The change was led by Randy “Duke” Cunningham, a retired US Navy commander and former F-4 Phantom pilot, who, along with his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Willy “Irish” Driscoll, was the first US ace of the Vietnam War
The American Fighter Aces Association (AFAA) was established in 1960 to recognize combat pilots who, during air-to-air combat from World War I to the present, destroyed five or more enemy aircraft, earning them the title of American Fighter Ace. The association has modified its membership criteria to include backseaters in its “Ace” category, which is the highest membership category.
Randy “Duke” Cunningham, a retired US Navy commander and retired F-4 Phantom pilot, led the change. He and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO), Willy “Irish” Driscoll, were the first US ace in the Vietnam War. After Cunningham was elected president of the AFAA in 2020, he suggested adding backseaters to the definition of the Ace membership category.
The AFAA has three categories of membership:
- Ace: A fighter pilot or backseater who has shot down five or more enemy aircraft in the air while a member of the United States service during a time of war.
- Associate: A fighter pilot or backseater who has shot down from one to four enemy aircraft in the air while a member of United States services during a time of war.
- Friend: An individual who is committed to preserving the legacy of American Fighter Aces may join as a Friend of the Aces, an auxiliary of the American Fighter Aces Association.
Cunningham’s actions mirrored those of 1972, when he was recommended for the Medal of Honor, the highest honor bestowed by the US armed forces, by a number of senior officials following his fifth kill. “Whatever I get, I want Willy to get, or I will not accept it,” retorted the new ace. Ultimately, Cunningham and Driscoll received the Navy Cross, the second-highest decoration bestowed by the US Navy and Marine Corps.
Three of the five American Aces from the Vietnam War are backseaters, and two are pilots. Cunningham and former USAF brigadier general Steve Ritchie are the pilots. Along with Driscoll, the backseaters are retired USAF colonel Charles DeBellevue, who is credited with six kills, and retired USAF lieutenant colonel Jeffrey Feinstein. It’s interesting to note that both DeBellevue and Feinstein attended aviation training after the war and obtained their pilot wings. When the five pilots became aces, they were in the rank of O2 or O3, having scored their kills in 1972 while flying F-4 Phantoms.
The AFAA logo’s colors and design are full of symbolism. The ace of spades, commonly referred to as the death card, symbolizes the high risks of aerial battle and is represented by the curved black shape in the center. There is the sword of freedom superimposed upon it. The color gold is used frequently to symbolize the wingmen we’ve lost, and the five-star array at the top indicates five kills, the minimum to be an ace.
A list of American Fighter Aces, merchandise and lithographs for sale, details on scholarships the organization sponsors, and more information about aces and the AFAA itself may all be found on the organization’s website, www.americanfighteraces.org. Regardless of prior experience in aerial combat, anybody interested in maintaining and promoting the heritage of American Fighter Aces is welcome to become a Friend of the Aces member for a current annual fee of $50. A quarterly newsletter and a one-time 50% discount on a print from the lithograph collection are two benefits of membership.
Every year, the AFAA hosts a reunion. The dates and location for 2022 are October 27–30 in San Antonio, Texas.
Bio is the author of two books, Topgun Days and Before Topgun Days. His latest book, Tomcat RIO, was published in 2020.
Photo by U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy