Welcome to the home of the USS Midway (CVA-41) F-4 Phantom squadrons. This site preserves the history and memories of the men who flew and maintained the F-4 Phantom II fighters aboard USS Midway during the Vietnam War era (1965–1973).
On June 17, 1965, VF-21 Phantoms scored the first air-to-air victories of the Vietnam War, downing two MiG-17 aircraft. On January 12, 1973, VF-161 Phantoms scored the last aerial victory of the war. Both historic events happened from the same ship — USS Midway.
Historic Firsts
USS Midway holds a unique distinction in naval aviation history:
- June 17, 1965 — CDR Louis C. Page and LT John C. Smith (VF-21) downed the first MiG-17, followed by their wingman LT David Batson and LCDR Robert Doremus with the second kill. These were the first air-to-air victories of the Vietnam War.
- January 12, 1973 — LT Victor Kovaleski and LCDR James Wise (VF-161) downed a MiG-17 using a Sidewinder missile, scoring the last aerial victory of the Vietnam War.