During the Vietnam War, thousands of U.S. aircraft were lost to antiaircraft artillery (AAA), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and fighter interceptors (MiG)s. The great majority of U.S. combat losses in all areas of Southeast Asia were to AAA. The Royal Australian Air Force also flew combat and airlift missions in South Vietnam, as did the South Vietnamese Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF). Among fixed-wing aircraft, more F-4 Phantoms were lost than any other type in service with any nation.
The United States lost 578 Firebee Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) (554 over Vietnam and 24 over China).[1] More than 400 QH-50C/D UAVs were also lost.[2]
There were about 11,846 U.S helicopters that served in the Vietnam War. The U.S records show 5,607 helicopter losses.[3]
In total, the United States military lost in Vietnam almost 10,000 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (3,744 planes,[4] 5,607 helicopters[3] and about 1,000 UAVs.[1][5]).
South Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973.[6] 877 Republic of Vietnam aircraft were captured at war's end (1975)[7] Of the 2750[8] aircraft and helicopters received by South Vietnam, only about 308 survived (240 flew to Thailand or US warships[9] and 68 returned to the United States[10]).
The United States, South Vietnam and Australia, lost about 12,500 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs.
North Vietnam lost 150 – 170 aircraft and helicopters.
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