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From: gardiner@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU (David Gardiner)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Fighters without guns
Keywords: Only the F-4?
Message-ID: <13094@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 12 Jan 90 04:47:33 GMT
References: <12928@cbnews.ATT.COM> <12970@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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Organization: CSci Dept., University of Minnesota, Mpls.
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From: gardiner@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU (David Gardiner)
I was talking to a pilot who flew F-4s in Vietnam in the late 1960's
who related this story to me.

The Sidewinders they carried had to travel about a half mile before
they would arm.  Whenever a Phantom would get on the tail of a MiG,
the MiG would hit the brakes, forcing the Phantom to get too close.
Then the external gun pods arrived.  Suffice to say, there were some
VERY surprised MiG pilots finding that their favorite tactics were no
longer such a hot idea.  After a week or so, the VC apparently figured
out what was going on and ceased sending MiGs up to play with the
Phantoms.