24 July 1965 – Four F-4 C Phantoms escorting a bombing raid at Kang Chi are the targets of SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air antiaircraft missiles in the first such attack against American planes in the Vietnam war. One is shot down and the other three sustain damage.
Ground-to-air anti-aircraft missiles began a rapidly improving defense system for the North Vietnamese. Supported by the Soviet Union and China, their integrated air defense system would become a real challenge to American flyers conducting missions over North Vietnam.