Capt. Paul D. Howman (pilot) and 1st Lt. Lawrence W. Kullman (Weapon Systems Officer), flying in a McDonnell Douglas F-4D, record the last U.S. Air Force victory in the Vietnam War as they shoot down a MiG-21 near Hanoi. It was the duo’s only aerial victory and the second-to-last U.S. victory of the entire conflict—a U.S. Navy F-4B, crewed by Lt. Victor Kovaleski and Lt. Jim Wise, downed another MiG on Jan. 12.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.