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.
To Replace Lost MQ-9s, USAF Eyes Next-Gen Reaper
May 13, 2026
The Air Force is looking at ways to rapidly replace some of the roughly two dozen MQ-9A Reaper drones it has lost as part of operations against Iran, top service officials told lawmakers May 12.