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{{Short description|Vietnamese fighter ace}}
{{Vietnamese name|Nguyễn|Nguyen|Cốc}}
{{family name hatnote|Nguyễn|Cốc|lang=Vietnamese}}
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{{Infobox military person
'''Nguyễn Văn Cốc''' (born 1943) was a ] ]PF ]. Nine kills of United States aircraft have been attributed to him, including two ]s, two ]s, one ], one ] and one ] during the Vietnam War. Out of nine claims, seven of these losses have been acknowledged by the ] so far.
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| allegiance = {{flag|North Vietnam}}
| branch = {{air force|North Vietnam}}
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| serviceyears = 1961–2002
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'''Nguyễn Văn Cốc''' (born December 1942) is a former ]ese ] ] of the ]'s (also known as the North Vietnamese Air Force) 921st Fighter Regiment.

==Early life==
Nguyễn Văn Cốc was born in December 1942 at ] of the province of ] in ], north of ]. When he was five-years-old, his father, Nguyen Van Bay (Chairman of the ] in the district) and his uncle (also a member of the Viet Minh), were killed by the French. Fearing further trouble with the French, his mother moved the family. Nguyễn spent the rest of his childhood near Chu air base, which kindled an interest in aircraft.

Nguyễn Văn Cốc attended Ngô Sĩ Liên school in Bắc Giang<ref name="Davies, page 48">Davies, page 48.</ref> and upon completion of his schooling, enlisted in the ''Quan Chung Khong Quan'' (Vietnamese People's Air Force, VPAF) in 1961 and underwent his initial training at Cat Bi Airbase in ]. Nguyễn subsequently spent four years undergoing pilot training in the ] at the ] and ] ] bases. Of the 120 trainees dispatched in Nguyễn's draft to the Soviet Union, he was one of seven who graduated as a ] pilot.

After a brief spell back in North Vietnam serving with the 921st ''Sao Do'' (Red Star) Fighter Regiment, he returned to the Soviet Union and underwent ] to the ] in a two-seat Mig-21U, before returning to the 921st Fighter Regiment in June 1965.<ref name="Davies, page 48"/> He began operational flying in December 1965.<ref name="Davies, page 48"/>

On 2 January 1967,<ref>, Retrieved 2 December 2009.</ref> he was among a group of pilots who fell into a ] by the ]{{'}}s ]. Nguyễn Văn Cốc and four other Vietnamese pilots were shot down. All ejected safely.

Flying a MIG-21PF, Nguyễn Văn Cốc normally served as a wingman. He scored all his victories using the heat-seeking ].]

On June 18, 1969, Nguyễn Văn Cốc was awarded a '']'' medal for each of his nine kills. The end of ] on 31 October 1968 removed him from the opportunity for further air combat. In early 1970, Nguyễn Văn Cốc was transferred from operational duties to a training academy so that his valuable combat experience could be put to use in training new pilots. Among the pilots he trained was ].

After the war, Nguyễn Văn Cốc remained with the Vietnamese People's Air Force, retiring with the rank of Chief Inspector in 2002 after declining health.<ref name="Davies, page 48"/>

==Air combat victories==
Nine ] kills of United States aircraft and two ] UAV kills were credited to him during the ]. Of these, seven aircraft and two UAV have currently been acknowledged by the United States Air Force. While sometimes U.S. forces may have attributed aircraft losses to ]s, since it was considered "less embarrassing",<ref>Gordon, Yefim "MiG-21" {{ISBN|978-1-85780-257-3}}</ref> there was often doubt about cause of the loss. Coc also claimed an F-4 Phantom and F-105 Thunderchief in November and 17 December 1967<ref name="ACIG VN1"/> but there are no corresponding American losses stated.

The following kills, while flying the MiG-21, have been credited to ''Van Coc'' by the VPAF (aka NVAF):<ref name="ACIG VN1"></ref><ref name="ACIG VN2"></ref><ref>Toperczer, 2015, pp. 103.</ref>

* 30 April 1967: ] ] piloted by Robert A. Abbott of the USAF 355th TFW (]).<ref name="acig.org"> - IndoChina Database. Retrieved 29 November 2009.</ref><ref name="navoine.ru"> Retrieved 29 November 2009.</ref> This was his first air victory and occurred while he was acting as a wingman to flight leader ], who downed an F-105F.<ref>Toperczer, 2015, pp. 75-76.</ref>
* 23 August 1967: ] ] piloted by Carrigan (POW) with RIO Lane (]), 555th TFS.<ref name="acig.org"/><ref name="navoine.ru"/>
* 07 October 1967: USAF F-105D piloted by Fullam (KIA), 67th TFS.<ref name="ACIG VN1"/>
* 18 November 1967: USAF F-105D piloted by Reed (rescued), 388th TFW.
*
* 20 November 1967: USAF F-105; US-side does not confirm.
* 12 December 1967: USAF F-105; damaged.
*
* 07 May 1968: On the afternoon of 7 May 1968, three flights of MiG-21 fighters from the VPAF 921st Regiment were flying towards ], as part of redeployment in response to the U.S. bombing halt above the 19th Parallel. The flights were led by ], Nguyen Van Minh and Nguyen Van Coc.<ref>Toperczer, p. 20</ref> Due to the lack of coordination between the different sections of the VPAF 921st Fighter Regiment and the ground-based air-defense forces, the MiG-21 flights were mistakenly identified as U.S. fighter-bombers and were fired upon by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft artillery.<ref name="Toperczer, p. 21">Toperczer, p. 21</ref> Moments later, Ngu also mistook an escorting flight of MiG-21 fighters flown by Nguyen Dang Kinh and Nguyen Van Lung for U.S. fighters. He dropped his fuel tanks to prepare for an attack which was promptly aborted when he realized they were North Vietnamese.<ref name="Toperczer, p. 21"/>

: Later, Ngu and Coc arrived over the skies of Do Luong, north-east of ], and they made three circuits over the area when they were told that enemy aircraft were detected coming from the sea; these were real U.S. fighters.<ref name="Toperczer, p. 21"/> The U.S. flight detected were a formation of five F-4B Phantom II from ], {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}}, led by Lieutenant Commander Ejnar S. Christensen with his RIO Worth A. Kramer.<ref name="Davies, p. 60">Davies, p. 60</ref> Over North Vietnamese airspace, a U.S. Navy ] ] aircraft tried to jam North Vietnamese communications but failed, and Nhu’s flight of MiG-21 fighters was guided towards their target by ground controllers.<ref name="Michel, p. 147">Michel, p. 147</ref>

: While trying to engage the VPAF MiGs, the F-4B formation became separated due to confusion in radar control.<ref name="Michel, p. 147"/> In the ensuing dogfight, two AIM-7 missiles were fired by the U.S. Navy fighters but missed.<ref name="Davies, p. 60"/> Ngu then noticed two F-4B Phantoms about {{convert|5|km|sp=us}} to ], but could not get into a suitable firing position. Coc was right behind Ngu at the time, but he wanted to disengage from the fight as his aircraft was running low on fuel. However, Coc quickly changed his mind after he spotted an F-4B ahead of him at an altitude of {{convert|2500|m|sp=us}}. Coc immediately gave chase to the F-4B, which were flying out to sea, and successfully scored a hit after he fired two ] missiles from an altitude of {{convert|1500|m|sp=us}}.<ref name="Toperczer, p. 21"/> The F-4B Phantom II burst into flames and crashed into the sea at 6:44&nbsp;pm.<ref name="Michel, p. 147"/>

: The action gave the VPAF their first aerial victory over the airspace above the Military Zone IV of North Vietnam<ref name="Toperczer, p. 21"/> and gave Nguyen Van Coc his seventh aerial victory.<ref name="Toperczer, p. 21"/> The U.S. Navy confirmed that the downed F-4B had been BuNo 151485, callsign Silver Kite 210, of VF-92 launched from ''Enterprise''.<ref name="Toperczer, p. 21"/><ref name="Davies, p. 60"/> The pilot of BuNo 151485, Lieutenant Commander E.S. Christenson, and his ], ] W.A. Kramer ejected safely from their aircraft before impact and were recovered a short time later.<ref name="navoine.ru"/><ref name="Davies, p. 60"/><ref> - IndoChina Database. Retrieved 29 November 2009.</ref><ref>Davies, page 60.</ref>
* 04 June 1968: USAF ] ].
* 08 November 1968: USAF AQM-34 Firebee/Lightning Bug unmanned drone.
* 03 August 1969: USAF AQM-34 Firebee/Lightning Bug unmanned drone.
* 20 December 1969: A ] ]. This could have been an ] whose two crew died when it was shot down in the same area.<ref name="ACIG VN2" />


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]
*]
*]


==References==
== External links ==
{{reflist}}
*
*
*


===Bibliography===
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nguyễn Van Cốc}}
* {{cite book | author=Davies, Peter | title=F-4Phantom II vs Mig-21 - USAF & VPAF in the Vietnam War| location=Oxford| publisher= Osprey Publishing Ltd | year=2008 | isbn=978 1 84603 316 2| pages = 80 pages.}}
]
*{{cite book |title= Clashes: Air Combat over North Vietnam, 1965–1972|last= Michel|first= Marshal L.|year= 2007|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location= Annapolis|isbn= 978-1-59114-519-6}}
*{{cite book |title= MiG-21 Units of the Vietnam War|last= Toperczer |first= Istvan|year= 2001|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location= Oxford|isbn= 1-84176-263-6}}
*{{cite book |title= MiG Aces of the Vietnam War|last= Toperczer|first= Istvan|year= 2015|publisher= Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.|location= USA|isbn= 978-0-7643-4895-2}}

==External links==
*
*
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nguyen, Van Coc}}
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Latest revision as of 19:18, 5 July 2024

Vietnamese fighter ace In this Vietnamese name, the surname is Nguyễn. In accordance with Vietnamese custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Cốc.
Nguyễn Văn Cốc
BornDecember 1942 (age 82)
Việt Yên, Bắc Giang, French Indochina
Allegiance North Vietnam
Service / branch North Vietnam Air Force
Years of service1961–2002
RankLieutenant-general
Battles / warsVietnam War

Nguyễn Văn Cốc (born December 1942) is a former North Vietnamese MiG-21 fighter ace of the Vietnamese People's Air Force's (also known as the North Vietnamese Air Force) 921st Fighter Regiment.

Early life

Nguyễn Văn Cốc was born in December 1942 at Việt Yên of the province of Bắc Giang in French Indochina, north of Hanoi. When he was five-years-old, his father, Nguyen Van Bay (Chairman of the Viet Minh in the district) and his uncle (also a member of the Viet Minh), were killed by the French. Fearing further trouble with the French, his mother moved the family. Nguyễn spent the rest of his childhood near Chu air base, which kindled an interest in aircraft.

Nguyễn Văn Cốc attended Ngô Sĩ Liên school in Bắc Giang and upon completion of his schooling, enlisted in the Quan Chung Khong Quan (Vietnamese People's Air Force, VPAF) in 1961 and underwent his initial training at Cat Bi Airbase in Haiphong. Nguyễn subsequently spent four years undergoing pilot training in the Soviet Union at the Bataysk and Krasnodar Soviet Air Force bases. Of the 120 trainees dispatched in Nguyễn's draft to the Soviet Union, he was one of seven who graduated as a MiG-17 pilot.

After a brief spell back in North Vietnam serving with the 921st Sao Do (Red Star) Fighter Regiment, he returned to the Soviet Union and underwent conversion training to the MiG-21 in a two-seat Mig-21U, before returning to the 921st Fighter Regiment in June 1965. He began operational flying in December 1965.

On 2 January 1967, he was among a group of pilots who fell into a trap set by the United States Air Force's 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. Nguyễn Văn Cốc and four other Vietnamese pilots were shot down. All ejected safely.

Flying a MIG-21PF, Nguyễn Văn Cốc normally served as a wingman. He scored all his victories using the heat-seeking Vympel K-13 missile.

An all-missile-armed VPAF MiG-21PFL (Fishbed D) just like the one Văn Cốc flew in the war from 1967-69; seen here landing

On June 18, 1969, Nguyễn Văn Cốc was awarded a Huy Hiệu medal for each of his nine kills. The end of Operation Rolling Thunder on 31 October 1968 removed him from the opportunity for further air combat. In early 1970, Nguyễn Văn Cốc was transferred from operational duties to a training academy so that his valuable combat experience could be put to use in training new pilots. Among the pilots he trained was Nguyen Duc Soat.

After the war, Nguyễn Văn Cốc remained with the Vietnamese People's Air Force, retiring with the rank of Chief Inspector in 2002 after declining health.

Air combat victories

Nine air-to-air combat kills of United States aircraft and two AQM-34 Firebee/Lightning Bug UAV kills were credited to him during the Vietnam War. Of these, seven aircraft and two UAV have currently been acknowledged by the United States Air Force. While sometimes U.S. forces may have attributed aircraft losses to surface-to-air missiles, since it was considered "less embarrassing", there was often doubt about cause of the loss. Coc also claimed an F-4 Phantom and F-105 Thunderchief in November and 17 December 1967 but there are no corresponding American losses stated.

The following kills, while flying the MiG-21, have been credited to Van Coc by the VPAF (aka NVAF):

  • 30 April 1967: USAF F-105D piloted by Robert A. Abbott of the USAF 355th TFW (POW). This was his first air victory and occurred while he was acting as a wingman to flight leader Nguyen Ngoc Do, who downed an F-105F.
  • 23 August 1967: USAF F-4D piloted by Carrigan (POW) with RIO Lane (KIA), 555th TFS.
  • 07 October 1967: USAF F-105D piloted by Fullam (KIA), 67th TFS.
  • 18 November 1967: USAF F-105D piloted by Reed (rescued), 388th TFW.
  • 20 November 1967: USAF F-105; US-side does not confirm.
  • 12 December 1967: USAF F-105; damaged.
  • 07 May 1968: On the afternoon of 7 May 1968, three flights of MiG-21 fighters from the VPAF 921st Regiment were flying towards Tho Xuan Air Base, as part of redeployment in response to the U.S. bombing halt above the 19th Parallel. The flights were led by Dang Ngoc Ngu, Nguyen Van Minh and Nguyen Van Coc. Due to the lack of coordination between the different sections of the VPAF 921st Fighter Regiment and the ground-based air-defense forces, the MiG-21 flights were mistakenly identified as U.S. fighter-bombers and were fired upon by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft artillery. Moments later, Ngu also mistook an escorting flight of MiG-21 fighters flown by Nguyen Dang Kinh and Nguyen Van Lung for U.S. fighters. He dropped his fuel tanks to prepare for an attack which was promptly aborted when he realized they were North Vietnamese.
Later, Ngu and Coc arrived over the skies of Do Luong, north-east of Vinh, and they made three circuits over the area when they were told that enemy aircraft were detected coming from the sea; these were real U.S. fighters. The U.S. flight detected were a formation of five F-4B Phantom II from Fighter Squadron 92 (VF-92), USS Enterprise, led by Lieutenant Commander Ejnar S. Christensen with his RIO Worth A. Kramer. Over North Vietnamese airspace, a U.S. Navy EKA-3A electronic warfare aircraft tried to jam North Vietnamese communications but failed, and Nhu’s flight of MiG-21 fighters was guided towards their target by ground controllers.
While trying to engage the VPAF MiGs, the F-4B formation became separated due to confusion in radar control. In the ensuing dogfight, two AIM-7 missiles were fired by the U.S. Navy fighters but missed. Ngu then noticed two F-4B Phantoms about 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) to starboard, but could not get into a suitable firing position. Coc was right behind Ngu at the time, but he wanted to disengage from the fight as his aircraft was running low on fuel. However, Coc quickly changed his mind after he spotted an F-4B ahead of him at an altitude of 2,500 meters (8,200 ft). Coc immediately gave chase to the F-4B, which were flying out to sea, and successfully scored a hit after he fired two R-3S Atoll missiles from an altitude of 1,500 meters (4,900 ft). The F-4B Phantom II burst into flames and crashed into the sea at 6:44 pm.
The action gave the VPAF their first aerial victory over the airspace above the Military Zone IV of North Vietnam and gave Nguyen Van Coc his seventh aerial victory. The U.S. Navy confirmed that the downed F-4B had been BuNo 151485, callsign Silver Kite 210, of VF-92 launched from Enterprise. The pilot of BuNo 151485, Lieutenant Commander E.S. Christenson, and his Radar Intercept Officer, Lieutenant (jg) W.A. Kramer ejected safely from their aircraft before impact and were recovered a short time later.

See also

References

  1. ^ Davies, page 48.
  2. VPAF Ejections during the SEA conflict to the present in chronological order, Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  3. Toperczer, 2015, pp. 103.
  4. Gordon, Yefim "MiG-21" ISBN 978-1-85780-257-3
  5. ^ Vietnamese Air-to-Air Victories, Part 1 (1961-67)
  6. ^ Vietnamese Air-to-Air Victories, Part 2 (1968-72)
  7. Toperczer, 2015, pp. 103.
  8. ^ Air Combat Information Group - IndoChina Database. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  9. ^ Nguyen Van Coc: A Lurking Tiger over Vietnam’s Jungle. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  10. Toperczer, 2015, pp. 75-76.
  11. Toperczer, p. 20
  12. ^ Toperczer, p. 21
  13. ^ Davies, p. 60
  14. ^ Michel, p. 147
  15. Air Combat Information Group - IndoChina Database. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  16. Davies, page 60.

Bibliography

  • Davies, Peter (2008). F-4Phantom II vs Mig-21 - USAF & VPAF in the Vietnam War. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. pp. 80 pages. ISBN 978 1 84603 316 2.
  • Michel, Marshal L. (2007). Clashes: Air Combat over North Vietnam, 1965–1972. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-519-6.
  • Toperczer, Istvan (2001). MiG-21 Units of the Vietnam War. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-263-6.
  • Toperczer, Istvan (2015). MiG Aces of the Vietnam War. USA: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-4895-2.

External links

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