelligence Agency
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mel_Vojvodich&oldid=1198106249"