Outstanding service from a legendary fighter! USA sure got its monies worth out of the F-4! I'd like to add mention of some pilots who became legendary flying that big ol' smokin' bird.
1. Gen. "Steve" Richie - only official USAF "ace" of the Vietnam war - well, along side his back seater Capt. Chuck DeBellevue (also credited as being a "ace").
2. "Duke Cunningham - USN's only "ace" of the Vietnam War. "Duke" was a better pilot than a politician it turned out and did time for corruption whilst being a congressman - got caught with his hand in the cookie jar big time!
3. Cdr. Harley Hall - One time commander of the Blue Angels when flying the F-4 and featured in the film "Threshold - the Blue Angels Experience". Whilst hitting a Nth Vietnamese truck convoy heading south, tragically Harley was the very last USN pilot shot down over Vietnam, was seen on the ground after ejecting and never returned home. There is very strong evidence that Hall was kept captive in Vietnam for many years. Hall is one of the many forgotten victims of the Vietnam war.
4. Mention of the legendary aviators who flew the F-4 has to include the greatest legend himself - Brig. Gen Robin Olds. Olds to me is the very definition of "Fighter Pilot". West Point educated and later marrying a movie star, he fought in two wars (P-38,P-51 pilot in WW2) and of course commanded the legendary 8th TFW at Ubon, RTAFB. Olds came up with Operation Bolo which resulted in 7 MiGs shot down in one day. He was officially credited with 4 MiGs, but it's well known he bagged at least a couple more and passed on credit to others in the wing. He had been told that as soon as he bagged his 5th, he was on his way home. Olds was very critical of US tactics in Vietnam post his time there. He finished as the Commandant of the USAF academy - there at the time when a F-105 doing a graduation flyby went supersonic and blew out all the windows in the Chapel!
Here's to the F-4 greats - legends all!
