That day he was flying an F-4 Phantom with his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO), Lieutenant Bill John. The squadron’s Executive Officer was Commander Sam Flynn. That day proved to be one of the most significant in the squadron’s history. For the crews of US Navy Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31, the “Tomcatters”), June 21, 1972, was the last day of their first line period of sustained operations onboard the USS Saratoga before a scheduled week off. The goal of the strikes was to cripple the recent North Vietnamese ground offensive launched that spring, to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to defending South Vietnam, and to pressure North Vietnam at the negotiating table. It was the summer of 1972, in the middle of Operation Linebacker: an aggressive bombing campaign in the last year of major air operations in the Vietnam War. This Phantom is currently on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center (Photo courtesy Bill John) Bill John (left) sit in their F-4 Phantom, just prior to takeoff on the mission during which they shot down a MiG-21.
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