VIETNAM WAR’S TOP “ACE” TO VISIT MUSEUM OF AVIATION

Warner Robins, GA -- Retired Colonel Charles Debellevue, the highest scoring “ace” of the Vietnam War will visit the Museum of Aviation Friday, January 20. Debellevue was one of only five fighter pilots in Vietnam that were credited with more than five aerial victories to become “aces.” Three of them were Air Force pilots: DeBellevue, Captain Steve Ritchie, and Captain Jeff Feinstein. The other two were Navy pilots: Lt Randal Cunningham and Lt JG William Driscoll.

In October 1971, DeBellevue was sent to the famed 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron (“Triple Nickel”), of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. On May 10, 1972, DeBellevue scored his first aerial victory by shooting down an enemy MiG 19 while flying as the back-seat Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) with pilot Capt Steve Ritchie in an F-4D Phantom. He and Ritchie would go on to shoot down three more MiGs while flying together on July 8 and August 28. On September 9, 1972 DeBellevue became America's top "MiG Killer" when he and another pilot, Capt. John Madden, downed two more MiGs, giving Debellevue six in total, the most earned during the Vietnam War.

During his combat tour, DeBellevue logged 550 combat hours while flying 220 combat missions. His skill as a WSO was recognized when he and the other two U.S. Air Force aces, Captain Steve Ritchie and Captain Jeff Feinstein, received the 1972 Mackay Trophy

DeBellevue retired with 30 years active duty service in 1998 as a full Colonel while serving as commander ofAir Force ROTCDetachment 440 at theUniversity of Missouriin January 1998 after 30 years of military service.