Harris Richard Renninger

harris  renninger
Harris R. Renninger

Navy Captain

Harris R. Renninger, 84, a retired Navy Captain and Naval Aviator, died on December 1, 2012.

Captain Renninger was a native of Shamokin, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle. He had lived in McLean, Virginia for the last 39 years.

He joined the U.S. Navy in the fall of 1945 and attended college on the GI Bill. After college, he was selected for flight training in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi, TX. In 1953 he joined the Atlantic Fleet and a carrier attack squadron as a dive-bomber pilot. Subsequently, at the completion of shore duty as an instructor in mathematics and aviation physiology at the U.S. Naval School of Pre-Flight in Pensacola, he was ordered to helicopter training and sent to the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Hawaii where he operated off tracking and recovery ships in support and recovery of polar orbiting photographic satellites, later identified to the public under the code name Corona.

In 1963, he was ordered into intense training in helicopter anti-submarine warfare tactics and assigned as a helicopter-training officer for two Naval Reserve helicopter squadrons operating out of the Naval Air Station, Alameda, CA. These two squadrons became the first of their class to become fully qualified in night ASW sonar dipping operations and received a number of U.S. Navy commendations for their efforts.

After a tour as desk officer for U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps rotary wing aircraft in the Aviation Programs Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, then Commander Renninger was assigned as Officer in Charge of a helicopter detachment at the Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, RI. He afterwards returned to the Pentagon where he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the General Programming Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1975.

After retirement, he worked for various Defense contractors as a logistics program manager in fleet support of F-14 and F/A-19 U.S. Navy fighter aircraft and their armaments. He retired a second time in 1989 and as a 'behind the scenes' volunteer for the National Air and Space Museum performed various budgeting chores for the Air and Space Society for several years until vascular problems slowed his step.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Corinne M. of McLean, daughter and son-in-law, Corinne and Joe Koshuta of Great Falls, VA, son Harris Jacob Renninger of McLean, VA and two grandchildren, Michael and Caroline Koshuta.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, 26 April 2013 in the Memorial Chapel at Fort Myer, Arlington, VA at 0900. Interment will take place immediately following the service in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

In lieu of flowers, friends are welcome to make a donation to the National Naval Aviation Museum (www.navalaviationmuseum.org).

Funeral Home:

Money & King Funeral Home

171 W. Maple Ave.

Vienna, VA

US 22180

Visitation:

Money and King Funeral Home

171 W. Maple Ave.

Vienna, VA

US 22180

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