Richard Stephen Ritchie
Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force

Richard Stephen Ritchie was born on 25 June 1942 in Reidsville, NC. He grew up in Reidsville and was a star quarterback for Reidsville High School. After graduation in 1960, he received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy with the Class of 1964. In 1962, as a walk-on Ritchie became the starting quarterback of the Air Force Falcons varsity football team and retained that role in 1963. He played his final game in the 1963 Gator Bowl. In 1964, Ritchie graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force.

He entered Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laredo Air Force Base, TX, in August 1964, and finished 1st in his class in 1965. His first operational assignment was with Flight Test Operations at Eglin AFB, FL, where he was one of the few second lieutenants selected to fly the F-104 Starfighter. Ritchie transitioned into the F-4 Phantom II two years later at Homestead AFB, FL, in preparation for his first deployment to Southeast Asia.

Assigned to the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam in 1968, Ritchie flew the first "Fast FAC" mission in the F-4 Forward Air Controller program and was instrumental in the success of the program. He completed 195 combat missions. Upon his return to the U.S. in 1969, Ritchie was selected to attend the Fighter Weapons Course at Nellis AFB, NV, where, at age 26, he became the Air Force Fighter Weapons School's then youngest-ever instructor. He taught air-to-air tactics from 1970-72 to the best USAF pilots, including his former Air Force Academy classmate, Major Robert Alfred Lodge [Honoree Record ID 260948], who later became his flight leader in Thailand and shot down 3 MiGs.

Capt Ritchie volunteered for a 2nd combat tour in 1972 and was assigned to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. While flying F-4 Phantom IIs with the famed 555th (Triple Nickel) Tactical Fighter Squadron he shot down his 1st Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 on 10 May 1972; scored a 2nd victory on 31 May; a 3rd and 4th on 8 July; and a 5th on 28 August. All of the aircraft he shot down were MiG-21s, and all were shot down using the much-maligned AIM-7 Sparrow radar-guided air-to-air missile. Ritchie's 5 victories made him the Air Force's 1st and only pilot ace of the Vietnam War.

[Ritchie made this comment about his 5th MiG kill: "My fifth MiG kill was an exact duplicate of a syllabus mission (at Fighter Weapons School), so I had not only flown that as a student, but had taught it probably a dozen times prior to actually doing it in combat."]

The Triple Nickel pilots had an advantage over other US aircrews: 8 of their F-4D Phantoms had the top secret APX-80 electronic set installed, known by its code-name Combat Tree. Combat Tree could read the IFF signals of the transponders built into the MiGs to allow the North Vietnamese GCI radar to separate its aircraft from that of the Americans. Displayed on a scope in the Weapon Systems Officer's (WSO's) cockpit, Combat Tree allowed the Phantoms to identify and locate MiGs while they were still beyond visual range.

After completing 339 combat missions, totaling over 800 flying hours, Ritchie returned from his 2nd combat tour as one of the most highly decorated pilots in the Vietnam War.

Leaving Active Duty

Ritchie opted to leave active duty in 1974, joining the Colorado Air National Guard and continuing his military duty in a flying status while pursuing his civilian career. He later transferred to the Air Force Reserve.

After his promotion to Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve in 1994, Ritchie became the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of Air Force Recruiting Service. For 6 years, he traveled across the United States, speaking to approximately 1,100 audiences in support of Air Force recruiting efforts. He also flew more than 100 air show performances in the T-38 Talon. Brig Gen Ritchie retired in January 1999 after flying in his last air show at Randolph AFB, TX.

He logged over 4,000 flying hours during his Air Force career.

Civilian Career(s)

Ritchie has held various executive positions in private life, including 6 years at the Adolph Coors Company (now Coors Brewing Company) and the Heritage Foundation, where he was special assistant to Joseph Coors.

In 1985, he was appointed Director of the Office of Child Support Enforcement, reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In 1987, he was assigned to the Mobilization Policy and Plans Directorate at the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

He now lives in Colorado Springs, CO, working as a motivational speaker. Periodically, he flies demilitarized civilian F-104 Starfighters on the American air show circuit for "Starfighters International" based in Florida.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Air Force Cross
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Device, Silver and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with 4 Silver Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Service Medal with Silver and Bronze Star
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass
Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Command Pilot Badge

He was also awarded the Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross.

Air Force Cross Citation

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 S. 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.

Honors

Ritchie's combat achievements earned him the following honors:

● 1972 The Mackay Trophy for the most significant Air Force mission of the Year.
● Fhe Air Force Academy's 1972 Jabara Award for Airmanship.
● The 1972 Armed Forces Award, presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars for outstanding contributions to the national security of the United States.

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal, created by the U.S. Mint, is the highest civilian honor Congress can give on behalf of the American people. On 20 May 2015, leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate presented the Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces Association at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Emancipation Hall.

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. Brigadier General Richard Stephen Ritchie was one of them, having been credited with 5 aircraft shot down in aerial combat. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Comments by Peers

Ritchie was described by his peers as being a jock, and by General Robin Olds [Honoree Record ID 97], who admired him greatly, as being "brilliant" but thinking himself "God's gift" (cocky and egotistical). According to one of the intelligence officers of the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ritchie was often lacking in self-discipline, with a personal trademark of using too much Old Spice cologne. (Ritchie's retort was that the pilots' locker room was too odoriferous.)

[For details on each of his five 'kills' see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stephen_Ritchie]