History of the usage of Military Aircraft | Aircraft Series | By Justin Schatzki
The Soviets, for their part, kept their guns and developed ever more advanced aircraft. The most famous Soviet fighter jet used by the North Vietnamese Air Force was the Mig21. The Mig21 was capable of reaching supersonic speeds, was very maneuverable, small, simple to construct, and armed with both a powerful gun and missiles.
The most formidable plane the Americans had was the F-4 Phantom fighter-bomber , armed with a small load of bombs and Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles. The Phantom had no gun, though, and its 2-man crews were often inexperienced. The Americans did not have nearly as much air superiority in Vietnam as in past wars. The Mig21 would always harass F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber formations, and the Phantoms were tasked in protecting the F-105s.
The most formidable plane the Americans had was the F-
The Mig21s would always ambush these escorts then disappear back into the sky. The missiles the Phantoms deployed were unreliable in the tropical heat of Vietnam.
Eventually, an air force squadron mounted Gatling gun pods on their phantoms, then took them to battle. The result was a loss of several Mig21s with no American losses.
Later Phantom models were then equipped with an integrated gun, and new pilots were trained to dogfight properly. Ultimately, there were more MIG losses than Phantom losses, but the war was lost. Technology would continue to improve through the rest of the twentieth century.
Eventually, an air force squadron mounted Gatling gun pods on their phantoms, then took them to battle. The result was a loss of several Mig21s with no American losses.
Later Phantom models were then equipped with an integrated gun, and new pilots were trained to dogfight properly. Ultimately, there were more MIG losses than Phantom losses, but the war was lost. Technology would continue to improve through the rest of the twentieth century.
