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Story at a Glance
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• "Countering MiGs: Air-to-Air Combat Over North Vietnam:
• Exhibit opened in May 2011
• Award comes from Air Force History and Museums Program
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Gun camera image of the MiG-17 victory by F-105 pilot Maj. Ralph Kuster Jr. on June 5, 1967. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Museum wins Air Force Heritage Award
Posted 6/5/2012 Updated 6/5/2012
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by Bryan D. Carnes
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
6/5/2012 - DAYTON, Ohio -- The National Museum of the United States Air Force was recently recognized with the 2011 Air Force Heritage Award by the USAF History and Museums Program for its COUNTERING MIGS: AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT OVER NORTH VIETNAM exhibit.
"It is an honor for us to receive this distinguished award from the USAF History and Museums Program," said museum director Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John L. Hudson. "The exhibit is a tribute to those accomplishments in the past, but the award recognizes the collective efforts of our museum staff to tell the story."
Opened in May of 2011, the exhibit focuses on U.S. Air Force fighter escorts (or MiGCAPs) over North Vietnam, which prevented enemy MiG fighters from interfering with American strike aircraft. The MiG pilots' primary goal was to force strike aircrews to jettison their bombs early, thereby disrupting the bombing attack.
One of the great Air Force leaders profiled in the exhibit is Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1966-1967. His charisma and courage endeared him to his people, and under his leadership, the "Wolfpack" became the U.S. Air Force's top MiG-killing wing in Southeast Asia. Olds also played a key role in the creation of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, which improved coordination between USAF wings in Southeast Asia and became a lasting fraternal organization.
"Winning superiority in the air was, and still is, a core mission of the U.S. Air Force," said curator Jeff Duford. "This display tells how highly-skilled USAF fighter pilots performed this critical mission during the Southeast Asia War."
The exhibit is flanked by the F-4C Phantom II in which Olds and Lt. Stephen Croker, the weapons system officer, destroyed two MiG-17s in a single day on May 20, 1967. Several artifacts belonging to Olds are included in the exhibit, such as his flight suit, helmet and g-suit. Other artifacts on display include flying clothing and equipment from Capt. Richard "Steve" Ritchie and a party suit from Capt. Charles "Chuck" DeBellevue. Ritchie and DeBellevue were two of the U.S. Air Force's three aces during the Southeast Asia War.
An interactive touch-screen with video footage of Olds and the River Rats is also available in the exhibit.
The USAF History and Museums Program awards are presented each year by the Air Force History Office to recognize commendable work by military and civilian personnel. The Heritage Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments by Air Force History and Museums Program personnel to foster a better understanding and appreciation of the USAF, its missions, its people and its accomplishments.
A panel of judges ranks submissions on content, utility and presentation. Members of the Air Force History and Museums Program may be nominated. In 2009, the National Museum of the United States Air Force received the Heritage Award for its BADGE OF HONOR: 100 MISSIONS UP NORTH exhibit.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day).
NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, please contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 255-1743.
NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information, please contact Sarah Swan at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-1283. |
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