Ross Hamilton Calvert, Jr.
Colonel, U.S. Army Air Forces

Righetti joined the 55th Fighter Group as a Major, but days later was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He spent a couple of days with the 38th Fighter Squadron before moving to the 338th Fighter Squadron.

On 17 April 1945, Colonel Elwyn Guido Righetti was serving as a Pilot and Commanding Officer, 55th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that date (his 30th birthday), COL Righetti’s unit was in aerial combat against German forces while flying escort for a bombing mission over Dresden, Germany. COL Righetti’s P-51 Mustang (SN 44-72227), nicknamed 'Katydid,' was hit by flak and, although he crash landed near Riesa, Germany, he radioed that he was okay. However nothing more was ever heard of COL Righetti and it is believed he may have been killed by German civilians. COL Righetti’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

At the time of his being listed as Missing in Action, COL Righetti had been credited with downing 7.5 aircraft in aerial combat, earning him the title of 'Ace.'

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Air Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Command Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Colonel (Air Corps) Elwyn Guido Righetti (ASN: 0-396312), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-51 Fighter Pilot of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces 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 [see photo] 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. Colonel Elwyn Guido Righetti was one of them, having been credited with 7.5 aircraft shot down in aerial combat. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Memorialization

The remains of Colonel Elwyn Guido Righetti have never been found. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56284962/elwyn-guido-righetti