U.S. Air Force Capt. Charles B. DeBellevue (Weapons Systems Officer) flying with his pilot, Capt. John A. Madden, in a McDonnell Douglas F-4D, shoots down two MiG-19s near Hanoi. These were Captain DeBellevue's fifth and sixth victories, which made him the leading American ace (an unofficial designation awarded for having downed at least five enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat) of the war. All of his victories came in a four-month period. Captain Madden would record a third MiG kill two months later.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- President's child born in White House, 1893
- American Revolution
- Congress renames the nation "United States of America", 1776
- Automotive
- President Johnson signs the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 1966
- Civil War
- Yankees capture Chattanooga, 1863
- Cold War
- Mao Zedong Dies, 1976
- Crime
- The Boston police department goes on strike, 1919
- Disaster
- Powerful earthquake rocks Algeria, 1954
- General Interest
- Riot at Attica prison, 1971
- Chairman Mao dies, 1976
- Hollywood
- Audiences are treated to surprise preview of Gone with the Wind, 1939
- Literary
- Alice B. Toklas moves in permanently with Gertrude Stein, 1910
- Old West
- California becomes the 31st state in record time, 1850
- Presidential
- Cleveland baby born in White House, 1893
- Sports
- Sandy Koufax pitches perfect game, 1965
- Vietnam War
- Hackney receives Medal of Honor, 1967
- Ho Chi Minh buried in Hanoi, 1969
- DeBellevue becomes leading American Ace, 1972
- World War I
- U.S. Secretary of State Lansing demands recall of Austro-Hungarian ambassador, 1914
- World War II
- Japanese bomb U.S. mainland, 1942
- Allies land at Salerno and Taranto, 1943
Sep 9, 1972:
DeBellevue becomes leading American Ace
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
This Week in History, Sep 9 - Sep 15
- Sep 09, 1967
- Hackney receives Medal of Honor
- Sep 09, 1969
- Ho Chi Minh buried in Hanoi
- Sep 09, 1972
- DeBellevue becomes leading American Ace
- Sep 10, 1963
- President Kennedy gets mixed signals
- Sep 10, 1964
- President Johnson sends signal to both North and South Vietnamese
- Sep 11, 1965
- 1st Cavalry Division arrives in country
- Sep 11, 1968
- Heavy fighting rages in Tay Ninh
- Sep 12, 1959
- Situation deteriorates in South Vietnam
- Sep 12, 1972
- U.S. intelligence agencies report 100,000 troops in the South
- Sep 13, 1945
- British troops arrive to disarm the Japanese
- Sep 13, 1964
- Attempted coup against Khanh government fails
- Sep 13, 1968
- Large operation begins in the DMZ
- Sep 14, 1965
- South Vietnamese forces and U.S. advisers conduct parachute assault
- Sep 14, 1966
- Operation Attleboro is launched in War Zone C
- Sep 15, 1964
- NLF calls for general military offensive
- Sep 15, 1972
- South Vietnamese forces retake Quang Tri City
Related Topics
What Happened on Your Birthday?
Pick a DateEditor’s Picks
-
Ultimate History Quiz
Play solo or challenge your friends.
-
Grand Canyon
Get the facts on this geological wonder of the world.
-
Civil War 150
Explore the people, events and technology that shaped America's bloodiest conflict.
-
History Lists: Ridiculous Wars
Discover six of history's most preposterous conflicts.
Bio.com
-
On This Day
Read about notable birthdays and celebrity deaths at On This Day.
Shop HISTORY
-
Vietnam in HD DVD Set
Their story is in danger of being lost to history. This six-hour miniseries spans the massive initial troop build-up in 1965 to the fall of Saigon a decade later.
$24.95
Buy Now -
WWII in HD DVD Set
The only people to see the war like this were the ones who lived it. Until now… Own this best-selling series today!
$18.73
Buy Now -
The Korean War: Fire and Ice DVD
Historians, battle veterans and archival footage reveal the pain, glory, and pathos of the war.
$19.33
Buy Now
