In what is described as the biggest air battle of the war to date, U.S. Air Force F-4 Phantom jets down seven communist MiG-21s over North Vietnam. The Phantoms were flying cover for F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bombers, which were attacking surface-to-air missile sites in the Red River Delta. During this operation, Col. Robin Olds shot down one of the MiGs, becoming the first and only U.S. Air Force ace with victories in both World War II and Vietnam ("ace" was a designation traditionally awarded for five enemy aircraft shot down).
Also on This Day
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- U.S.-Russia detente ends, 1980
- American Revolution
- Congress publishes the Tory Act, 1776
- Automotive
- Rare Bugatti found in British garage, 2009
- Civil War
- Yankees are victorious at the Battle of Stones River, 1863
- Cold War
- Carter reacts to Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, 1980
- Crime
- The Yorkshire Ripper is apprehended, 1981
- Disaster
- Football fans crushed in stadium stampede, 1971
- General Interest
- Reconquest of Spain, 1492
- Georgia enters the Union, 1788
- First censuring of a U.S. senator, 1811
- Russian fleet surrenders at Port Arthur, 1905
- Callas walks out of performance, 1958
- Hollywood
- Sherry Lansing named first female studio production head, 1980
- Literary
- Stephen Crane's boat sinks, 1897
- Music
- Folk group The Weavers are banned by NBC after refusing to sign a loyalty oath, 1962
- Old West
- Secretary Fall resigns in Teapot Dome scandal, 1923
- Presidential
- Harrison welcomes Alice Sanger as first female staffer, 1890
- Nixon signs national speed limit into law, 1974
- Sports
- Sooners win 30th game in a row, 1956
- Vietnam War
- Viet Cong are successful at Ap Bac, 1963
- U.S. planes down seven enemy planes, 1967
- World War I
- Japanese capture Russian naval base at Port Arthur, 1905
- World War II
- Navy opens a blimp base in New Jersey, 1942
Jan 2, 1967:
U.S. planes down seven enemy planes
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This Week in History, Jan 2 - Jan 8
- Jan 02, 1963
- Viet Cong are successful at Ap Bac
- Jan 02, 1967
- U.S. planes down seven enemy planes
- Jan 03, 1965
- Antigovernment demonstrators clash with police
- Jan 03, 1968
- McCarthy announces his presidential candidacy
- Jan 04, 1965
- Johnson reaffirms commitment to South Vietnam
- Jan 04, 1974
- Thieu announces war has resumed
- Jan 05, 1967
- Amphibious operations conducted in the Mekong Delta
- Jan 05, 1969
- Lodge succeeds Harriman as chief negotiator
- Jan 06, 1971
- Army drops charges of My Lai cover-up
- Jan 06, 1975
- Phuoc Binh falls to the North Vietnamese
- Jan 07, 1965
- Civilian government is restored in Saigon
- Jan 07, 1971
- Laird visits Saigon
- Jan 08, 1967
- Operation Cedar Falls is launched
- Jan 08, 1973
- Peace talks resume in Paris
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