Two US Navy Propeller driven A1 Skyraiders shared an aerial kill of a NVAF MiG17 on 20 June 1965. This air action was recently depicted on televison's "dog-fight" series under the caption of "Vietnam Gun Kills." As shown on the TV program, a NVAF MiG17 closed head on into two USN Skyraiders...all three aircraft firing all of their guns. The two A1's were wing tip to wing tip and the MiG17 burst into flames, and flew just between the two oncoming A1's, barely missing either plane. The MiG continued on, impacting into a hillside. Bot A1 pilot's received a "shared kill."
The only solo aerial victory by an A1 Skyraider was flown by USN Ltjg William T. Patton. He shot down his MiG 17 jet aircraft on 09 October 1966 using his 20mm cannons. Patton entered a cloud, and upon exiting it, he observed the NVAF pilot floating to earth in his parachute. That was enough to confirm his kill, as he didn't actually see the MiG crash nor burn.
Patton's A1, cowling #409, was released as a Radio Controlled flying model in 2008 by Kondor. The model airplane uses a 4-stroke glow fuel powered internal combustion engine, and has a 70 inch wingspan.
Osprey Publications has also recently released a book covering the A1 in Vietnam: US Navy A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War #77, 2009; ISBN 13-978-1-8460-3-4107.
The U.S. Navy continued using propeller-driven attack aircraft well into the 1950s, with the last major variant, the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, remaining in service until the early 1970s. While jet aircraft began to dominate naval aviation after World War II, the Skyraider was valued for its versatility and effectiveness in close air support roles during conflicts like the Vietnam War. Ultimately, the transition to all-jet fleets marked the end of the propeller-driven era in naval aviation.
The first confirmed instance of a jet fighter being shot down in World War II occurred on July 27, 1944, when a British de Havilland Mosquito shot down a German Messerschmitt Me 262. The Me 262 was the world's first operational jet fighter, and its downing marked a significant moment in aviation history. The Mosquito, known for its speed and versatility, played a crucial role in this engagement.
World War 2 had jets and they shot each other down.
The Vietnam War's F-100 Supersabre Jet Fighter Bomber was the successor to the Korean War's F-86 Sabre Jet. Both were built by the North American Aircraft Manufacturing Company. Approximately 242 F-100's were lost in the Vietnam War, and about 275 F-86's were lost in Korea. In Vietnam, the F-100 was gradually phased out, as were most of the other Jets, by the F-4 Phantom II. Although, there is some contradiction concerning various sources, a USAF F-100 may have shot down the first North Vietnamese Air Force MIG Jet Fighter in 1965, using cannon fire (guns) during air to air combat (dog-fighting).
Chuck Yeager was among the first. Yeager is better know for being the first to break the "sound barrier" in level flight, flying the Bell X-1 in 1948.
McCain's A-4 Skyhawk was shot down by a SAM (Surface to Air Missile) over Hanoi, capital of North Vietnam.
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider (see film: Rescue Dawn) was a propeller driven dive bomber/torpedo bomber designed during WWII, but only saw combat in Korea and Vietnam Wars. Only the USN/USMC (?) used the A1 in Korea; the USAF/USN/USMC (?) used the Skyraider in Vietnam. About 266 A1s were lost in the Vietnam War. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (flown by Senator McCain) was strictly a USN/USMC jet. Nicknamed the "scooter" because it was small, easy to fly, and cheap to build and buy. Approximately 362 "scooters" were lost in the Vietnam War.
The most famous are the: 1. Douglas A1 Skyraider, a propeller driven dive bomber (see film "Rescue Dawn" starring Christian Bale); Kondor has just recently marketed a 70" wingspan for a R/C (Radio Controlled) flying model of US Navy Lieutenant Patton's Douglas Skyraider. LTjg Patton shot down a NVAF MiG17 in aerial combat during the Vietnam War. 2. Douglas A4 Skyhawk jet, flown by Senator McCain. 3. Douglas DC-3 (C-47), flown as the gunship "Puff the Magic Dragon" in Vietnam.
Kris Hughes has written: 'Douglas A-1 Skyraider' -- subject(s): Skyraider (Attack plane) 'McDonnell Douglas F-4 gun nosed Phantoms' -- subject(s): Phantom II (Jet fighter plane)
The U.S. Navy continued using propeller-driven attack aircraft well into the 1950s, with the last major variant, the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, remaining in service until the early 1970s. While jet aircraft began to dominate naval aviation after World War II, the Skyraider was valued for its versatility and effectiveness in close air support roles during conflicts like the Vietnam War. Ultimately, the transition to all-jet fleets marked the end of the propeller-driven era in naval aviation.
US pilots flying propeller driven airplanes shot down German experimental jets during the last stages of WWII.
A banded archerfish is an archerfish, Latin name Toxotes jaculatrix, known for its ability to spit out a jet of water to shoot down its prey.
Last jet aces of the 20th century.
America's last jet Aces of the 20th century were from the Vietnam War; they flew the F4 Phantom II jet fighter. The B-52 Stratofortress high altitude strategic bomber fought it's first war in Vietnam. Two B-52 tailgunner crewmen scored MIG kills in aerial combat. Aerial jet combat (Dog-Fighting) over the skies of North Vietnam returned guns to US jet fighter aircraft. Instead of being armed with just missiles.
Just Shoot Me - 1997 King Lear Jet 2-5 was released on: USA: 11 November 1997 Hungary: 30 August 2008
Excepting the F105 which was the largest single engine jet in the US inventory during the war, the average SINGLE engine jet cost roughly a million dollars.
The most note worthy, is that Vietnam brought back an old idea; the gun. Thanks to the Vietnam War, all US jet fighters now have guns on them, no matter how modern they are...the F22 Raptor has guns...because the Vietnam War was the last war in which US jet fighter pilots fought a determined and competent enemy in jet to jet warfare. The US dog-fighting schools, TOP GUN (USN) and RED FLAG (USAF) were specifically designed based upon the experience gained in the skies over North Vietnam...good old fashioned dog-fighting (air to air combat).