23 April 1966 – The Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF) sent its first MiG-21 to intercept two B-66 Destroyers being escorted to their mission by a flight of F-4 Phantoms. (2) Neither side scored a kill in the engagement. However, also on April 23, 1966, large numbers of MiG encounters in the area had been
On June 11, 1974, the Northrop YF-17 A 72-01569 became the first American fighter to break the sound barrier in level flight when not in afterburner. In the early 1970s, the ‘Pentagon came up with the concept of a smaller and less expensive Lightweight Fighter Program. Eventually, the nod was given to General Dynamics to […]
4 June 1983 – At Hill Air Force Base, Utah, the 419th Tactical Fighter Wing, the last U.S. Air Force unit flying the Republic F-105 Thunderchief supersonic fighter bomber, flew a Diamond of Diamonds 24-ship formation as the “Thud” was withdrawn from service after 25 years to be replaced by the General Dynamics F-16. Of
Today in History – June 4, 1953 – The F-105 “Thud” is withdrawn from service. Read More »
1Lt Donald Francis Ginart enlisted in the Air Force and entered via the Reserve Military. He began his tour on January 27, 1969, and was assigned to the 614TH TFS/35TH TFW, 7TH AF out of Phan Rang AB. On June 3, 1969, 1Lt Ginart was on a close air support mission about 10 miles southwest