First Air Combat Victory of Vietnam War

First Air Combat Victory of Vietnam War. Last Air Combat Victory of Vietnam War. , First Air Combat Victory of Vietnam War , In March 1965, fighter squadron VF-21 deployed to Southeast Asia under the command of CDR Bill Franke aboard the USS Midway. The carrier strikeforce was directed to spearhead "Operation Rolling Thunder" with sustained combat operations against the communist insurgency led by North Vietnam., Flying the Navy's premiere fighter-interceptor, the F-4B Phantom II, the combat mission required VF-21 to rapidly adapt to tactics and training to fully employ the Phantom's unprecedented dual mission, fighter-bomber capabilities., On June 17, 1965, two VF-21 Phantoms engaged four North Vietnamese MiG-17 fighters, successfully destroying two with radar guided AIM-7D Sparrow III missiles. The first MiG-17 was downed by CDR Louis C. Page and LT John C. Smith, and the second by their wingmen, LT David Batson and LCDR Robert Doremus., These were the first air combat victories of the Vietnam War., Captions , LT Batson and LCDR Doremus , CDR Page and LT Smith , On board the Midway after the double victory, VF-21 pilots and radar intercept officers, 1965, Last Air Combat Victory of Vietnam War , In April 1972, fighter squadron VF-161 deployed to Southeast Asia under the command of CDR Wayne Connell aboard the USS Midway., The carrier strike group deployed early to spearhead "Operation Linebacker," an aggressive new campaign to force North Vietnam to release American prisoners of war and to seek an end to the war. , During nearly 12 months of rugged, high tempo operations against the enemy, VF-161 aircrews achieved phenomenal success in all facets of air combat. This included destroying five enemy MiG fighters., On January 12, 1973, VF-161's LT Vic Kovaleski and LT Jim Wise downed a MiG-17. It was the last air combat victory of the Vietnam War., In 1973, VF-161 was awarded the ADM Joseph C. Clinton Award, citing the squadron as "The Navy's Most Outstanding Fighter Squadron.", Captions , Midway CAPT Foley, LT's Kovaleski and Wise, CAG CAPT Myers, LT Arwood and ENS Chotes. , LT's Brown, Bartholomy, Arwood, and Bell , LCDR McKeown and LT Ensch with wingmen LT Rabb and LTJG Crandall. May 23 1972 , VF-161 pilots and radar Intercept officers, 1972