Our pleasure to honour him.
I second that.
Rad, your grandfather had an amazing career. A true hero. I enjoyed learning about him while doing the research on his skin. There is a gentleman out there who did a profile of Col. Dittmer's Mustang. You may be interested in purchasing one for yourself.
https://fstudiosweb.com/p-51d-mustang-dopey-okie-487-fs-meyers-maulers-fine-art-aviation-profile-printsClick to Enlarge
I will be updating this skin to make it look better. In the meantime the skin page, with some photos of your grandfather, and more details about his career, is here:
https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/skins/index.php?skobj=p51d&display=P51D2022508&skinname=352FG/487FS%20by%20VraciuI'll message you when the skin is updated again.
In my original post I did not include his post-World War Two career. Here it is.
Post WWII career highlights:
Capt Dittmer left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve on October 9, 1945 and was recalled to active duty with the Air Force on March 10, 1951.
B-29 Superfortress pilot with the 24th Bomb Squadron of the 6th Bomb Wing at Walker AFB, New Mexico - March to December 1951.
F-51 Mustang pilot with the 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the 18th Fighter Bomber Group in Korea - December 1951 to May 1952.
Capt Dittmer transferred to the F-86-equppied 335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter Interceptor Group - May 1952 to December 1952. Credited with 3 MIG-15 fighters destroyed in aerial combat, plus 5 more damaged, for a total of 4 destroyed and 5 damaged in two wars.
F-86 pilot with the 417th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Clovis AFB, New Mexico - December 1952 to May 1953.
Staff of the 37th Fighter Bomber Group at Clovis - May to August 1953.
Major Dittmer served as an F-86 pilot with the 389th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Alexandria AFB, Louisiana, from August 1953 to January 1954.
Lt. Colonel Dittmer deployed to Southeast Asia in February 1966 where he served as an O-1 Bird Dog pilot and Tactical Air Liaison Officer with the 505th Tactical Control Group at Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam - February to April 1966.
22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron at Can Tho AB, South Vietnam - April 1966 to February 1967.
Retired from the Air Force - October 1, 1969.