CAG Bird: During the Vietnam war, Intruder 155595 flew interdiction and strike missions in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam attacking the Ho Chi Minh Trail on pre-planned strikes and “Road Cuts” missions. Protective Reaction Strikes were flown against North Vietnam usually attacking SAM and AAA sites, as well as MIG bases. During one of these missions after Christmas 1971 VA-165 LCDR Fred Holmes was lost to a SAM while attacking the air base at Vinh. While attacking the Haiphong port area on May 10, 1972 fellow shipmates Lt. Randy “Duke” Cunningham and Willie Driscoll flew their famous mission becoming MIG aces while protecting the attacking alpha strike package in their F-4 Phantom.
