Case Studies in the Achievement of Air Superiority - Air Force ...

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SOUTHEAST ASIA
TABLE 10-2
Tactical Aircraft in Southeast Asia Theater by Aircraft Qpe
1965-72
Aircraft Type 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972
F-4C
F-4D
F-4E
F-100 D/F
F-104 C/D
F-105 D/F
RF-4C
B-55 B/C
RF-10 1 C
F-102A
EC-12 1 D
18
0
0
69
13
79
0
10
25
17
NA
190
0
0
87
8
126
19
18
28
22
NA
160 47 48
19 171 161
0 0 79
198 273 203
16 0 0
132 108 70
60 75 81
19 35 30
25 16 18
23 22 16
6 6 6
~
0
146
66
170
0
65
56
6
NA
4
6
~ ~~
0 41
145 229
71 126
59 0
0 0
12 30
37 38
15 19
0 0
0 0
3 4
~
Total 231 498 658 753 712 519 342 487
Nofe: These numbers reflect aircraft “on hand,” which is a slightly larger figure than that for aircraft “ready.” The
”ready” figures, however, did not extend across all years. NA means “not available.” The F-105s from 1972 were
G model aircraft.
Source: USAF Sratisfical Digesf, Fiscal Years 1965-1972, HQ, USAF Washington, D.C., Tables Eight and
Nine.
and the early part of 1965, the major threat to U.S. planes attacking North
Vietnam was antiaircraft fire, so older U.S. planes were suitable for missions
over both North and South Vietnam. Table 10-4 gives the types and
ranges of North Vietnamese antiaircraft guns. In September 1964, North
Vietnam possessed only about 1,400 antiaircraft guns of all types, and they
were supported by only 22 early warning and 4 fire control radars.29 By
March 1965, the North Vietnamese had increased the number of early
warning radars to 31 and the number of fire control radars to 9, making it
harder for U.S. strike forces to avoid damage. The 57-, 8 5, and 100-mm
guns could be radar-controlled; all fired proximity shells. The effectiveness
of such weapons could be (and was) drastically increased by the use of
early warning radars to track U.S. strike forces approaching and leaving
target areas. Despite the growing number of antiaircraft gun batteries and
supporting radars, however, what pushed the F-100 aside as an attack/
fighter plane for use over North Vietnam was the development of the
NVAF and a system of surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries. The F-100
still remained in the Seventh Air Force inventory through its effective life
because it was useful in areas where the ground fire was less intense and
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