[Robert A Cook PE]

Hey! Don’t complain about the Navy naming one of its ships after Senator McCain. Er, Admiral McCain. No, not him. The other Admiral McCain.

John McCain was, after all, one of the very few Cold War aces. Got shot down in, burned up, ejected from, crashed, or destroyed five enemy (er, US Navy) planes. All by himself!

[Blue Highway]

John McCain is just as much a hero as John F Kerry is. That’s not saying much.

[wardamneagle]

And was pardoned by Nixon. Jezzum.

[Seaplaner]

I don't know about the number of aircraft, but I will give McCain this.

Flying the A4 of the decks and into combat took a whole lot of nerve and skill.

The A4 was a small, low-level, subsonic bomber. It flew right into the teeth of the enemy's defenses to accomplish its bombing missions; and the A4 had major vulnerabilities (little in the way of backup systems and only one engine).

All US pilots who flew in vietnam airspace have my great respect. The A4 pilots, along with the wild weasel crews and just a few others, have my greatest respect.

(Yes, McCain is a RINO and an open-borders creep; but I will salute anyone's service who flew A4s into combat.)