Bruce Mennella served in the U.S. Navy with Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) during the Vietnam War. He later operated a car dealership in Burien, Washington.
Bruce Edward Mennella was born on September 16, 1946 in New York City to Vincent and Madeline Mennella. His father had been a pilot in World War II, flying transport airplanes from Sand Point Naval Air Station. After the war, Vincent obtained a college degree under the GI Bill. In mid-1947, he and his family moved to Seattle, Washington, where he worked for NCM, a cash register company. In the mid-1950s, Vincent opened a Ford dealership in Burien, Washington. He also remained an active pilot in the Navy Reserves.
Mennella attended school in Burien, Washington, graduating from Highline High school in 1964. He attended the University of Washington’s School of Business. He planned on joining his family’s car business after graduation; however, the onset of the Vietnam War altered his post-graduation plans. As a sophomore, he went to a Navy recruiter and worked out a deal to enter the military after graduation. He passed the aviation written exam in order to become a pilot, but due to his eyesight, he did not pass the medical exam. Instead, he went into Air Intelligence. Graduating in June 1968, he reported to Aviation Office Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. From there, he went to Air Intelligence School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. While in Denver, he re-connected with Louise A. Vacca, a woman he had dated occasionally in high school who was now a flight attendant with United Airlines. They were married in 1969.
Once he had completed his training, Mennella was assigned to NAS Miramar in San Diego, California, arriving there in November 1969. VF-114 flew McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II aircraft and was reformatting after a WESTPAC cruise. He spent the next 11 months training, including flying in the back seat of VF-114 airplanes whenever possible. The USS Kitty Hawk, associated with the squadron, was at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington for refurbishing at that time.
Mennella’s first cruise was from November 1970 to July 1971 on the USS Kitty Hawk. Operating in the middle of a bombing halt and in the southern area off the coast of Vietnam, the cruise did not see a great deal of activity. Mennella worked in the Integrated Operations Information Center (IOIC), briefing and debriefing pilots on their targets. Briefings included weather conditions, rules of engagement, tanking procedures, emergency procedures, and an overview of the area of operations. In his off time, he traveled in Sasebo, Japan; Hong Kong; and Subic Bay, Philippines, where his wife was able to visit him.
Mennella’s second cruise, also on the USS Kitty Hawk, began in February 1972. This time, the carrier operated off the north coast of Vietnam and included missions going into Hanoi. Each Alpha strike took 35 to 40 airplanes in a three-operations-per-day cycle. Briefings were longer and more complex due to the area of operations. About five months into the tour, Mennella’s wife had their first child. Since Mennella’s replacement was on board, Mennella was sent home. He left the Navy in October 1972. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for his first cruise and earned the Navy Commendation Medal on his second cruise.
Back in Seattle, Mennella went to work for his father’s Ford dealership. He assumed the role of general manager in 1980 and five years later bought the business. He added Isuzu and Subaru franchises shortly after. His success brought him on to the Ford National Dealer Council, where he served for two years. After that, he was elected chairman of the Northwest Ford Dealers Advertising Group covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.
Mennella and his wife ultimately had three children and seven grandchildren. As of 2020, they were still living in the Seattle area.
Biographical information derived from interview and additional information provided by interviewee.
Vietnam War veteran Paul S. Bloch is interviewed about his military service with the United States Navy. He discusses his experiences as a CIC (combat information center) officer and as a bombardier/navigator for the Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft. Topics discussed include his combat cruises during the Vietnam War; his assignments with Attack Squadrons 52 (VA-52), 115 (VA-115), 128 (VA-128), and 165 (VA-165); and his experiences with various ordnance. He also touches briefly on his later career with the Boeing Company and the U.S. Naval War College.
Paul S. Bloch is a Vietnam War veteran who served as a bombardier/navigator aboard the Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft. He was born in Berwyn, Illinois on September 13, 1942 to Walter and Helen Bloch. He attended Morton High School (Illinois) and afterwards entered the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland).
Graduating from the Naval Academy in 1965, Bloch next underwent flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola (Florida), NAS Meridian (Mississippi), and NAS Kingsville (Texas). He received training in the Grumman F9F Cougar and Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, but eventually decided to transfer out of aviation and return to the Surface Navy. He received orders to the USS Sterett (CG-31), where he served in the CIC (combat information center) during operations in the Gulf of Tonkin.
In 1969, Bloch decided to return to naval aviation. He underwent naval flight officer training at NAS Glynco (Georgia) and trained as a bombardier/navigator in the Grumman A-6 Intruder/Prowler at NAS Whidbey Island (Washington). Over the course of his A-6 career, Bloch flew with Attack Squadrons 52 (VA-52), 115 (VA-115), 128 (VA-128), and 165 (VA-165) and served in a number of squadron executive positions. He also served two combat tours in Southeast Asia aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), flying a total of 265 combat missions against Vietnam and Laos. Other assignments from Bloch’s Navy career include studying operations research at the Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, California), attending the U.S. Naval War College (Newport, Rhode Island), and serving on the staff of the Seventh Fleet. He retired from active duty in 1991.
Following his retirement, Bloch continued to be involved in military activities. He contributed to the Gulf War Air Power Survey and taught at both the Naval Postgraduate School and Naval War College. In 1998, he was hired by the Boeing Company and worked for 18 years in their Phantom Works, Defense, and Commercial sectors.
Bloch is a member of The Museum of Flight Docent Corps and is still an active volunteer as of 2019. He has also contributed a number of A-6 artifacts to the Museum’s Vietnam exhibits.
Biographical information derived from interview and additional information provided by interviewee.
Photograph of military aircraft on the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), circa 1969-1972. Identified airplanes include the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, the Grumman A-6 Intruder, and the North American A3J-3P (RA-5C) Vigilante.
Photograph of a Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft (tail number 155711) on the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), circa 1969-1972. The plane bears the squadron markings for Attack Squadron 52 (VA-52) of the United States Navy.
Photograph of Navy servicemen and aircraft, including McDonnell F-4 Phantom II aircraft and Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft, on the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), circa 1969-1972.
Photograph of a Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft landing on the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), circa 1969-1972.
Oblique aerial photograph of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), taken from the cockpit of Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft, circa 1969-1972.
Oblique aerial photograph of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), taken from the cockpit of Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft, circa 1969-1972.
Oblique aerial photograph of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), taken from the cockpit of Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft, circa 1969-1972. Part of the cockpit controls are visible.
Oblique aerial photograph of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), taken from the cockpit of Grumman A-6 Intruder aircraft, circa 1969-1972. Part of the cockpit controls are visible.