Lt Curt Dose and LCDR Jim McDevitt flew this F-4J BuNo 157269 on 10 May 1972, the opening day of the LINEBACKER I air campaign over North Vietnam. Alerted North Vietnamese Air Force MiG-21PFM Fishbed fighters were at the end of the runway about to take off and intercept the Navy strike packages, Lt Dose and LCDR McDevitt were vectored to Kep Air Field northeast of Hanoi. The two MiG-21 Fishbeds took off right in front of them and going supersonic Lt Dose and LCDR McDevitt were able to catch up with the Fishbeds. Lt Dose launched an AIM-9D Sidewinder missile which missed but the second Sidewinder went straight up the MiG-21’s tailpipe still low to the ground after taking off. The detonation of the warhead blew the MiG into pieces crashing immediately before the pilot could eject from the fighter. Lt Dose had recently completed the Navy Fighter Weapons School or TOPGUN course. Curt Dose was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on 10 May 1972.
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