Military Biography of Paul E. Duplessis, USAF Colonel (retired)

He then completed the airborne Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) Course at Keesler AFB as a distinguished graduate and received his 2nd Lieutenant commission in 1/1954 with the aeronautical rating of Aircraft Observer (ECM).

Tactical Air Command, 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS), 363rd Tactical Recon Wing (TRW)

On 10/1956, he was reassigned to the 9th TRS at Shaw AFB, SC flying in the RB-66C electronic warfare aircraft. During his ten years at Shaw AFB, he had a number of jobs ranging from combat crew member, senior instructor in the 9th TRS, and Chief Stan/Eval EWO for the 363rd TRW for 5 years.

Some of his most memorable EB-66 experiences include:
• 1957 to 1965: Training and evaluating electronic warfare officers (EWO) who came to the 363rd TRW for assignments as crew members in TAC, USAFE or PACAF.
• 1958: Going TDY to Izmir, Turkey as the 363rd TRW Representative to participate in planning EW operations for TAC's Composite Air Strike Force (CSAF) in response to upheavals in Iraq and Lebanon.
• 1959: Participated in electronic warfare evaluation tests, known as WEXVAL, conducted by the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA), to compete with SAC B-29s and RB-47s for scarce DoD EW funds.
• 1960: Participated in "Big Blast" missions to train Air Defense Command (ADC) students at Tyndall AFB, FL.
• Spring 1962: Was on one of two EB-66C crews sent on a 60-day TDY to RAF Chelveston, England to participate in "Swamp Fox" exercises flying electronic reconnaissance missions along the East German, Czechoslovakian and Polish borders.
• October 1962: Was on one of two combat crews that flew electronic reconnaissance missions completely around Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis to detect and report on Soviet radars in Cuba.
• November 1962: Was presented a plaque by Douglas Aircraft Corp, commemorating his completion of 1,000 hours in the RB/B-66.
• 1961-1964: Was assigned additional duty as Chief of the 363rd TRW EWO Standardization/Evaluation section as senior flight examiner. His responsibilities involved: conducting RB-66C ground/emergecy tests and flight evaluations of 48 EWOs assigned to the Tactical Air Command. He was assisted by Arnold "Buck" Wade.
• June 1965: Graduated from the University of Omaha in Nebraska with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and returned to Shaw AFB.

In June 1965, he departed Shaw AFB on a "90-day TDY" to Takhli Royal Thai AFB (RTAFB), Thailand as the 9th TRS Senior EWO and combat crew member. Lt Col Willard Mattson was Squadron Commander and Major Robert Long was Operations Officer. During Operation Rolling Thunder. The squadron's mission was to provide electronic warfare support against SAMs, MIGs and radar controlled anti-aircraft guns to fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft flying over North Vietnam.

On 1 Oct 1965, the 9th TRS aircraft and crews at Takhli were reassigned to the 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS).
Lt Col Allen Webb was the Squadron Commander; Major Robert Long, Operations Officer; Major Jim Dawley, Staff EWO; and Col Edward Taylor, Commander of the 460th Tac Recon Wing, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand.

After completing 90 days TDY, Captain Duplessis voluntarily changed his assignment status to PCS. In addition to his duties as 41st TEWS Special Assistant for EW Operations and senior EWO instructor for the squadron, Captain Duplessis:
• Was the chief EWO (Raven 4) on a his assigned EB-66C crew supervising three other EWOs flying into the most sophisticated defense system the United States has ever flown against.
• Served as the EW Representative on the 2nd Air Division (AD) Theater Indoctrination Team that briefed newly deployed fighter squadrons in Thailand.
• Presented two papers at the 1966 PACOM Electronic Warfare/ELINT Conference held in Manila, PI.
• Was selected by the 2nd AD DCS/I to represent 2nd AD at the USAF ECM Consumables Conference held at Warner Robins AFB, Georgia in 1966.

Between July 1965 and March 1966 (7.5 months), Captain Duplessis completed 100 combat missions over North Vietnam in support of the Operation Rolling Thunder. In mid-March 1966, he flew his 100th combat mission over North Vietnam with a total of 1,735 hours in the RB/EB-66B/C/D aircraft and immediately returned to Shaw AFB. Ironically, on the same day that he flew his 100th mission in the morning, in the afternoon, the first EB-66C was hit by SA-2 shrapnel and crashed in Tonkin Gulf. The afternoon mission had flown the identical ECM mission & course as the morning mission. All crew-members, but two EWOs were rescued safely from the water.

Shortly after returning to Shaw AFB, he requested reassignment to Headquarters USAFE, Wiesbaden, Germany and was Chief of the Electronic Reconnaissance Branch, DCS/ Intelligence. Concurrent with the completion of his tour in Germany, the Colonel received an MBA degree with the University of Utah and completed his flying career with 3,103 hours total flying time (1,790 in jet aircraft) and the aeronautical rating of Master Aircraft Observer.

On Jan. 1, 1981, Col. Duplessis retired after 28-1/2 years in the Air Force with The Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, ARMY Good Conduct Medal, AF Longevity Medal with Six Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with One Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars, AF Outstanding Unit Award, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Cold War Recognition Certificate.

In October 2001, he was awarded the Badge of Honor (BOH) Medal by the Ministry of National Defense, Republic of China, for services rendered as Deputy Chief of the National Security Agency Representative Office at Camp Zama, Japan from September 1974 to September 1977.

He founded and was President & CEO of CyberLink Communications, an e-marketing consulting firm that taught small business owners how retire early using their home computers to earn multiple residual incomes.

He was and still is married to the former Bettie Wadford of Sumter, SC. They have two grown children, Renee and Tony, and three grand children. Two are living in Loudoun County in Northern Virginia and one in Maryland.

Officer Effectiveness Report (OER) Extracts
Period of reports: 8 June 1965 to 6 March 1966

FACTS AND SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS:

"Captain Duplessis has performed as Staff EWO for this unit throughout this reporting period. He has also been the Chief EWO of a combat aircrew, supervising three other officers performing under combat conditions."

"He frequently was responsible for coordinating the electronic order of battle involving several aircraft. His subsequent control of their activities through radio contact in the target area provided countermeasures of maximum effectiveness."

"In-flight he performed highly specialized reconnaissance and jamming activities while exposed to possible attack from hostile surface-to-air missiles, radar controlled AAA and enemy airborne interceptors. Since arrival in Southeast Asia, he has flown 100 combat sorties into North Vietnam and completed a hundred mission combat tour in Southeast Asia."

"He was recommended for two Air Medals and one Distinguished Flying Cross for accomplishments over missile defended areas. His outstanding conduct of the crew effort contributed directly towards minimizing the loss rate of aircraft on strike missions."

"In addition to his normal flying duties, Capt Duplessis served as Special Assistant for Electronic Warfare Activities. He represented the 41st TRS at the January 1966 PACOM Electronic Warfare/ELINT Conference where he presented two papers on ECM capabilities and tactics. He was given special praise for his presentation by the Senior CINCPAC Representative."

"Captain Duplessis has been a moving force behind the EB-66-C modification program, proposing recommendations based upon his extensive field experience in Southeast Asia (SEA) and his many flying hours in the RB-66C aircraft. He was the primary Electronic Warfare Representative on the 2nd Air Division (AD) Theater Indoctrination Team."

"He prepared and presented special electronic warfare briefings, detailing the 41st TRS operations for VIPs, inspections teams and newly assigned squadron personnel. Capt Duplessis directed EWO training, supervising the preparation of SOPs to standardize this function within the unit."

Captain Duplessis' vast technical knowledge and innovating character has been responsible for the initiation of many recommendations which will improve electronic warfare capabilities of EB-66 aircraft. Five of these suggestions were researched and submitted by him in the form of Qualitative Operational Requirements."

"In view of the above traits and activities, he was designated as the 2 AD representative to the USAF ECM Consumables Conference held at Warner Robins AFB, Georgia. His selection was made by the Director of Intelligence, 2 AD."

"As the unit Staff EWO, he supervised the professional activities of 28 assigned EWOs, prepared and published EOB briefing and debriefing guides and established a manual of operations to standardize our mission procedures (sic., which was incorporated into the official PACAF "EB-66 TACTICS Manual"). The effectiveness of this squadron under combat conditions has been complimented by the Secretary of Defense and Captain Duplessis made an outstanding contribution to this commendation."

STRENGTHS:
"His perception of mission objectives, analytical resolution of problems, and sense of urgency to get the job done are outstanding in all respects. Capt Duplessis' character and dedication to duty are exemplary traits which have been inspirational to all his associates."

"Capt Duplessis is an outstanding authority on Tactical Electronic Warfare applications in SEA. He expresses his opinions lucidly and with conviction."

The FBI has named Identity-Theft as
the fastest growing crime in America.
For only $10 per month, LifeLock’s proactive,
industry-leading identity theft protection
gives people real security and peace of Mind.
Backed by a $1 million service guarantee.
Get 10% DISCOUNT

Return to Home Page