THE REAL TOP GUN

From humble beginnings the US Navy Fighter Weapons School was instrumental in turning the tide of the air war over Vietnam

- STUART HADAWAY

The United States Navy (USN) Fighter Weapons School was established in 1969 in an attempt to stem US losses in the air war over Vietnam. Soon dubbed ‘Top Gun’, the school taught dogfighting skills to a generation of pilots who were reliant on missiles and technology, and the training turned the tide of the air war.

From 1965 to 1968 the US mounted Operation Rolling Thunder, part of its war with the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). The US was supporting the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) in its campaign to stem a North Vietnamese invasion, a conflict that was all part of the wider Cold War. A bombing campaign was started in an attempt to undermine the North’s military capabilities and political will, but the supposedly primitive North Vietnamese air defences proved a tough nut to crack. Soviet and Chinese support allowed them to build an impressive ground-to-air missile and anti-aircraft gun defence system, and also provided small numbers of modern jet fighters. To the surprise and alarm of the US, these proved highly effective and USN. and US Air Force (USAF) air-to-air combat losses mounted.