About This File
McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom 'VNAF' for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a very simple mod of the stock Third Wire F-4C to create a fictional Phantom in service with the Vietnamese Air Force in the 1973 to 1975 timeline.
BACKSTORY
The end of the Linebacker campaign on October 23rd, 1972 coincided with the US Government's 'Project Enhance Plus' - essentially the building up of the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) to an adequate level to sustain effective operations after any final ceasefire and, more importantly for domestic politics, to continue the fight after the complete withdrawl of US forces. In a rush effort, 288 aircraft were transferred to the VNAF including 116 F-5's Freedom Fighters, 90 A-37's Dragonflys and 28 A-1 Skyraiders. Not content with that, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu specifically asked for F-4 Phantoms explaining that he felt that the VNAF was being issued with aircraft that were short on range and unable to carry the fight to the North.
Initially refused, US President Nixon later added an amendment to 'Project Enhance Plus' by allowing the transfer of 36 F-4C Phantoms from USAF stocks. The war-weary F-4C's began to arrive in early 1973 to equip two squadrons of the VNAF based at Tan Son Nhut airbase seeing sporadic action during the uneasy truce and scattered skirmishes of 1973 and 1974. However, when NVA forces burst through the crumbing South Vietnamese defences during April 1975 they quickly captured Bien Hoa airbase to the north of Saigon and immediately swung west to capture Tan Son Nhut airbase catching most the surviving 27 F-4C's of the VNAF on the ground. The Phantoms were inspected and overhauled by Chinese technicians before entering service with the 927th Fighter Regiment of the Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) who operated the type until 1982 when they were grounded by a chronic spares shortage.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-4C_VNAF folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-4C_VNAF folder into your main Decals folder.
3. (Optional) From the PILOTS folder drag and drop the PILOT_VNAF1 and PILOT_VNAF2 folders into your main Pilots folder.
CREDITS
Thanks to Third Wire for the continuous improvement of a great little game/sim.
And thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 1 - 06/04/13