F RITCHIE S.-VIETNAM WAR ACE

Richard Stephen Ritchie was born on June 25, 1942 in the city of Reidsville, North Carolina. The future fighter ace, after graduating from high school, entered the United States Air Force Academy, which he graduated in 1964. He flew the F-104 Starfighter early in his career as a fighter pilot, but was assigned to the F-4 Phantom II in 1967. During his service in Vietnam in 1972, he achieved five air victories, earning himself the title of a fighter ace - as one of the few American pilots from the period of this military conflict. In the course of his career, Richard Stephen Ritchie has been decorated many times, and the highest order awarded to him is the Air Force Cross. He is recognized as one of the most effective and distinguished American pilots during the Vietnam War (1964 / 1965-1975). Richard Ritchie had over 4,000 hours of flight to the end of his career in the USAF!