[gaijin]

I was onboard ship in the Gulf of Tonkin when Kennedy was shot, the Carriers were launching F-16's as fast as they could, months before that happened. You are right tho it did get much worse, as all Kings X type wars do.

I....believe you might be in error, as it is impossible to catapult an F-16 from a carrier.

It has never happened. It would be akin to launching a DC-10, or a VW Bus from a carrier.

It sounds puzzling.

[itsahoot]

To be honest they were twin engine jets, which makes old brains think Tomcat, but I really don’t remember the nomenclature. I looked quickly online, but I will find out from an old Chief that still communicates with me, tomorrow if I have time, he will remember exactly. I do remember that San MaGoo beer was 25 centavos. Pesos were 4 to the dollar, jitney rides were 10 centavos.

Thanks for not being obtuse with an old man. But to those that insist Kennedy did not start the war I just wonder. Who was that president that got shot while I was in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1963, when air strikes were plentiful. The C Turner Joy and the Maddox were the excuse for the Tonkin resolution, which escelated the police action big time, which partly explains why I left. Not a coward, just not totally stupid.

[itsahoot]

Looks like there were some F-16N's but you are right, more likely the planes that I saw must have been Phantoms No pun intended

The reality is we were in full fledged operation launching many air strikes against North Vietnam, when Kennedy was killed, I was there. Of course we didn't get real nasty until the Maddox and C Turner Joy, were supposedly attacked, which led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

My ship met both of the above returning to port as we were going back. In total I made three trips, for all I know I may be running them all together.

This whole discussion came about because someone was saying LBJ started the war, not Kennedy.