On our quarterly reunion of the American Fighter Aces Association, here in San
Antonio, Texas, we had a most unusual gathering.
First, General Steve Ritchie, the only ace from the Vietnam War, with 5 Mig-21's
on his pocket. He signed my copy of the GPM F-4 "Mig Killer" paper model, and
Roy Grinnell's book "Artist of the Aces", where page 136 depicts his Phantom as
he fired a sparrow against a Mig-21.
Page of the model with signatures of
Frank Frazier (two Mig-15 over
Korea), and
Steve Ritchie (five Mig-21 over Vietnam).
More about
Steve Ritchie here.
If that was not enough, we celebrated the
100th birthday of Lt. Richard "Dick"
Cole, co-pilot of Jimmy Doolittle in the famous "Doolittle Raid" over Tokio
(April 1942). As one of the only two Doolittle Raiders that are still with us in this world,
he is still live and kickin', and as you see in the following photo,
with his signature smile. As he told us "I trusted that this body would remain
healthy until God says "it's over!"
In the photo, standing, Mr. Mariana Ritchie and Steve Ritchie, and Mary Donahue
(Col. Dean Caswell fiancé).
Seated: Lt. Dick Cole, Gen. Frank Gailer (P-51 Mustang ace, Chuck Yeager's
wingman), and Col. Dean Caswell (F4U ace, survivor of the Kamikaze attack to
the Bunker Hill carrier). These two aces of World War II have paper models made
by yours truly.
Real living legends, no less.
These and more photos will be released in a future "American Fighter Aces & Friends"
bulletin. For more information on the AFAA go to:
www.americanfighteraces.org