performance. He ordered his entire fighter wing to rewire the F-4Ds to carry more reliable AIM-9 Sidewinders. Although it was an unauthorized field modification, the entire air force eventually followed his example. Vietnam War: U.S. AIM-4 Falcon Air to Air Victories Used from 1965 through 1972 in Vietnam, Falcons achieved their only kills during Operation Rolling Thunder (1965–68) during which time only 5 successful hits were scored from 54 launchings during aerial combat. The AIM-4 was also produced as the HM-55S (radar-guided) for the Swiss Air Force for use on the Dassault Mirage IIIS, and license-manufactured in Sweden for the Swedish Air Force (as the Rb 28) to equip the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen. The seeker of the missile was also redesigned. The AIM-4F/AIM-4G Super Falcon remained in USAF and ANG service, primarily with Convair F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart interceptors, until the final retirement of the F-106 in 1988. These aircraft had been designed to carry the weapon and could not be easily converted to carry larger weapons like the Sidewinder or AIM-7 Sparrow, which were much longer. Operators Former operators Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian Forces Finnish Air Force – (Swedish-built missiles) Hellenic Air Force Swedish Air Force – (Licence built by SAAB) Swiss Air Force Turkish Air Force United States Air Force Specifications (GAR-1D/ -2B / AIM-4C/D) Length: / Wingspan: Diameter: Weight: / Speed: Mach 3 Range Guidance: semi-active radar homing / rear-aspect infrared homing Warhead: high explosive See also Related Development: AIM-26 Falcon AIM-47 Falcon AIM-54 Phoenix References Notes Bibliography The history of the Falcon missile, and its various configurations, is examined in Gart, Jason H. "Electronics and Aerospace Industry in Cold War Arizona, 1945-1968: Motorola, Hughes Aircraft, Goodyear Aircraft." Phd diss., Arizona State University, 2006. Leighton, David, ""The History of the Hughes Missile Plant in Tucson, 1947-1960," Private Publication, 2015 McCarthy Jr. Donald J. MiG Killers, A Chronology of U.S. Air Victories in Vietnam 1965-1973. 2009, Specialty Press. . Michel III, Marshall L. Clashes, Air Combat Over North Vietnam 1965-1972. 1997, Naval Institute Press. . Cold War air-to-air missiles of the United States Military equipment introduced in the 1950s