Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
In early 1966, USAF and US Navy pilot began to encounter new MiG-21 fighters of the Vietnamese People's Air Force. This was the start of one of the greatest rivalries in the history of fighter aviation. The Phantoms achieved their first kills against the older MiG-17 while MiG-21s opened their account with a Firebee drone. But one of the two fighters would soon draw the first blood on 26 April 1966 when a flight of F-4s led by Major Paul Gilmore met a flight of MiG-21s led by a future ace, Nguyen Hong Nhi. In this historical encounter, Major Gilmore would end up fighting a pilotless aircraft.
Sources:
- Frank R Futrell - Aces & aerial victories;: The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia 1965-1973
amzn.to/40VDonZ
- Donald J. McCarthy Jr - USAF F-4 and F-105 MiG Killers of the Vietnam War, 1965-1973
amzn.to/3I2ZV9E
- Peter E. Davies - USAF F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1965–68
amzn.to/3I3prvy
- István Toperczer - MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War
amzn.to/3HXr5Pj
Special thanks to Anjet for participating in the reenactment.
Special thanks to Nguyễn Quốc Dũng for helping with Vietnamese pronunciation.
Support the channel on Patreon:
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Donate via Paypal:
paypal.com/paypalme/showtime112
Join our Discord server:
discord.gg/c56q7tUNCP
Audio mastering by Don Solaris:
youtube.com/shorts/Hf4wOknl4pY
#militaryaviationhistory #f4phantom #mig21
In early 1966, USAF and US Navy pilot began to encounter new MiG-21 fighters of the Vietnamese People's Air Force. This was the start of one of the greatest rivalries in the history of fighter aviation. The Phantoms achieved their first kills against the older MiG-17 while MiG-21s opened their account with a Firebee drone. But one of the two fighters would soon draw the first blood on 26 April 1966 when a flight of F-4s led by Major Paul Gilmore met a flight of MiG-21s led by a future ace, Nguyen Hong Nhi. In this historical encounter, Major Gilmore would end up fighting a pilotless aircraft.
Sources:
- Frank R Futrell - Aces & aerial victories;: The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia 1965-1973
amzn.to/40VDonZ
- Donald J. McCarthy Jr - USAF F-4 and F-105 MiG Killers of the Vietnam War, 1965-1973
amzn.to/3I2ZV9E
- Peter E. Davies - USAF F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1965–68
amzn.to/3I3prvy
- István Toperczer - MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War
amzn.to/3HXr5Pj
Special thanks to Anjet for participating in the reenactment.
Special thanks to Nguyễn Quốc Dũng for helping with Vietnamese pronunciation.
Support the channel on Patreon:
patreon.com/showtime112
Donate via Paypal:
paypal.com/paypalme/showtime112
Join our Discord server:
discord.gg/c56q7tUNCP
Audio mastering by Don Solaris:
youtube.com/shorts/Hf4wOknl4pY
#militaryaviationhistory #f4phantom #mig21
