Who shot down the most planes in Vietnam?

The North Vietnamese Air Force (VPAF) had between 60 and 75 aircraft in service at most points during the war. Yet the MiG-17s, MiG-19s, and MiG-21s shot down 67 USAF aircraft against a loss of 137 of their own, leaving the US Air Force with barely a two-to-one exchange ratio over the course of the war.

How many planes did Vietnam shoot down?

The United States lost 578 UAVs (554 over Vietnam and 24 over China). In total, the United States military lost in Vietnam almost 10,000 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (3,744 planes, 5,607 helicopters and 578 UAVs ). The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973.

How many pilots were shot down in Vietnam?

According to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a total of 11,846 helicopters were shot down or crashed during the war, resulting in nearly 5,000 American pilots and crew killed.

How many B 52 bombers were shot down in the Vietnam War?

Conducted by more than 200 U.S. military B-52 bombers from the Seventh Air Force and Task Force 77, the raids ran continuously over a 12-day period. The U.S. claimed 16 B-52 bombers were shot down, while North Vietnam claimed 34 bombers shot down. The effect of the bombings on the peace negotiations is debated.

How many F 4 shot down in Vietnam?

During the Vietnam War, the USAF lost a total of 528 F-4s (of all types) to enemy action with the majority being down by anti-aircraft fire or surface-to-air missiles.

He Knew Too Much - The Insane Rescue of Most Important Man Shot Down in the Vietnam War

What was the bloodiest battle in Vietnam?

Hue was the single bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War.

For an entire month, U.S. Marines and soldiers, along with ARVN troops, waged battles throughout the city, often going house to house to remove Hue from North Vietnamese control. It was the first time Marines had engaged in urban combat since the Korean War.

How many MiGs were lost in Vietnam?

Even so, the small, quick-turning MiGs proved to be formidable opponents. American airmen shot down 196 MiGs—137 by the Air Force, 59 by the Navy and the Marine Corps—and sustained 83 losses.

Did Russia shoot down B-52?

Shooting Down A Dozen B-52 Bombers, Meet The Russian Missile That Almost Sparked A US-Russia Nuclear War.

Has the US ever lost a b2 bomber?

The aircraft was destroyed, but both crew members successfully ejected. The accident marked the first operational loss of a B‑2 bomber, and as of 2023 remains the only one. With an estimated loss of US$1.4 billion, considering only the cost of the aircraft, it was also the most expensive aircraft crash in history.

Has the US ever shot down a Russian plane?

US pilot shot down four Soviet MiGs in 30 minutes – and kept it a secret for 50 years. Royce Williams was a real-life “Top Gun” 10 years before Tom Cruise was even born. On a cold November day in 1952, Williams shot down four Soviet fighter jets – and became a legend no one would hear about for more than 50 years.

Which pilot has the most kills in history?

Erich Hartmann is the most successful fighter pilot of all times – with 352 kills. A number that will never be surpassed. His nickname “Bubi” means “little boy” – and it's easy to find out why he was called like that. He was also called “The black devil”.

What was the bloodiest day in Vietnam?

The deadliest day of the Vietnam War for the U.S. was 31 January at the start of the Tet Offensive when 246 Americans were killed in action.

Why did US lose so many aircraft in Vietnam?

By mid-1965, several manned aircraft were lost due to ground fire, lack of fuel, mishaps, and other causes, and many aircrews were already prisoners of war.

What was the biggest bombing in Vietnam?

Operation Linebacker II was the single largest saturation bombing campaign of the war: for 11 days straight, hundreds of B-52s pummeled the industrial cities of Hanoi and Haiphong. The raids decimated the North's industrial capacity, but also caused considerable collateral damage.

Why can't stealth bombers be seen?

Stealth aircraft are designed to avoid detection using a variety of technologies that reduce reflection/emission of radar, infrared, visible light, radio frequency (RF) spectrum, and audio, collectively known as stealth technology.

What is the most stealth aircraft?

As the world's first 5th generation fighter, the F-22 Raptor is the oldest design on this list, but its incredible combination of low observability and high performance not only set the standard for all stealth fighters to come, it remains the most capable stealth fighter in service anywhere on the planet to this very ...

How many B-52 have been lost?

A total of 18 B-52s were lost in combat during the Vietnam War, most as a result of surface-to-air missile (SAM) strikes over North Vietnam. Further, 12 aircraft were lost in other operational circumstances, including the two lost on July 7, 1967.

What plane did Putin shoot down?

Dutch prosecutors said in their summary of findings that “there are strong indications that the Russian president decided on supplying” a Buk missile system to Ukrainian separatists. A Buk system was used to bring down MH17 on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

How has the B-52 lasted so long?

According to Boeing employees who maintain, service and upgrade the USAF's fleet of 76 B-52Hs there is no single factor that has allowed the BUFF to fly for so long. But two characteristics stand out – its ruggedness and its simplicity.

Who shot down first MiG in Vietnam War?

June 17, 1965

Two U.S. Navy F-4 Phantom aircrews record the first confirmed U.S. air-to-air kills of the Vietnam War. The Phantoms, of Fighter Squadron 21 from the carrier USS Midway, shoot down two North Vietnamese MiG-17s using air-to-air missiles.

What unit lost the most men in Vietnam?

1st Cavalry Division – Ia Drang Valley, Republic of (South) Vietnam, November 16, 1965. At the battles at LZ X-Ray and LZ Albany, 234 men were killed and more than 250 were wounded in a period of four days.

Did the U.S. lose any ships in Vietnam?

The Vietcong guerrillas blew a hole into the 9,800‐ton U.S.S. Card below the waterline. The ship had arrived here with a cargo of helicopters and fighter bombers. It was the first time a major United States vessel had been sunk in the battle against the Vietcong.