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Contact Info
Home Town Reading, Pennsylvania
Last Address San Antonio, Texas
Date of Passing Nov 13, 1998
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Tony Curto was born on April 3, 1923, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces on August 18, 1942, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program for pilot training in February 1943. Curto was appointed a Flight Officer and awarded his pilot wings on November 3, 1943, and was later commissioned a 2d Lt in the Army Air Forces on June 1, 1944. After completing B-26 Marauder combat crew training, he deployed to Italy with the 432nd Bomb Squadron of the 17th Bomb Group from January to September 1944, and then to various bases in France from September 1944 to June 1945. Lt Curto served on occupation duty in Europe after the war ended, and returned to the United States in September 1945, leaving active duty and entering the Army Reserve on December 12, 1945. He returned to active duty in the U.S. Army Air Forces on June 30, 1947, and served as an Air Inspector and Instructor Pilot before deploying to Japan in August 1950. Capt Curto served as a B-26 Invader pilot and as Deputy Commander of the 13th Bomb Squadron, as well as serving as Operations Officer of the 3rd Bomb Group, while flying combat missions in Korea from August 1950 to February 1952. His next assignment was as a B-29 Superfortress pilot and Executive Officer with the 7th Radar Calibration Squadron at Griffiss AFB, New York, from April to August 1952, followed by service as Commander of the 1st Radar Calibration Squadron at Griffiss AFB from August 1952 to March 1954. Maj Curto served as Commander of the 4713th Radar Evaluation Flight at Griffiss AFB from March 1954 to December 1956, and then as Operations Officer of the 420th Air Refueling Squadron at RAF Sculthorpe, England, from December 1956 to November 1958. His next assignment was as Atomic Operations Officer on the staff of Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Lindsey AS, West Germany, from November 1958 to December 1960, followed by Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, from January to July 1961. Col Curto served as an Operations Staff Officer with Headquarters U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon from July 1961 to June 1965, and then as Commander of the 6th Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field 9, Florida, from June to December 1965. He served as Deputy Commander for Operations of the 1st Air Commando Wing at England AFB, Louisiana, from December 1965 to March 1967, and during this time he deployed to Southeast Asia from April to May 1966, and from June to August 1966. Col Curto's next assignment was as Vice Commander of the 14th Air Commando Wing at Nha Trang AB, South Vietnam, from March 1967 to May 1968, and then as Group Commander for Air Force Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas, from May 1968 to June 1971. He served as Chief of Staff with the 1131st Special Activity Squadron in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 1971 to July 1973, and then as Deputy Commander for U.S. Military Assistance Command Thailand in Bagkok from July 1973 to January 1974. His final assignment was as Center Inspector General of the 3700th Air Base Group at Lackland AFB from January 1974 until his retirement from the Air Force on July 1, 1974. Tony Curto died on November 13, 1998, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Col Curto flew 76 combat missions during World War II, 69 combat missions in Korea, and 195 combat missions in Southeast Asia, for a total of 340 combat missions flown in 3 wars.
Description This period was from March 2, 1965-January 30, 1966.
On June 29. I966. the USAF bombed petroleum storage and distribution facilities for the first time in the immediate vicinity of Hanoi and Haiphong, after political leaders authorized limited and specific strikes within the buffer zones for these cities. Gen. William W. Momyer replaced General Moore as Seventh Air Force Commander on July l. The United States expanded the Rotuwo Tittmou campaign as of July 9 to include petroleum targets in the northeast and rail lines and highways between China and Hanoi. although the buffer zone on the border limited targets. American aircraft also flew armed reconnaissance over North Vietnam.
On July 30. 1966. the USAF bombed targets in the dernilitariaed zone (DMZ) to counter the build-up of North Vietnamese forces there. By September the U.S. air campaign against North Vietnam had destroyed or damaged two-thirds of the enemy's petroleum storage capacity. several thousand trucks and watercraft. hundreds of rail cars and bridges. and numerous ammunition and supply storage areas. Beginning on February 14. I967. USAF aircraft hit additional strategic targets in North Vietnam, knocking out major power plants. and railyard repair facilities. But these results had little effect on the enemy's ability to carry on the war. because the country possessed only a small industrial base and imported most of its military materiel. In the face of extensive air attacks. North Vietnam further strengthened it's air defenses. By January 1967, the United States had lost 45 aircraft within 2 years. Anti-aircraft guns and SAMs accounted for most of the losses. but MiGs continued to challenge U.S. air strikes.
On January 2 the Seventh Air Force enticed a large MiG-2| force over North Vietnam into battle against F-4s. The USAF pilots destroyed 7 MiGs within 12 minutes without a loss. Four days later. On January 6. the Seventh destroyed 2 more MiGs. and the North Vietnamese temporarily abandoned aerial combat to regroup and retrain. In South Vietnam Allied forces continued search and destroy operations. blunting new Viet Cong and North Vietnamese offensives. Between July 14 and August 4, 1966. U.S. Marines and South Vietnamese troops battled North Vietnam Army forces near Quang Tri. 20 miles south of the DMZ. Later. between October I5 and November 26. the Allies engaged in a major battle with Viet Cong and NVA forces northwest of Tay Ninh. near the Cambodian border. 60 miles northwest of Saigon. Enemy resistance was light at first. but on November 4. as ARVN and U.S. troops approached storage areas, the Viet Cong and NVA counterattaclted. The Allies responded by airlifting more troops. including elements of the U.S. Army’s 1st. 4th, and 25th Infantry Divisions. and the l73rd Airborne Brigade. The USAF provided close air suppon. and between November 8 and 25. B-52s bombed targets in the area. The Allies drove the enemy from the region temporarily. seizing weapons. ammunition. food. and other supplies that the Communist forces left behind.
The next year. between Febmary and May I967, U.S. Army units joined ARVN forces to retum to Tay Ninh Province, about $0 miles north of Saigon and 15 miles northeast of Tay Ninh. Seventh Air Force C-l30s drtmped American paratroopers near the Cambodian border to cut off the Viet Cong retreat. The airlifters also flew reinforcements and supplies to the ground troops during this operation. With the help of forward air controllers flying O-1s. Air Force F-I00 and F-4 pilots provided close air support. and AC-47 gunship crews illuminated targets and conducted air strikes at night. Again, the enemy withdrew into Cambodia. leaving behind weapons. supplies. and ammunition.
In the panhandle of Laos, the USAF pounded enemy forces on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. while in northem Laos U.S. pilots supported Allied forces under attack. By August 1966 Laotian troops fighting Pathet Lao insurgents had advanced. with the aid of U.S. close air support. to Nam Bac. only 45 miles west of the North Vietnamese border and about 55 miles northeast of Luang Prabang. an ancient city on the Mekong River some 130 miles north of Vientiane. The Laotian gains were short lived, however, and by February 2. I967. the insurgents had regained lost territory and were in a position to attack the airfield at Luang Prabang.
