Mac's Facts No. 72
Vietnam POWs with Aerial Victories
Last Updated: 19 July 2012
This is a listing of all Vietnam POWs with Aerial Victory Credits in any war. The rank listed is the rank the person held at the time of their last aerial victory.
WWII
1st Lt Lawrence N. Guarino, USAAF-3 (Shot down 3 Bf 109s while flying a Spitfire on 1/20/1944, 1/21/1944, and 3/19/1944, all using .303-in machine guns and 20mm cannons)
1st Lt Hervey S. Stockman, USAAF-2 (Shot down 2 Bf 109s while flying a P-51B on 7/29/1944 and 8/16/1944, both using .50-cal machine guns)
Korea
1st Lt Samuel R. Johnson, USAF-1, plus 1 probable (Shot down 1 MiG-15 while flying an F-86 on 5/23/1953, using .50-cal machine guns)
1st Lt James H. Kasler, USAF-6 (Shot down 6 MiG-15’s all while flying F-86’s: 1 on 4/1/1952, 1 on 4/21/1952, 1 on 5/4/1952, 2 on 5/15/1952, and 1 on 5/25/1952, all using .50-cal machine guns)
1st Lt James F. Low, USAF-9 (Shot down 9 MiG-15’s all while flying F-86’s: 1 on 5/8/1952, 1 on 6/6/1952, 2 on 6/11/1952, 1 on 6/15/1952, 1 on 7/4/1952, 1 on 12/2/1952, 1 on 12/10/1952, and 1 on 12/18/1952, all using .50-cal machine guns--not a member of NAM-POWs)
Maj Robinson Risner, USAF-8 (Shot down 8 MiG-15’s all while flying F-86’s: 1 on 8/5/1952, 1 on 9/5/1952, 1 on 9/15/1952, 2 on 9/21/1952, 1 on 10/22/1952, 1 on 12/4/1952, and 1 on 1/21/1953, all using .50-cal machine guns)
Vietnam
LTJG Gareth L. Anderson, USN-1 (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying as a RIO on an F-4B on 4/24/1967, using missiles)
1st Lt Cecil H. Brunson, USAF-1 (Maneuvered a MiG-19 into the ground while flying an F-4E on 10/6/1972)
LCDR Claude D. Clower, USN-1 (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying an F-4B on 11/19/1967, using missiles)
LCDR Robert B. Doremus, USN-2 (Shot down two MiG-17s while flying as a RIO on an F-4B on 6/17/1965, using missiles)
LT John C. Ensch, USN-2 (Shot down two MiG-17s while flying as a RIO on an F-4B on 5/23/1972, using missiles)
LTJG Edward D. Estes, USN-1 (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying as a RIO on an F-4B on 11/19/1967, using missiles)
CDR Fred A. W. Franke, Jr., USN-1 (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying an F-4B on 6/17/1965, using missiles)
Capt Harold E. Johnson, USAF-1, plus 1 probable (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying as an EWO on an F-105F on 4/19/1967, using 20mm cannon)
LtCol Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr, USAF-1 (Shot down a MiG-21 while flying an F-4D on 3/1/1972, using missiles)
Maj Kenneth A. Simonet, USAF-1 (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying an F-4D on 1/18/1968, using missiles)
1st Lt Wayne O. Smith, USAF-1 (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying an F-4D on 1/18/1968, using missiles)
LT James B. Souder, USN-1 (Aided in shooting down a MiG-21 while flying as a RIO on an F-4B on 10/26/1967, using missiles)*
LCDR Charles E. Southwick, USN-1 (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying an F-4B on 4/24/1967, using missiles)
Maj Leo K. Thorsness, USAF-1, plus 1 probable (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying an F-105F on 4/19/1967, using 20mm cannon)
Capt Norman L. Wells, USAF-1 (Shot down a MiG-17 while flying an F-105D on 7/19/1966, using 20mm cannon)
* - LT Souder's aerial victory came about while he directed his section of F-4s through an 18 mile intercept of a MIG-21 as a Radar Intercept Officer. When his own weapons system failed, he directed his wingman onto the MIG and the wingman destroyed the aircraft with a missile.
