INTO THE STORM

Description

During the war in Vietnam, no aircraft played a more dominant role in air combat than McDonnell’s legendary F-4 Phantom. Extensively utilized by the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, this aircraft in the hands of Naval aviators performed admirably, from the first official missions of the war following the Tonkin Gulf incident to covering the final evacuation from Saigon. Throughout the conflict, though Phantoms pounded targets in the North and South, it is best remembered as a Fighter, racking up a long list of MiG kills. The F-4’s 2-man team consisted of a pilot and RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) and was capable of speeds over Mach 2, utilizing air-to-air & air-to-ground missiles, a variety of bombs, with later models incorporating a cannon as well.

Into the Storm depicts two Phantoms passing the USS Constellation on a MiGCAP mission, armed with Sparrow and Sidewinders in 1967. Two stalwart squadrons are represented here; VF-143’s “Pukin’ Dogs” and VF-142’s “Ghostriders”, who flew together as sister squadrons throughout the war.

A special thanks for research on this painting goes to one of our great signers, Commander James B. “JayBee” Souder (RIO, lead plane 302). Souder, in addition to achieving the longest aerial intercept during the war, and being credited with the destruction of a MiG 21 in October of ’67, was later shot down in 1972 and captured by the North Vietnamese. During his time as a POW he would receive high honors for his life-saving actions. The print edition of Into the Storm is dedicated to the war’s 726 American POWs, 151 of whom were of the U.S. Navy, and is numbered in its Main Edition and Artist Proof edition to commemorate these brave Americans.

THE SIGNATURES