I received this great personal donation to the collection from Col. Craig W. Duehring. He has an impressive Air Force career.
Craig Duehring graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 1967. After college, he joined the United States Air Force. He spent 1968-69 completing undergraduate pilot training at Craig Air Force Base. Duehring saw service during the Vietnam War in 1969–70, as a forward air controller with the 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron. He participated in over 800 combat missions, flying the Cessna O-1 and AT-28 over Vietnam and Laos.
Craig Duehring was awarded the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses,27 Air Medals and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
In 1970–71, he was a Raven Forward Air Controller based at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base. He wrote a great book “The Liar of Raven” ,a must read, about the life as a Raven FAC, the missions and men who flew them.
He then returned to Craig Air Force Base 1971–75, as a Cessna T-37 Tweet instructor pilot with the 43d Flying Training Squadron. He also earned a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Troy State University in 1975.
From 1975 to 1978, he was base fuels management officer with the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base. He was posted at RAF Bentwaters from 1978 to 1981, serving as Chief of Training of the 81st Training Wing. From 1981 to 1984, he was action officer of the Tactical Fighter Operations Division at the Headquarters of the United States Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base in West Germany. He returned to RAF Bentwaters in 1984, first as assistant operations officer of the 510th Fighter Squadron, then as Director of Operations Training for the 81st Training Wing. During his time in Europe, he recorded over 1200 flight hours in the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
He returned to West Germany in 1986, and was stationed at Nörvenich Air Base as American Community Commander and Commander of the 7502nd Munitions Support Squadron. In 1987, he received the Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award. He was then Assistant Deputy Commander of Operations of the 406th Tactical Fighter Training Wing at Zaragoza Air Base from 1989–90, and Deputy Commander of Operations from 1990–91. He then spent 1992-93 studying at the Foreign Service Institute in Washington, D.C. From 1993 to 1995, he was United States Air Attaché to Indonesia. Duehring retired from the Air Force in 1996, having attained the rank of colonel.
Craig thank you so much for this fantastic personal donation. All patches will be displayed with full honors and respect in the USAF Collection. I hope we get to meet in person someday soon.
