Marine F4-Phantoms in Vietnam

Khe Sanh CAS (Close Air Support) and Snake Run: Depict Marine aviators from various squadrons who flew high speed, low altitude missions to support their fellow Marines on the ground during the Siege at Khe Sanh (21 Jan - 9 July 1968)
Manny's Ride: At midnight during a monsoon, a Marine platoon was in fear of being over-run by superior forces. Their backs to the mountains, they radioed for an air strike. All flights were grounded due to the unrelenting weather, yet two Marine F-4's of VMFA-542 took to the task. Flying over the tree tops with near zero visibility, the F-4's were welcomed by heavy anti-aircraft fire and one F-4 and crew were lost. In a desperate act to survive, the ground troops called the drop on their own position. Aviator Manny Simpson released his load of napalm striking the enemy munitions dump. With night turned to day, the ground troops guided in follow up drops to turn the tide of the battle