Eagle Biography

Charles B. DeBellevue

Colonel Charles B. DeBellevue is America's top "MiG Killer" of the Vietnam conflict, and is also the first USAF weapons system officer (WSO) to become an ace. DeBellevue was born in New Orleans and grew up in Louisiana. He was commissioned in 1968 through ROTC. After completing undergraduate navigator training at Mather AFB, California, in July 1969, he began F-4 combat crew training at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, en route to an assignment in the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.

In October 1971, he was sent to the famed 555th TFS at Udorn Royal Thai Air Base. As a WSO with the "Triple Nickel," DeBellevue scored six aerial victories over North Vietnamese MiGs. He gained the first four victories while crewed with Captain Steve Ritchie, who became the first USAF Vietnam War ace. DeBellevue became the second USAF ace when he downed two MiGs on 9 September 1972 while flying with Captain John Madden on a four-ship combat air patrol. During his combat tour, DeBellevue logged 550 combat hours while flying 220 combat missions. His skill as a WSO was recognized when he and the other two USAF aces, Captains Steve Ritchie and Jeff Feinstein, received the 1972 MacKay Trophy, the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Armed Forces Award, and the Eugene M. Zuckert Achievement Award.

DeBellevue entered pilot training at Williams AFB, Arizona, in November 1972. After pinning on his new wings, he returned to the F-4 Phantom II as a pilot assigned to the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. In 1975, he moved to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, where he served as an assistant operations officer in the 43d TFS. Major DeBellevue next attended Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia. After graduation in January 1980, he was assigned to the Research, Development, and Acquisition Deputate in the Pentagon. In 1982, he returned to the 335th TFS at Seymour Johnson AFB as assistant operations officer before moving to the 4th TFW as Chief, Maintenance Training Division. In January 1986, he became Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations and served in that position until he departed to attend the Army War College in July 1986. In June 1987, he was assigned to his present position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans at Fifth Air Force. He now lives on Yokota AB, Japan, with his wife, Sally, and their three children.