28 AUGUST 1972 – Richard Stephen Ritchie becomes the 1st Air Force Ace in Vietnam with 5 kills. In May of 1972 he scored kills 1 & 2, July 1972 3 & 4 and in Aug 1972 no. 5. After completing 339 combat missions totaling over 800 flying hours, Ritchie returned from his second combat tour as one of the most highly decorated pilots in the Vietnam War. Ritchie logged over 4,000 flying hours in his Air Force career. He retired from the Air Force in 1999 as a Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve. rochestermilitary.com