TFH 8/28: Captain Richard Stephen Ritchie, USAF

Richard Stephen "Steve" Ritchie was born on June 25, 1942 in Reidsville, North Carolina. A gifted athlete, Ritchie entered the United States Air Force Academy and walked on to the football team, starting at halfback for two years. He graduated with the class of 1964 and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Ritchie earned his pilot's wings and first flew the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter before switching to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. He first flew in combat over Vietnam during 1968 before being assigned to the Air Force's Fighter Weapons School and becoming the youngest instructor to that point in the program.

Captain Ritchie volunteered to return to combat in 1972 and was posted to the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base. In May 1972 he had his first two air-to-air "kills". In July he followed with two more aerial victories against Communist fighters.

Forty years ago today, flying F-4D SN 66-7463 with the callsign "Buick 01", Ritchie shot down his fifth North Vietnamese MiG-21 using an AIM-7 Sparrow missile and became the only Air Force pilot ace of the war. He was decorated with the Air Force Cross for his heroism in the skies.


From Military Times' Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain Richard Stephen Ritchie, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-4D Aircraft Commander, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action on 28 August 1972. On that date, while leading his flight to its assigned position deep in hostile territory, Captain Ritchie engaged and destroyed a hostile aircraft while it was attempting an attack on another flight of allied aircraft. Through superior maneuvering and use of aircraft capabilities, and in complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Ritchie was successful in destroying his fifth North Vietnamese MiG-21. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Captain Ritchie reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Captain Ritchie was also decorated with the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, four Silver Stars, and ten Distinguished Flying Crosses, all for his wartime service in the skies over Vietnam and southwest Asia. After leaving active service following his second Vietnam tour, he continued to serve with both the Air Force Reserve and the Colorado Air National Guard until his retirement as a Brigadier General in 1999. He is still living.

Today, the 555th Fighter Squadron ("Triple Nickel") falls under the 31st Operations Group, the flying arm of the 31st Fighter Wing. They currently fly the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and are forward deployed to Aviano Air Base in Italy.