4 Missiles Failed. A US Air Force F-4 Phantom Killed a MiG-19 With 300 Cannon Rounds at Mach 1.2

Automatically curated summary from 19FortyFive.

According to a report published by 19FortyFive referencing an account from Aviation Geek Club, U.S. Air Force Major Phil Handley and First Lieutenant Jack Smallwood achieved a rare aerial victory on June 2, 1972, during the Vietnam War. Flying an F-4E Phantom II, Handley engaged North Vietnamese MiG-19s after all four of his air-to-air missiles failed to function properly. Handley then utilized the aircraft’s nose-mounted 20mm M61A1 Vulcan rotary cannon, firing 300 rounds while traveling at Mach 1.2 to destroy an enemy fighter at low altitude.

Context and limitations

The claim that this engagement represents the only confirmed supersonic gun kill in aerial combat history relies on historical combat narratives cited by the publisher and secondary outlets that may warrant independent verification.