FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of the Heroes: Charles B. DeBellvue ~ Oct. 22, 2007

linked in thread | Road Runner

[StarCMC]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Charles B. DeBellevue
All info and photos from this website.

           

Colonel Charles Barbin “Chuck” DeBellevue (born August 15, 1945) is a former officer in the United States Air Force. In 1972, while flying during the Vietnam War, DeBellevue became the first Air Force Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) to become a flying "Ace".^[1] He was credited with a total of six (6) MiG kills, the most earned by any U.S. aviator during the Vietnam War.^[1] DeBellevue is a recipient of the Air Force Cross.

DeBellevue was born in New Orleans on August 15, 1945 and grew up in Louisiana. After applying unsuccessfully to the United States Air Force Academy, he attended and graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1968. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program at the university. Accepted into pilot training, he failed to complete the course, but instead applied for and was accepted into undergraduate navigator training (UNT) at Mather Air Force Base, California in July 1969. He completed F-4 combat crew training at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona and was assigned to the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, as a McDonnell Douglas F-4D WSO.

Vietnam War

In October 1971, DeBellevue was sent to the famed 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron (“Triple Nickel”), of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, at Udon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand. Flying in a F-4D as the WSO with pilot Capt. Steve Ritchie on May 10, 1972, he and Ritchie scored the first of four MiG-21 kills they would achieve together. Both DeBellevue and Ritchie, along with Capt. Jeffrey Feinstein of the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, would become the only USAF "Aces" during the Vietnam War.

An advantage that the "Triple Nickel Squadron" pilots and WSO's had over other U.S. aircrews was that eight of their F-4D Phantoms had the top secret APX-80 electronic set installed, known by its code-name Combat Tree. Combat Tree could read the IFF signals of the transponders built into the MiGs so that North Vietnamese GCI radar could discriminate its aircraft from that of the Americans. Displayed on a scope in the WSO's cockpit, Combat Tree gave the Phantoms the ability to identify and locate MiGs when they were still beyond visual range (BVR).

May 10, 1972, MiG Kill 1

Collings Foundation F-4D Phantom II marked as 555th TFS 66-7463, flown by Ritchie and DeBellevue for their 1st of 4 kills together and Ritchie's 5th kill which was DeBellevue's 4th kill

Ritchie and DeBellevue's assignment on May 10, 1972, the first major day of air combat in Operation Linebacker, was as element leader (Oyster 03) of one of two flights of the F-4D MiGCap for the morning strike force. Oyster flight had three of its Phantoms equipped with Combat Tree IFF interrogators, and two days previously its flight lead, Major Robert Lodge, and his WSO Capt. Roger Locher had scored their third MiG kill to lead all USAF crews then flying in Southeast Asia.

At 0942, forewarned 19 minutes earlier by the EC-121 "Disco" over Laos and then by "Red Crown", the US Navy radar picket ship USS Chicago, Oyster flight engaged an equal number of MiG-21s head-on, scattering them. Oyster flight shot down three and nearly got the fourth, but fell victim to a MiG tactic dubbed "Kuban tactics" after those of the Soviet WWII ace Pokryshkin,^[2] in which a GCI-controlled flight of MiG-19s trailed so that they could be steered behind the American fighters maneuvering to attack the MiG-21s. Maj. Lodge was shot down and killed, despite clumsy flying by the MiG-19's. (He might have been able to eject, but had previously told his flightmates that he would not be captured because of his extensive knowledge of classified and sensitive information.) Almost simultaneously Ritchie and DeBellevue rolled into a firing position behind the remaining MiG-21 of the original 4 with a radar lock, launched two Sparrows and scored a kill with the second.^[3][4][5]

 

July 8, 1972, MiG Kills 2 and 3

USAF strike and chaff forces suffered a severe series of losses to MiGs between June 24 and July 5 (7 F-4s) without killing a MiG in return. As a counter-measure, 7th Air Force added a second Disco EC-121 to its airborne radar coverage, positioning it over the Gulf of Tonkin.

Capts. Steve Ritchie (left) and Charles DeBellevue prepare for a mission in their F-4 Phantom.  They are two of the three Air Force aces from the Vietnam War and each received a full credit for four of the same kills.

On July 8, 1972, Ritchie and DeBellevue were leading Paula flight, in gun-equipped F-4Es instead of the Combat Tree F-4Ds they usually flew, on a MiGCAP to cover the exit of the strike force. While they were west of Phu Tho and south of Yen Bai, the EC-121 vectored them to intercept MiG-21s returning to base after damaging one of the US chaff escorts. The MiGs were still approximately 4 miles away and Ritchie turned the flight south to cross the Black River. As they closed, Disco gave them warning that the MiG return had "merged" with the Paula flight's return on his screen. Ritchie reversed course, observed the first MiG at his 10 o'clock position and turned left to meet it head-on.

MiG-killers head for a pre-mission briefing at Udon. Capts. DeBellevue and Ritchie (front row), and Col. Baily and Capt. Feinstein (back row).

When Ritchie passed the first MiG-21, he recalled the engagement of May 10 and waited to see if there was a trailing MiG. When he observed the second MiG, which he also passed head-on, he reversed hard left to engage. The MiG turned to its right to evade the attack, an unusual maneuver, and Ritchie used a vertical separation move to gain position on its rear quarter. DeBellevue obtained a solid boresight (dogfighting) radar lock on it while at the MiG's 5 o'clock, although fired from the edge of their flight envelopes, both AIM-7s struck home.

 

The first MiG had also turned back and was attacking the last F-4 in Ritchie's flight from behind, an often fatal consequence to US aircraft employing the then-standard "fluid four" tactical formation. Ritchie made a hard turn across the curving intercept of the MiG, again coming out at its 5 o'clock, and the MiG, apparently perceiving the threat, broke hard right and dove away. Ritchie fired an AIM-7 from inside its minimum range and at the limit of its capability to turn. Expecting the Sparrow to miss, he was trying to switch to a gun attack in the relatively unfamiliar F-4E he was flying that day when the missile exploded the MiG, 1 minute and 29 seconds after the first kill.^[6][7][8]

A competition to become the Air Force's first Vietnam "ace" developed between Ritchie and Capt. Jeffrey S. Feinstein of another of the 432nd's squadrons, the 13th TFS, who scored his 3rd and 4th kills on July 18 and July 29. Each had a claim denied by Seventh Air Force's Enemy Aircraft Claims Evaluation Board, Ritchie and DeBellevue for a claim of a MiG-21 on June 13, and Feinstein for a claim June 9.^[6]  

August 28, 1972, MiG Kill 4

Ritchie's final victory (his 5th making him an "Ace") with DeBellevue (his 4th) came on August 28, 1972, while leading Buick flight, a MiGCAP for a strike north of Hanoi. During the preceding month, 7th Air Force had instituted daily centralized mission debriefings of leaders and planners from all fighter wings called "Linebacker Conferences"[9]. Ritchie had just started his flight of Combat Tree Phantoms on its return to base (Ritchie and DeBellevue were flying F-4D 64-7463, in which they had scored their first kill). Red Crown, now the USS Long Beach, alerted the strike force to "Blue Bandits" (MiG-21s) 30 miles southwest of Hanoi, along the route back to Thailand. Approaching the area of the reported contact at 15,000 feet, Ritchie recalled recent Linebacker Conference information that MiGs had returned to using high altitude tactics and suspected the MiGs were high. Buick and Vega flights, both of the MiGCAP, flew toward the reported location.[10]

Captains Steve Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue, the first Air Force aces of the Vietnam Conflict

 

DeBellevue picked up the MiGs on the Phantom's onboard radar and using Combat Tree, discovered that the MiGs were ten miles behind Olds flight, another flight of MiGCAP fighters returning to base. Ritchie called in the contact to warn Olds flight. Ritchie, concerned that MiGs might be at an altitude above them, made continuous requests for altitude readings to both Disco and Red Crown. He received location, heading, and speed data on the MiGs (now determined to be returning north at high speed to their base) but not altitude as Buick flight closed to within 15 miles of the MiGs. DeBellevue's radar then painted the MiGs dead ahead at 25,000 feet, and Ritchie ordered the flight to light afterburners. DeBellevue warned Ritchie they were closing fast and were in range. About the same time Ritchie saw the MiGs himself headed in the opposite direction.^[11]

Attacking in a climbing curve behind the MiG-21's with his AIM-7 guidance radar locked on, Ritchie was given continuous range updates by DeBellevue. With his Phantom barely making enough speed to overtake the targets, Ritchie launched two Sparrows from over four miles away. The firing parameters of the two shots were out of the missiles' performance envelope, an attempt to influence the MiGs to turn and thus shorten the range. Both shots not only missed but failed to influence the opponents. Moments later, tracking one MiG visually by the contrail it was making, Ritchie fired his remaining two Sparrows, also at long range. The first missed, but the MiG made a hard turn and actually shortened the range, and was destroyed by the second.^[6][12] Short on fuel, Ritchie elected not to try to pursue the second MiG-21.  

September 9, 1972, MiG Kills 5 & 6

Captains Steve Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue at Tan Son Nhut Air Base

During Linebacker strikes on September 9, 1972, a flight of four F-4D's on MiGCAP west of Hanoi shot down three MiG's. Two were MiG-19's downed by Capt. John A. Madden, Jr. and his WSO Capt. DeBellevue. For Madden, the victories constituted his first and second MiG kills, but for DeBellevue they were numbers five and six, moving him up as the leading MiG destroyer of the war and elevating him to "Ace" status. When DeBellevue acquired the MiG's on radar, the flight maneuvered to attack. Madden and DeBellevue made the first move. They got a visual on the MiG about 5 miles out on final approach with his gear and flaps down. Getting a lock on him, they fired missiles but they missed. They were coming in from the side-rear and slipped up next to that MiG no more than 500 feet apart. He got a visual on us, snatched up his flaps and hit afterburner, accelerating out. It became obvious we weren't going to get another shot at the MiG.[13]

 

DeBellevue describes the next two engagements as follows. We acquired the MiG's on radar and positioned as we picked them up visually. We used a slicing low-speed yo-yo to position behind the MiG-19's and started turning hard with them. We fired one AIM-9 missile which detonated 25 feet from one of the MiG-19's. We switched the attack to the other MiG-19 and one turn later we fired an AIM-9 at him. I observed the missile impact the tail of the MiG. The MiG continued normally for the next few seconds, then began a slow roll and spiraled downward, impacting the ground with a large fireball.^[14]

Madden and DeBellevue returned to their base thinking they had destroyed only the second MiG-19. Only later did investigation reveal that they were the only aircrew to shoot at a MiG-19 which crashed and burned on the runway at Phuc Yen that day. That gave them two MiG-19 kills for the day and brought DeBellevue's total to six MiG kills, the most earned during the war.^[15]

During his combat tour, DeBellevue logged 550 combat hours while flying 220 combat missions, 96 of which were over North Vietnam. His skill as a weapon systems officer was recognized when he and the other two Air Force "Aces", Ritchie and Feinstein, received the 1972 Mackay Trophy.^[16] He also received the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Armed Forces Award and the Eugene M. Zuckert Achievement Award.  

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[StarCMC]

Monday thread’s up! C’mon over!

[Lost Dutchman]

1st

[StarCMC]

FIRST INDEED!

[Leapofaith]

Here but not for long watching the debates!

[puppypusher]

Thanks for the Thread Starcmc.Its nice to see some more of our Air Force Heroes.

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

Prayers going up.

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Star!

[SevenofNine]

Well if you been under the rock Malbu been suffering wildfire at this hour thousand of acedes still being burned

Also Report from Xinurea news wire Chinese PM just resign this just broke off the wire leading speculation that maybe Chinese Presient Hu want socialist but capitolist state how that works HELLO

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Top 10?

[duck duck goose]

Hi Star!! Happy Monday my FRiend. Hope you had a great weekend and will have a great week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread




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[SandRat]

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

[ConorMacNessa]

Great thread, Star!

[AZamericonnie]

Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen
at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

~Tribute to Our Troops~

[AZamericonnie]

I finally got in!:)

Great thread Starlette & thank you for it! *Hugs*

[The Mayor]

October 22, 2007

The Casket And The Jewel

ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download

READ: Romans 2:17-24

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. —2 Corinthians 4:7

Canadian minister John Gladstone has made a compelling application of a sad episode in the life of Isaac Watts. That famous English hymnwriter fell in love with a beautiful young woman, Elizabeth Singer. She admired his poetry, his mind, and his spirit, but for all her admiration she could not overcome her revulsion at his appearance.

Isaac was short and slight, afflicted with mere slits of gray eyes, a hook nose, and large cheekbones. When he proposed to Elizabeth, she all too hurtfully replied, "Mr. Watts, if only I could say that I admire the casket [jewelry box] as much as I admire the jewel it contains."

Gladstone draws a disturbing analogy between the "jewel" of the gospel and the "casket" of the church. How many people have rejected the good news because of its often sincere yet overly zealous witnesses! Are we unknowingly repulsive and unloving? How can we be "a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness" (Rom. 2:19) if the beauty of Jesus cannot be seen in us?

By every means possible, let’s proclaim the gospel. But let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will make us personally winsome and loving and free from sin so that we can attract others to Him. 

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity;
Oh, Thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refine
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.  —Orsborn

Righteousness in the heart produces beauty in the character.

Bible in One Year:   Isaiah 65-66; 1 Timothy 2

[Kathy in Alaska]

Finally....someone locked the door. The keys have been found.

[StarCMC]

Sheesh! I gave up after trying over and over and just watched the debate. LOL!

[tongue-tied]

Good evening Canteeners! Thanks for the thread Star and thank goodness the server is back!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

What ta heck happened?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

TT!!
*HUG*
How are you?

[SevenofNine]

Well according to Bloomberg US Dollar is taking hard core beating on Nikkei Market in Tokyo Japan at this hour and Nikkei market is taking beating too 600 points minus

MAN I haven’t see Tokyo get beatdown since Godzilla show up in town for first time

Godzilla’s fault PROBABLY

[AZamericonnie]

LOL....love your tag TT! *Hugs*

[LUV W]

I love that poem!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

beautiful!
Who wrote it?

[matthew fuller]

Thanks for posting this. I am 99% sure I am remotely related to De Belleview. If my memory is correct, we are both descended from a Barbin or De Belleview that was a colonel in charge of defending New Orleans in 1814.

By the way, does his inclusion here mean that he is dead?

[LUV W]

Good evening, TT! (((hugs)))

I must have gotten here when things were back to normal. I
don’t like it when things go hay-wire!

Hope you have a good....and safe....week!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, tt...((HUGS))...first FR went on strike. Then it finally comes back up and my IE decided to lock up. Good grief!!

How are you doing? Settling into a routine? No muddy feet? Your own wireless?

We've missed you. And we will be traveling by weeks end.

[LUV W]

I can’t believe my eyes that you are here this early, Big Guy!

How are things......................?

[LUV W]

Boo!

;D

[MS.BEHAVIN]

EEEEEEK!

[LUV W]

Godzilla needs to take a nap! We need the market to be UP,
not down! :D

[LUV W]

Hee-hee!

Did ya have a nice afternoon out and about, Sis?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Yeah
It was a really nice day.
I’m really drgging tonite though..
Dunno why!

[DieHard the Hunter]

A rollicking good read! Thanks for the thread, Star!

[LUV W]

Could it be that you stayed up reeeeeeealy late last night
rockin’ with the music, and have been on the go nearly all
day today? Sheesh!

[Tanniker Smith]

Good evening, all.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I hit refresh 50 times, ate dinner, read a chapter in my book, and started my thread. Sheesh is right!

[LUV W]

((((Connie))))

How are you this beautiful fall night? We are supposed to
actually have fall weather tomorrow....high of 65*. Won’t
that be nice?

What’s for supper...or am I too late?

Thanks for your wonderful tribute. We must always honor them!

[DieHard the Hunter]

> beautiful!
> Who wrote it?

John Gillespie Magee, Jr. A Canadian WW-II Fighter Pilot.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Someone tripped over the cord to FR, then locked the door. Fortunately, the keys were found and the plug is back in the socket.

Good evening, ms b...((HUGS))

[laurenmarlowe]

United States Marine Corps Band~National Anthem

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Luv!

Watching the ball game and....whoops....grounder into a double play!....trying not to do much of anything till Monday.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Roadrunner, for helping Star with today's Hall of Heroes: Charles B DeBellvue.

[LUV W]

Sounds like a plan to me.

Hope your team wins....whoever is playing.

Who is playing, by the way? :D

[laurenmarlowe]

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 18, 2007) - Boatswain's Mate Seaman Jake Cain throws mops off the stern of the Amphibious Dock Landing Ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). Cleaning mops this way uses the highly aerated screw turbulence from the ship as a natural washer. McHenry is in transit and will serve as a platform for the Africa Partnership Station Initiative, which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners in promoting maritime security in Western Africa. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert J. Stratchko (RELEASED)

SEA OF JAPAN (Oct. 18, 2007) - Fire Controlman 3rd Class Andrew Friedrichs, from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) inspects the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launcher prior to uploading a RAM missile. The Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESX ESG) is currently deployed for an annual fall patrol in the Western Pacific. Essex is the only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship and serves Task Force 76. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Chief Ty Swartz (RELEASED)

NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 16, 2007) - Machinist's Mate 1st Class Jeff Peterson, of Navy Customs Battalion Sierra, embraces his children after returning home to Naval Base Norfolk. Sierra provided support for the Department of Defense's customs inspection mission in Kuwait and Iraq in support of the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Seth Scarlett (RELEASED)

[SevenofNine]

I think Godzilla need anger management class be honest with you I just saw his Co star on Hallmark channel you know Perry Mason beat DA in court LOL!

Well report from Kydto news wire guess who going to Damsusus Syria one of Chia Pet Kim Jong 11 top guy get new nuke deal maybe help Syria rebuild that plant that nicely got b***hslap by IDF LOL!

And this going tick off Godzilla report in Bloomberg wire claim that Monster.com is scoring lower than report profit

I bet Godzilla won’t be pleased LOL!

[LUV W]

?

[LUV W]

?