USS Midway 1965
Subic Bay, Philippines

USS Midway 2004
San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum

"USS Midway fighters score both
the FIRST and LAST air combat victories
of the Vietnam War!"

On June 17, 1965, while deployed aboard USS Midway in the Gulf of Tonkin,
VF-21 Phantoms engaged and successfully destroyed two North Vietnamese MiG-17 aircraft,
utilizing radar-guided Sparrow missiles.

The first MiG-17 was downed by CDR Louis C. Page and LT. John C. Smith,
and the second by their wingman, LT. David Batson and LCDR Robert Doremus.
These were the FIRST air-to-air victories of the Vietnam War.

On January 12, 1973, while also deployed aboard USS Midway in the Gulf of Tonkin,
VF-161 Phantoms engaged and successfully destroyed one North Vietnamese MiG-17 aircraft,
utilizing an IR-guided Sidewinder missile.

This MiG-17 was downed by LT. Victor Kovaleski and LT. James Wise.
Wingman: LT. Pat Arwood and Ens. Lynn Oates.
This was the LAST air-to-air victory of the Vietnam War.
A total of 8 enemy fighters were shot down by Midway aircraft during the Vietnam War.