America’s final air-to-air kill in Vietnam was scored by an F-4B Phantom launched from this battleship

A Routine Mission Turns Historic

On January 12, 1973, Lt. Vic Kovaleski and Lt. j.g. Jim Wise launched their F-4B Phantom from USS Midway into overcast skies over Vietnam.

Their job that day was Barrier Combat Air Patrol, or BARCAP, flying a defensive screen to protect Navy ships from enemy planes.

Two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles later, they had written the final chapter of America’s air war in Vietnam.

Here’s what happened, now on display at the USS Midway Museum, where you can see their actual aircraft today.

Enemy Aircraft During Peace Negotiations

The North Vietnamese MiG-17 surprised the American pilots.

Both sides were meeting in Paris to end the war, which made everything unexpected. Enemy planes never risked flying over the Gulf of Tonkin.

Senior Lieutenant Luu Kim Ngo flew the MiG-17 whilst hunting a U.S. Air Force C-130 plane that had launched spy drones.

First Contact with the Enemy

The F-4B crews were cruising by when their radios came alive. The fighter controller aboard a Navy ship reported an unknown aircraft nearby.

The mystery plane was at bearing 020 degrees, 38 miles away. Pilots call these unidentified contacts “bogeys.”

Clouds and humidity blocked clear vision in every direction. But, Kovaleski spotted sunlight glinting off the enemy plane’s canopy.

Maneuvering for the Right Position

Kovaleski spotted the MiG at 11 o’clock, four miles out and slightly below. His faster F-4B quickly closed the gap.

The enemy pilot spotted the Americans and broke hard left. Kovaleski pulled up, rolled left, and stayed on the MiG’s tail without overshooting.

This move prevented overshooting the nimbler MiG-17.

Though older and slower, MiGs could out-turn most American fighters, making them dangerous in close combat.

The Critical Tactical Error Above

After several sharp turns, the MiG pilot lost sight of the American F-4B. This mistake would cost him everything.

Thinking he was safe, the pilot turned right, but it placed him directly in front of Kovaleski and Wise, a vulnerable position.

The fight had now reached Haiphong Harbor, deep in North Vietnam, and surrounded by anti-aircraft guns.

Launching the Heat-Seeking Missiles

Kovaleski and Wise fired two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles at the MiG-17.

The first missile hit the MiG’s left tail, damaging but not destroying it. The second missile flew straight into the engine exhaust, exploding inside.

Navy pilots scored most of their kills with Sidewinders. The reliable missile proved deadly against North Vietnamese planes throughout the conflict.

Immediate Consequences Over Haiphong

The battle happened right over Haiphong Harbor, North Vietnam’s main port, which bristled with anti-aircraft guns and missile sites.

The North Vietnamese pilot ejected from his burning plane. After confirming the kill, Kovaleski and Wise quickly left the area.

North Vietnamese forces later found the pilot’s body in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Combat Operations That Followed

Despite severe damage, Kovaleski steered the crippled jet toward the ocean. Both men ejected safely over water.

Navy rescue helicopters reached them within 15 minutes. The very next day, January 15, 1973, President Nixon announced a ceasefire.

The USS Midway then left Vietnamese waters and returned to California, its fighting role in the war complete.

Final Aerial Victory on January 12

This shoot-down marked the 197th and final air victory of the Vietnam War. No further air combat occurred before the Paris Peace Accords.

Planes from USS Midway had scored the first American air victories of the war on June 17, 1965, when two F-4Bs shot down two MiG-17s.

The Air Force Historical Research Agency confirms the last air-to-air fights occurred in mid-January, with no combat after the ceasefire.

Visiting F-4B Phantom Display, USS Midway Museum

The USS Midway Museum welcomes visitors daily from 10 am to 5 pm at 910 N. Harbor Drive in San Diego, California.

Adult tickets cost $29 with discounts for seniors, students, and children. Military members receive special rates.

The F-4 Phantom flown by Kovaleski and Wise appears on the flight deck among 30 restored aircraft.

The self-guided audio tour explains the historic final air victory. Museum docents, many former Midway sailors, share personal stories.

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