Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Capt. Richard S. Ritchie, USAF First Air Force Ace in the Vietnam conflict. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Episode 3096 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about U.S. Air Force Vietnam Air Ace Steve Ritchie. The featured story appeared on the Vintage Aviation News website and was titled Today in Aviation History: Captain Richard S. “Steve” Ritchie Becomes the First U.S. Air Force Ace of the Vietnam War. It was submitted by Moreno Aguiari.
Afuiari reported that Ritchie’s path to ace began long before his historic fifth kill. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he first flew nearly 200 combat missions during his 1968 tour in Southeast Asia. After returning stateside as an instructor, his relentless drive brought him back into the fight with the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron—the famed “Triple Nickels.” From May to August 1972, Ritchie and DeBellevue systematically dismantled enemy MiGs, employing unmatched precision and courage in the unforgiving arena of jet combat.
The pinnacle came on August 28, when Ritchie outmaneuvered a MiG-21 in a high-speed duel, firing a pair of missiles that secured his fifth kill and ace status. He was one of only two pilots in the Vietnam War to earn that distinction, a symbol of his exceptional prowess.
The Air Force pilots of Vietnam, like Ritchie, operated in the most technologically advanced and deadly air combat environment of the era. Their achievements reflect not only technical excellence, but heroic resolve. Captain Ritchie’s legacy endures as a shining example of the greatness of Vietnam War Air Force pilots.
Listen to Episode 3096 and discover more about U.S. Air Force Vietnam Air Ace Steve Ritchie.
