The Don Englebreston Collection

Pilot Inspects Severe Battle Damage to Aircraft Wing, Vietnam War

Pilot Inspects Severe Battle Damage to Aircraft Wing, Vietnam War

A pilot examines the aftermath of a close call: a gaping hole torn through his aircraft's wing by enemy fire during a combat mission over Vietnam. Photographs like this illustrate the extreme risks aircrews faced daily and the toughness of aircraft that could sustain such damage and still return home. Project: 219050