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The Roadrunners are saddened to announce the final flight of James W. Prucnal who passed away May 22, 2019, with his wife Judy and children by his side.
Jim served in the United States Air Force for four years beginning in October 1958. Following his military service, Jim joined the Central Intelligence Agency, reporting to Area 51 in November 1964 as a finance officer under CIA Commander Werner Weiss, the Desert Fox. Jim remained at Area 51, serving the CIA for 35 years, retiring in September 1995 and joining EG&G Special Projects and then JT3 until his final retirement in 2005.
In his retirement, Jim did not stray far from Area 51. He joined the Roadrunners Internationale Association of retired CIA, USAF, and contractor veterans who served during the CIA's U-2 and A-12 spyplane era at Area 51. Jim continued to serve as the treasurer for the Roadrunners though declining health ultimately required assistance from his wife, Judy. When his declining health required his stepping down, the Roadrunners elected Judy to carry on as its treasurer.
The Roadrunners recall Jim being a quiet, mild-spoken man with a brilliant mind. Unfortunately, Jim was never able to reveal his accomplishments at Area 51 as they remain classified and vital to national security. Though the same national security restrictions still apply to most of the Roadrunners, they have told non-classified humorous stories about their time at Area 51. One such tale involving Jim was his serving the CIA at Area 51 with former USAF Lt. Col. John Henry "Hank" Meirdierck, best described as a "crusty old colonel" who was one of the USAF test and instructor pilots training the CIA U-2 detachments at Area 51 in 1955-1956. Following the U-2 training, the USAF had attached Meirdierck to the CIA as its operations officer at Area 51 for the Project OXCART. In 1964, he retired from the USAF and remained at Area 51 as a GS-15 OSA budget officer with his office directly across the hall from Jim's. Jim's story is that each morning he brought a newspaper with him on the flight to Area 51, where before he had a chance to read it, it would disappear. He discovered that Hank was stealing his newspaper. Those who knew both Hank and Jim know how they contrasted in almost every way, thus adding humor to what transpired beneath the shroud of secrecy at Area 51. The coyote and road runner cartoons come to mind.
The Roadrunners extend their condolences to Judy and family and share their loss of a great American who served his country long and hard.
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