Edward Francis Cunningham

    Edward Francis (Ted) Cunningham, 94, passed away on February 19, 2026. He was born in Worchester, Massachusetts on May 25, 1931, and shortly afterward his family moved to Rhode Island. He was always proud to be the oldest of 7 boys. At age 6, Ted watched Navy aircraft flying to and from Quonset Point NAS, RI and determined at that time to become a Navy Carrier Pilot.

    Ted married his high school sweetheart Pat and then his adventures began. He enlisted in the Navy and became an Aircraft Engine Mechanic. Shortly after-in 1951-he was selected for Flight Training in Pensacola, FL. By 1953 he earned his Wings of Gold. Ted was later in Fighter Squadron 73, VF-73 in a supersonic Cougar F9F-6 back in Quonset Point, just a few miles away from his home.

    In 1955, he was in the Mediterranean Sea aboard the straight-deck USS Midway, CVA-41 followed by a 10-month cruise aboard the USS Hornet, CVA-12 in the Pacific Fleet and in active combat flights over Korea.

    He reported back to Pensacola in 1956 where he enjoyed instructing young flight students in the art of air-to-air gunnery with carrier landing qualifications. Following a short school tour in Monterey, CA, he reported to NAS Whidbey Island, WA for training in the A30 Skywarrior. While flying from the USS Bon Homme Richard, CVA-31, his plane experienced a simultaneous dead-engine flameout. He put the crew on stand-by to bail out after 2 attempts to relight had failed. While pulling out the escape chute door handle, the cables broke, and they had to resort to the only other exit-the upper ditching hatch. Quickly, all crew exited and escaped without injury. Any hesitation among the crew would have resulted in a certain peril for Pilot Cuningham.

    While Ted was on this Excellent Adventure, he and Pat welcomed 3 wonderful children; Mary, Gary and Douglas.

    March of 1962 found Ted stationed at NAS Atsugi, Japan where he flew 308 mostly classified missions which involved combat, operation and reconnaissance. He earned 2 Distinguished Flying Cross Medals (DFC) for carrier operations in Vietnam.

    After his VO-1 Tour, Ted spent 6 months in Norfolk, VA, attending Joint Staff School followed by 2 years at Offutt AFB in Omaha, NE where he worked with USAF/SAC preparing warfare strategies. In 1968, Ted reported aboard the USS Independence, CVA-62, out of Norfolk, VA as Combat Information Officer, CICO.

    Ted's final military assignment was as Commander at the Fleet Transport Squadron, VR-1, flying the C-118, T39 and C9B.

    Ted retired on October 1, 1977. On that same day, Ted reported to the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, CA as a Test and Training Pilot where he operated the DC-9 and DC-10. He found himself on the beautiful island nation of Singapore where it felt like 15 months of paid vacation.

    On 1 November 1979, Ted flew the inaugural flight for Midway Airlines out of Midway Airport, Chicago, IL. He enjoyed many fine times and made many friends until he was aged out at 60 years old due to FAA regulations. Also at this time, he met and married Rose, who had 2 young daughters Jamie and Katie.

    In 2007, back in Rhode Island where he first watched Naval Aircraft fly, CDR Edward Francis (Ted) Cunningham was inducted into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame. Along with the 2 DFCs, Ted earned 4 Navy Air Medallions (NAM) and 2 Unit Citations with Combat V devices while in the Military. Ted also earned an FAA Safety Plaque for 50 years of accident-free flying. His aviation career totaled over 20,000 flight hours.

    In addition to his 3 children, Ted leaves behind 3 grandchildren Chelsea, Max (and his wife Chelsea), Kristin and his first great, a granddaughter, Reese, who all referred to him as Papa. He will also be missed by his many nieces and 2 nephews.

    Ted loved his family and had many friends. He was always ready for fun with a smile, a joke, and maybe a cocktail or two. He loved many things including airplanes, old cars, the Navy, the color green, the Game Show Channel and Manhattans cocktails too. But more than anything, he loved to fly.

    His pavilion service will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 1100 hours at Barrancas National Cemetery at NAS Pensacola.

    In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd, Suite B, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL 32508