Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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American pilots first began to spot North Vietnamese MiG-21s in early 1966. By the end of the year, USAF Phantom pilots claimed four victories against this supersonic fighter but US Navy Phantom pilots rarely saw it as it was mostly used in Route Pacs assigned to the Air Force. But in August of 1967, they would finally get their chance as two F-4Bs from Constellation's VF-142 flew a BARCAP mission for an Alpha Strike. Although they used a proper tactics, the two American aircrews would face great challenges fighting this new threat.

Sources:
- Brad Elward and Peter Davies - US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers (1) 1965-1970
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- Lou Drendel - And Kill MiGs: Air to Air Combat in the Vietnam War
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- István Toperczer - MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War
MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War

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#militaryaviationhistory #militaryaviation #f4phantom #vietnamwar