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This Remembrance Profile was originally created by Sgt Stephen Willcox - Deceased
Contact Info
Home Town Newark, New Jersey
Last Address Kirkland, Washington
Date of Passing Dec 04, 2010
Location of Interment Sunset Hills Memorial Cemetery - Bellevue, Washington
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
Other Comments:
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.
1947-1950, F-84 Thunderjet
From Year 1947
To Year 1950
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
F-84 Thunderjet Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Republic F-84F Thunderjet Length 37.43 ft | 11.41 m Width 36.42 ft | 11.10 m Height 14.99 ft | 4.57 m Engine(s) 1 x Wright J65-W-3 turbojet engine generating 7,220lbs of thrust. Empty Weight 13,830 lbs | 6,273 kg MTOW 28,001 lbs | 12,701 kg Max Speed 695 mph | 1,118 km/h | 604 kts Max Range 860 miles | 1,384 km Ceiling 45,997 ft | 14,020 m | 8.7 miles Climb Rate 7,400 ft/min (2,257 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 6 x 12.7mm machine guns 24 x 5in rockets
Up to 6,000lbs of external ordnance. Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-84 Thunderjet - First prototype model (1946); General Electric J35-GE-7 turbojet engine. * XP-8A Thunderjet - Prototype (25 total); Allison J35-A-15 * P-84B Thunderjet - XP-8A porduction model. * P-84C Thunderjet - Revised electrical system; J35-A-13C engine; Later redesignated as the F-84C. * F-84 Thunderjet * YF-84A Thunderjet - First swept-wing variant * F-84D Thunderjet - J35-A-17D engine; Re-engineered landing gear system; thicker wing systems. * F-84E Thunderjet - Post-Korean War model featuring improved system components; Enlarged cockpit; Lengthened fuselage. * F-84G Thunderjet - J35-A-29 engine * F-84F Thunderstreak - Swept wing; Wright J65-W-1 turbojet engine (later models with Wright J65-W-3 engines). * RF-84F Thunderflash - Final development model of F-84 series; Reconnaissance variant with J65-W-7 engine.
