5 June 1967 / “Oakland 1” / F-4C (64-0660) / MiG-17 / 20mm cannon. Maj. Priester and Capt. Pankhurst were leading a flight of four F-4Cs on MiG combat air patrol when they downed their enemy aircraft. “Inbound to the target area”, said Priester, “I observed three MiG-17s at my 3 o’clock low position.” Priester’s…
14 May 1967, THE DAY OF THE GUN, “Elgin 1” / F-4C (63-7699) / MiG-17 / AIM-7. MiG’s encountered by the second flight also used the same circular tactics. Maj. Samuel 0 . Bakke and Capt. Robert W. Lambert, flying in the lead aircraft, got their victory at the same time that Craig and Talley…
14 May 1967, THE DAY OF THE GUN, “Speedo 3” / F-4C (64-7704) / MiG-17 / 20mm cannon. The first MiG’s fell prey to the 20mm cannon on 14 May, when F-4C aircrews of the 480th TFS of the 366th TFW destroyed three MiG-17’s; two of them were shot down by the SUU-16. An F-4…
14 May 1967, THE DAY OF THE GUN, “Speedo 1” / F-4C (64-0660) / MiG-17 / 20mm cannon. The first MiG’s fell prey to the 20mm cannon on 14 May, when F-4C aircrews of the 480th TFS of the 366th TFW destroyed three MiG-17’s; two of them were shot down by the SUU-16. An F-4…
5 November 1966, “Opal 2” / F-4C (63-7541) / MiG-21 / AIM-7. Four F-4C’s of the 366th TFW were providing escort for an EB-66 on 5 November when they were attacked by two or more MIG-21’s in the northeastern section of North Vietnam, near Hanoi and Haiphong. The EB-66 was making its final orbit of…
5 November 1966, “Opal 1” / F-4C (63-7541) / MiG-21 / AIM-7. Four F-4C’s of the 366th TFW were providing escort for an EB-66 on 5 November when they were attacked by two or more MIG-21’s in the northeastern section of North Vietnam, near Hanoi and Haiphong. The EB-66 was making its final orbit of…
14 July 1966, F-4C (SN Unknown) / MiG-21 / AIM-9. Two MIG-21’s were destroyed on 14 July by F-4C aircrews of the 480th TFS. Capt. William J. Swendner and 1st Lt. Duane A. Buttell, Jr. flew the lead Phantom, and 1st Lts. Ronald G. Martin and Richard N. Krieps the number 2 aircraft. They were…
14 July 1966, F-4C (63-7489) / MiG-21 / AIM-9. Two MIG-21’s were destroyed on 14 July by F-4C aircrews of the 480th TFS. Capt. William J. Swendner and 1st Lt. Duane A. Buttell, Jr. flew the lead Phantom, and 1st Lts. Ronald G. Martin and Richard N. Krieps the number 2 aircraft. They were part…
29 April 1966, F-4C / MiG-21 / AIM-9. On 26 April, Maj. Paul J. Gilmore, in the front seat of the lead FAC, and 1st Lt. William T. Smith in the back, downed the first MIG-21 of the war. They were part of a flight of three F-4’s flying escort for two RB-66’s. Launching from…
The 480th Fighter Squadron was reactivated on 13 Aug 2010, back at Spangdahlem AB, West Germany, with F-16CM Block-50 assets from the 22nd FS, which was inactivated. The 480th FS took the role of USAFE’s SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) asset. The Warhawks have since continued to distinguish themselves in combat operations Operation Odyssey Dawn over Libya, Operation New Dawn in Iraq, and in Afghanistan.