Every American Aircraft That Fought in the Vietnam War

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Earlier this month, the U.S. Army announced that it would be renaming its Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense system (M-SHORAD). The system will be renamed to SGT STOUT after the Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Mitchell Stout who served as an artilleryman. Sgt. Stout is the only air defense artillery soldier to earn the Medal of Honor.

During the Vietnam War, aerial defense systems were paramount to protecting troops on the ground. A large part of this defense was handled through artillery, and another significant part was through maintaining air superiority with combat aircraft. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the combat aircraft used by the United States throughout the conflict. ( The helicopter war: a look at the iconic helicopters that defined the Vietnam War. )

To identify the American combat aircraft of the Vietnam War, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of American aircraft from Military Factory , an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used in militaries worldwide. We excluded all helicopters and any aircraft that were not used in direct combat roles. We ordered these aircraft chronologically and included supplemental information from Military Factory regarding type of aircraft, year introduced, manufacturer, top speed, and armament.

The F-4 Phantom II stood out as one of the more dominant fighter jets of the conflict. It played a number of roles including reconnaissance, ground attack, and air superiority missions. The Phantom II could carry a sizable payload of bombs and missiles, and it proved a formidable asset in bombing campaigns and air-to-air combat.

The Phantom II, along with a number of other aircraft, reshaped the Vietnam War and the tactics employed throughout the conflict. These aircraft emphasized air superiority and would go on to influence American fighter aircraft for decades to come. (These are the 20 future combat aircraft of the world's air forces. )

Here is a look at the American aircraft that fought the Vietnam War: Why Are We Covering This?

The Vietnam War was one of the first modern military conflicts that employed helicopters and fighter jets. As such the tactics and strategies used throughout the conflict would be studied and refined for years to come. Understanding this facet of the conflict gives context to the overall conflict and provides insight into the evolution of military doctrine.

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