That's a beauty. Hey, check this one out:
"21 Seconds to Splash 5" by Roy Grinnell. August 28, 1972. Captain Steve Ritchie is about to score his fifth aerial victory, making him the first, and only Air Force Ace of the Vietnam War.
One of these days I'm going to build 3 Vietnam F-4s in 1/48: Ritchie's, Cunningham's and the "Chico the Gunfighter" gunship bird. Chico not only had the internal gatling, but also carried gun pods on the pylons and Rockeye cluster bombs. Nasty! Maybe four Phantoms, I should have a Marine in there, too.
I've got a Vietnam air war question. I read years ago a story about a C-130 pilot who killed a pursuing MIG by flying down a twisty canyon. The MIG hit a canyon wall. Does that story ring a bell?
I've got a nephew who flies C-130's heading for his second rotation to Iraq this Fall. I'd love to find out for him whether that story is true.
Ritchie had a great backseater. Believe most of his kills were with radar missiles.
His GIB (Guy In Back) was an ace as well, but he had to go to pilot school afterwards so the USAF wouldn't have a WSO Ace.