Author Topic: 30 years ago Friday (Read 264 times)

Nefarious · « **on:** May 09, 2002, 10:33:06 PM »

Randy Cunningham and Willie Driscoll

Become first Aces of the Vietnam War, Shooting down 3 MiG's in one day! adding to thier previous two.

WTG Fellas!

fdiron · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2002, 02:31:21 AM »

Didnt they get hit by a SAM and have to bail out over the ocean on that mission?

Samm · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2002, 04:45:55 AM »

You mean the first american ace of vietnam don't you ?

Nefarious · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2002, 08:51:44 AM »

Yes "Showtime 100" was hit by a SA2 and both Pilot and RIO were forced to bail out.

Yes. First American Aces, of the Vietnam War the coveted title was awarded for both Pilot and RIO.

Not to much longer after that the AF produced a couple Aces.
Since NVAF records are hard to come by it would be neat to see a list of NVAF Aces, Anybody know where i could find it? Half of em' are probably russian. lol. Now they are saying there was no such thing as Col. Tomb,Toon.

streakeagle · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2002, 10:06:44 AM »

On that same fateful day, Oyster flight of the 555th TFS engaged 4 MiG-21s and killed 3 of them. However, its flight leader, Major Robert Lodge, was shot down and became MIA while trying to kill the 4th MiG

"Steve" Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue killed one of the MiG-21s and went on to become 2 of the 3 USAF aces. It is interesting to note that the USAF scored the majority of its F-4 kills with the AIM-7 Sparrow, which the Navy claimed was too difficult to use. Of course the Navy had developed improved versions of the AIM-9 Sidewinder that were almost as good as the modern versions and made Duke Cunningham's 3-kill day much more feasible. If the MiG-19s had not shown up to shoot down Major Lodge, it would have been his 2nd kill for the day and 4th kill overall using Sparrows. I always think of both Showtime and Oyster whenever the day May 10 is in the spotlight.

Go here for the story of Major Lodge's WSO, Roger Locher, and how he set records during his escape and evasion:
http://www.afa.org/magazine/valor/0392valor.html

Go here for an exceptional bio on Ritchie including a fairly good description of May 10 from Oyster flight's perspective:
http://www.centennialjournal.com/Mar02/SteveRitchieTheLastAce.htm

That is the first time I have ever read anything about why Robert Lodge didn't eject

He stayed with the aircraft to protect classified information that could be tortured out of him.

Otto · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2002, 02:52:18 PM »

You only get 1/4 score if you have to bail.....

Elfenwolf · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2002, 04:08:35 PM »

Otto, who you calling a points potato?