Who were the first American Aces of the Vietnam War?

Answer 1

Historians who collect data (statistics), record material differently. Some historians state that the "back-seaters" of the F-4 Phantom II jet fighter are also credited with aerial kills. Some historians count aerial kills from earlier wars, and add them to the newer war, then totalling them up. Discounting the "back-seater" of the F-4 Phantom, there were 2 US "Aces" in the Vietnam War, both flew the F-4 Phantom II; Captain Steve Ritchie of the USAF (shot down 5 NVAF MIG-21's) and Lieutenant Randy Cunningham of the USN (shot down 4 NVAF MIG-17's & 1 MIG-21); note-a USAF Captain is the same rank insignia and pay-grade as a USN Lieutenant. Col. Robin Olds, USAF, shot down 4 North Vietnamese Air Force MIG jet fighters in Vietnam; but had over a dozen (German) aerial kills from WW2. If Robin's World War Two aerial kills were to be counted, he would be the highest ranking US Ace of the Vietnam War.

Answer 2

The first North Vietnamese Air Force ace was probably Nguyen Nhat Chieu, with 6 aerial kills, who flew both the MiG17 & the MiG21 while serving with the 921st Fighter Regiment from 1965-67 (Reference: "MiG17 & MiG19 Units of the Vietnam War", by Istvan Toperczer; 2001 Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-84176 162-1). The first US ace was Randy "Duke" Cunningham of the US Navy, with 5 air to air kills, who flew an F4 Phantom II in 1972.