Vietnam exposed the limits of missile-era assumptions as dogfighting returned. Although only four Crusader kills cited here were made with guns, its manoeuvrability helped pilots employ Sidewinders effectively in close engagements. North Vietnamese aircraft often operated low to reduce exposure to American surface-to-air missiles, putting them into the regime where the Crusader was strongest. F-8 pairs combined visual lookout, onboard systems, and external guidance in a jet-age adaptation of earlier combat air patrol practice.
Chapter · 33:03-35:59
Low-altitude dogfighting over Vietnam
Vietnam brought close-range air combat back into prominence, and the manoeuvrable F-8 proved especially effective against MiGs at low altitude.