Bettinger, Stephen L., Col

Colonel Stephen L. Bettinger retired from the United States Air Force in January of 1973. In his retirement at Kirkland, Washington he worked as a Probation Counselor, a Eucharistic Minister for Holy Family Church of Kirkland and worked in the rehabilitation of alcoholics and drug addicts. He was 86 years old at the time of his passing. He is buried at the Sunset Hills Memorial Cemetery, Bellevue, Washington. Source: http://bartonfuneral.com

Colonel Stephen L. Bettinger was born in Newark, New Jersey. He enlisted in the USAAF in June of 1942. After flight training he received his wings and 2nd Lt. Commission on 3 November 1943. During World War II he shot down one ME-109 and during the Korean War he became a Jet Ace by downing his fifth MiG-15; and within minutes he was shot down himself and was a prisoner of the Chinese until repatriated at the end of the war.

"20 July 1953: During a raid deep into Manchuria, and after shooting down two Chinese MiGs, Majors Thomas M. Sellers and Stephen L. Bettinger (the second ace with five kills) tried to catch by surprise two Soviet MiG-15s that were landing in Dapu. The Soviet fliers skillfully forced the Americans to overshoot, reversed direction and shot both down: Captain Boris N. Siskov forced Bettinger to bail out and his wingman 1st Lieutenant Vladimir I. Klimov killed Major Sellers. This was Siskov's fifth victory, making him the last ace of the Korean War. Those were also the last Sabres downed by Soviet fliers in the war." Source: http://www.armchairgeneral.com

Note: The award dates of the medals on the right panel are not accurate, but do reflect most of the medals he received based on Internet sources. After 31 years of service he would have received additonal medals as well, for example he received the Korean Chung Moo Medal with a Gold Star.