"linebacker" saw several other "firsts". on the opening day of the operation, navy lieutenant duke cunningham and his radar intercept officer, lieutenant (j.g.) william p. driscoll became the first u.s. air aces of the vietnam war when they shot down their fifth mig. on 28 august, the air force gained its first ace when captain richard s. ritchie downed his fifth enemy aircraft. twelve days later, captain charles b. debellevue (who had been ritchie's backseater during four of his five victories) downed two more migs, bringing his total to six. on 13 october another weapons officer, captain jeffrey s. feinstein, was credited with his fifth mig, making him the final air force ace.