There were many different types of aircraft’s used in Vietnam; the F-105 Thunderchief, to the F-4 phantom, or even the F-100 Super Sabre are just a few. Some aircraft’s were used for search and destroy missions to rescue missions. The helicopters, for example, were mainly used for rescue missions. The helicopters would land right in the middle of a battle to pick up the wounded or even deliver more supplies.

But perhaps one of the most efficient air worriers was the F-4 Phantom, also known as the Mig killer. The Phantom went 1500 mph at its maximum speed, and held at the most 3,000 pounds of missiles. The Phantom carried four short-range heat-seeking missiles, and four radar missiles.

The super sonic, long-range nuclear bomber, on the other hand, known as the F-105 Thunderchief, was also an extremely important asset to the Vietnam War. Not only was its maximum speed 1,390 mph, but it could also carry more than 1200 pounds of bombs. The service ceiling, or how high it could go in the air could reach up to 51,000 feet. The Thundercheif also had a M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon to shoot nuclear heat seeking missiles.

The F-4 Phantom and the F-105 Thunderchief were mainly Mig shooters or sky raiders, on the other hand, the F-100 Super Sabre was a ground attacker, attacking road junctions, bridges and concentrations of troops. The Super Sabre could also carry a whooping four tons. But no matter the size or speed of one aircraft, there would always be another, bigger and better than the ones before. Mig-21, Russian built, was the most advanced fighter jet employed into the air by the North Vietnamese. Mig-21 would later become the United States biggest air opponent in Vietnam.

Many missiles were launched or dropped by aircraft’s during the Vietnam War, but perhaps the most deadly of them all was Napalm. Napalm was a powder added to gasoline, that would become a jelly like substance. The Napalm would then be dropped from the air, bursting and splattering the substance over a wide area. The Napalm would ignite and burn everything in its path. Many people died from the burning Napalm or suffocation. However bombs weren’t the only way kill, Agent Orange, a military code name for weed killer, was sprayed over jungles and farms in Southern Vietnam and Laos. Agent Orange would defoliate plants and the leaves on trees, revealing enemy hiding places. This weed killer would also destroy food crops.

To many, the Vietnam War was known as the war in the air. Many people died and were saved by the use of aircraft’s and technology developed towards aircraft’s and missiles in the Vietnam War. And today we remember the Veteran’s who all gave it there all, and all gave some. Without the use of air warfare in Vietnam, all aspects of the war would have been different. But now people understand what types of weapons were used in the sky and how they played a huge role in the Vietnam War.