Retired Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie, the last US Air Force pilot to earn the title of ace, poses in front of a US F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy, on 28 August 2012. Ritchie became an ace following his fifth aerial victory in operations over South Vietnam on 28 August 1972. Ritchie was assigned to what was then known as the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. During his visit to Aviano, Ritchie also flew the F-16 simulator and shot down two virtual adversaries.
