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BERNASCONI- Louis Henry Bernasconi , COL (USAF RET), 79, a resident of Albuquerque for thirty six years, died Saturday, May 29, 2010. He was born in Napa, California to Louis and Mary Regusci Bernasconi and was the nephew of the late Jim and Livia Regusci. He graduated from Napa High School in 1949 and from Fresno State College in 1953 with a degree in business administration. He joined the Air Force in 1955 and retired in 1980 with 27 years of service. During his Air Force career, he was a radar navigator flying B-36's, B-47's, C-123's and B-52's. He served three tours in Vietnam earning The Distinguish Flying Cross, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. On December 22, 1972, during his final tour in Vietnam, he was shot down over Hanoi, captured, and remained a prisoner until March 29, 1973. After completing Air War College, he was assigned to the Air Force Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, as director of the Laser Engineering and Applications for Prototype System (LEAPS) Division. Many of his colleagues felt he was the finest person they ever worked for and that he really took care of the people that worked for him. Louis is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sara; one daughter, Kathy Bernasconi of Fresno, CA; two sons, Michael Gist and wife Stephanie of Flower Mound, TX, and Mark Gist and wife Jill of Pritchard, ID; six grandchildren, Tawny DePiazza of Vallejo CA; Mathew and Charles Gist of Austin, TX; Mitchell Allen Gist of Flower Mound, TX; Mason Franklin Gist of Flower Mound, TX; Whitney Gist Parks of Pryor, OK, and Spencer Cheyenne Gist of Pryor, OK; one great-granddaughter; and two special cousins from Napa, CA.-Isabella Regusci-Simone and husband Amadore, and Angelo Regusci and his wife Mary. He was loved by many and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Lou was preceded in death by his father, his mother and stepfather, and his aunt and uncle. A Memorial Rosary will be held on Monday, June 21, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. at French Mortuary Wyoming Blvd. chapel with a Funeral Service at 10:30 a.m. with a former LEAPS colleague, Father Doug Mitchell, as the Celebrant. A final celebration honoring Lou will be held at the home of Margaret Putnam, 3141 June St. NE following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 8389, Albuquerque, N.M. 87198.
Vietnam War/Cease-Fire Campaign (1972-73)/Operation Linebacker II
From Month/Year
December / 1972
To Month/Year
December / 1972
Description Operation Linebacker II (18–29 December 1972) was a US Seventh Air Force and US Navy Task Force 77 aerial bombing campaign, conducted against targets in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) during the final period of US involvement in the Vietnam War. The operation was conducted from 18–29 December 1972, leading to several of informal names such as "The December Raids" and "The Christmas Bombings".
Unlike the Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Linebacker interdiction operations, Linebacker II, would be a "maximum effort" bombing campaign to "destroy major target complexes in the Hanoi and Haiphong areas which could only be accomplished by B-52s." It saw the largest heavy bomber strikes launched by the US Air Force since the end of World War II. Linebacker II was a modified extension of the Operation Linebacker bombings conducted from May to October, with the emphasis of the new campaign shifted to attacks by B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers rather than smaller tactical fighter aircraft.