CDR Clifford Earl Fanning, USN (RET.)

Born in Melvern, Kansas, on October 5, 1920 to Harry Fanning and Mabel (Bradley) Fanning. Cliff grew up on a farm near Waverly, Kansas with no running water or electricity. When WWII began he left college to become a fighter pilot. Following his commissioning as a Naval Officer and earning his wings as a Naval Aviator in November,1941 he was given orders to Corpus Christi, Texas as a flight instructor seven days a week.

Cliff proposed marriage to a young 18-year old Laura Lee Wheat of Pensacola. She traveled to Corpus Christi to become his bride 73 years ago.

After eighteen months in Corpus training hundreds of pilots (all whom he kept up with throughout the war), Cliff was transferred to a Pacific fleet Fighter Squadron in September, 1943. After several months leading his squadron of 10 F6F’s in battles from New Guinea, to Truk, to Guam, scouts spotted the Japanese fleet 400 miles west in the Philippine Sea late in the day. After downing an enemy plane Cliff’s plane was hit hard wounding him and leaving his plane barely controllable. Eventually Cliff found the fleet and had to crash land on the USS Wasp. For his part in the battle and his wounds Cliff received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Cliff was ordered to return to the US to train more fighter pilots; however, a sudden need arose for a navigator for the USS Pine Island and Cliff was selected. This experience later would qualify him to be the Chief Navigator of the Atlantic Fleet serving on-board the USS Midway. Later Cliff became the Executive Officer of the Naval Air Bases in the Marianas Islands based on Guam. Later orders sent Cliff back to Pensacola as Aviation Safety Officer until his retirement from the Navy on Feb 1, 1963.

After retirement Cliff began to grow his real estate and land development business in Pensacola. He formed many investment companies and as a home builder, land developer and entrepreneur he brought about the building of motels, apartments, houses, office buildings and housing developments in Pensacola as well as other areas in the country. He experienced the highs and the lows of the economy and his investments followed the market. He was resilient and smart and fair in all his dealings, able to see opportunities and negotiate tough business decisions.

His passion for golf was noteworthy. With three hole-in-one’s to his record, he was a member of Pensacola Country Club for more than 65 years where he loved to win quarter-bets off his friends.

He is survived by his wife, Laura Lee, and his three children: Don Clifford Fanning (Janice) of Lynchburg, VA, Charlene Fanning of Destin, FL, and Joanne Andrews (George) of Pensacola, along with seven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Pensacola Naval Air Museum, or to a charity of your choice.

C. E. Fanning’s visitation is Sunday, January 25, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel followed by the funeral service and a reception after the burial.

BAYVIEW FISHER-POU CHAPEL, 3351 Scenic Highway is entrusted with arrangements.

Condolences may be offered at www.bayviewfisher-pouchapel.com.