Mini-Bio

PAUL E. DUPLESSIS, USAF, COL (ret), was born in Manchester, NH April 7, 1933.
Upon graduation from Manchester High School (West) in June 1952, he enlisted in the Air Force as an Airman Basic. In 1953, after completing 60-day basic training at Sampson AFB, NY and Airman's Radar Fundamentals Course at Keesler AFB, MS, he entered Aviation Cadet Training and completed primary training at Harlingen AFB, Texas. He then completed the airborne Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) Course at Keesler AFB as a distinguished graduate and received his 2nd Lieutenant commission in January 1954, at the age of 21, with the aeronautical rating of Aircraft Observer - Electronic Counter Measures (ECM).

Retired in Dec 1980 at the rank of Colonel. for more details.

Nov 1954, immediately after completing flight training as an Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) officer at Keesler AFB, MS.
I was immediately assigned to HQ USAFSS in San Antonio for 2 months indoctrination and reassigned the 1st RSM, later designated 692lst Radio Squadron Mobile (RSM) Misawa AB, Honshu, Japan as ELINT officer. During my stay at Misawa, I flew the minimum required 4 hours/mo in a variety of aircraft such as: C-47, C-119,
L-20 and B-26C. The most productive missions were flying B-26 photo recon of foreign national ships that passed through the Tsugaru Strait (between Honshu and Hokkaido island ) in support of a US Navy mission. Occasionally the pilot I flew with was Major Bill Madole, C.O. of the 6921st RSM. My additional duties included: military pay officer, courier officer and security violation investigative officer in support of 2 remote USAFSS sites (Det 1 and Det 3) on Hokkaido, Japan.

Aug 55-Oct 55, I was reassigned as Commander, Det 4, 6921st RSM, a 15-man test team at Henashi Saki, at a remote location on the north-west coast of Honshu, Japan. In Oct 1955 the site was closed because a Misawa AB Hospital inspection of the troop housing accommodations (a Butler Hut) were deemed unhabitable during severe winter weather. As you see by the photos, the site was quite primitive and had little to offer the personnel there. See photos...

Nov 55, I was reassigned to Det 2, 6921st RSM at Wakkanai Air Station on the most northern tip of Hokkaido, Japan. My primary duty was ELINT Officer. During my short tour at Det 2, I was given numerous additional duties, including: Det 2 Supply Officer, Motor Pool Officer, Alternate Crypto Custodian, Fire Marshal, Ground Power Officer, Ground Defense Officer, Alternate Custodian of Registered Documents, Alternate Top Secret Control Officer for Top Secret COMSEC Materials, and miscellaneous other duties as assigned. I returned pre-maturedly to the United States on Emergency Leave to attend my father's funeral. See photos...