Five US aviators achieved the status of “Ace” during the Viet Nam War. Lt Randy Cunningham, (pilot), and his RIO, Lt Willie Driscoll of the US Navy’s VF 96 achieved that status on May 10, 1972, while flying from the USS Constellation. They shot down 3 Mig-17 Frescos that day on one mission.
Capt Steve Ritchie & his WSO Capt Chuck DeBellevue of the USAFs 555 Tac Fighter Sq of the 432 Tac Recon Wing were flying out of Korat RTAFB that same day and got their first kill, a Mig-21 Fishbed. Capt Ritchie got his 1st and fifth kill in F-4D OY 463, which I attempted to replicate using another of the Airfix, multi-model Phantoms. I obviously did a P.P. job on the decals as is evidenced with all the silvering. I tried my hand at some basic weathering by rubbing off a little of the paint with an X-acto knife. Oh well, that is what learning is all about. [alien]
