Celebrating a Heritage
Retired Col. Chuck DeBellevue addresses members of the 552nd Air Control Wing during a heritage event on Nov. 6 in the 552nd Operations Group Auditorium. Colonel DeBellevue, the highest scoring ace of the Vietnam War and the last American ace on active duty, spoke about the air war in the skies over Hanoi, North Vietnam and “Taking the Fight to the Enemy”. Colonel DeBellevue flew 220 combat missions as a Laredo High Speed Forward Air Controller and was credited with the destruction of six enemy fighters in aerial combat as a weapons system officer. This is the third heritage event held by the wing. Col. Jay Bickley, 552nd Air Control Wing commander, is using these events to remind his Airmen of their impressive and proud heritage. (Air Force photo by Ron Mullan)