USAF F4 crews were awarded Ace status individually because they weren`t a permament pairing. Ritchie and DeBellevue only got 4 kills when paired together, both had one other partner to get 5 and 6 kills respectively. Fientsein was a kill slut, he got his 5 kills as WSO with 4 different pilots.
In contrast the USN Aces Cunningham and Driscoll got all 5 of their kills together.
If the RAAF uses the same rules as the USAF a pilot could become an Ace while his WSO/s do not.
This is further strengthened by the case of Robin Olds who became an Ace in WW2 and some 22 years later got 4 kills in Rolling Thunder. Counting back 22 year from Linebacker you get to 1951, when the RAAF was engaed in Korea and getting some kills with it`s Meteors. So it`s possible for a number RAAF pilots to enter air to air combat in Rolling Thunder with a confirmed and probable/possible kill under their belts. If they can add a kill or two to the Korean tally during Rolling thunder that only leaves a kill or two to get in 1972 to be considered an Ace.
In contrast the USN Aces Cunningham and Driscoll got all 5 of their kills together.
If the RAAF uses the same rules as the USAF a pilot could become an Ace while his WSO/s do not.
This is further strengthened by the case of Robin Olds who became an Ace in WW2 and some 22 years later got 4 kills in Rolling Thunder. Counting back 22 year from Linebacker you get to 1951, when the RAAF was engaed in Korea and getting some kills with it`s Meteors. So it`s possible for a number RAAF pilots to enter air to air combat in Rolling Thunder with a confirmed and probable/possible kill under their belts. If they can add a kill or two to the Korean tally during Rolling thunder that only leaves a kill or two to get in 1972 to be considered an Ace.