Cronin, Timothy J., 1921-

Cronin (b. 1921) was born and raised in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps to avoid being drafted by his father, a U.S. Attorney. In World War II, Cronin flew with the 4th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, escorting bombers over Germany. He shot down 2.5 planes and flew 70 missions, which qualified him to return to the United States in Spring 1945. After World War II, Cronin graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in civil engineering and law. He joined the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 1947 and was called up to Korea in 1954. In the 1950s and '60s, Cronin served with the Air Defense Command in Minneapolis (Minnesota) and at Wiesbaden Air Base (Germany). In 1968, he was deployed to Vietnam, where he hauled supplies, prisoners, troops, and casualties between Mactan Island (Philippines) and Tan Son Nhut Air Base (Vietnam). Cronin retired from the Air Force in 1971 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He lives in his family home in Oconomowoc and is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.

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