Jeffrey Feinstein

Last updated
Jeffrey S. Feinstein
Captain Jeffrey Feinstein beside F-4 Phantom.jpg
Captain Jeffrey Feinstein poses beside his F-4 Phantom II at Udorn Air Base, Thailand, in September 1972
Nickname(s)Jeff
Born (1945-01-29) January 29, 1945 (age 80)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Years of service1963–1996
Rank US Air Force O5 shoulderboard rotated (1949-1999).svg Lieutenant Colonel
Unit 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
Battles / wars Vietnam War
Gulf War
Awards Air Force Cross
Silver Star (4)
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross (5)
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal (23)

Jeffrey S. Feinstein (born January 29, 1945) is a retired career officer of the United States Air Force (USAF). During the Vietnam War, Feinstein was a weapon systems officer, an integral part of two-man aircrews with the emergence of air-to-air missiles as the primary weapons during aerial combat. Flying aboard F-4 Phantom IIs, Feinstein downed five enemy aircraft, thereby becoming a flying ace, the last of five U.S. aviators to become aces during that conflict and to date still the most recent aviator to achieve ace status in the U.S. military. [1]

Contents

Early life

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 29, 1945, Feinstein enlisted in the USAF in 1963 to attend the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. He subsequently entered the United States Air Force Academy in 1964 and graduated in 1968. [2]

Military career

Feinstein was rejected from pilot training due to excessive myopia. He then underwent Undergraduate Navigator Training and he graduated.

While assigned to the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron, he was detached to the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, part of the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, based at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. His actions, for which he received multiple awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Silver Star for his first four kills and the Air Force Cross for his fifth kill, took place prior to and during Operation Linebacker in 1972, making him a flying ace.

His nickname/tactical callsign was "Fang." Having originally been designated as an Air Force Navigator, he was given a vision waiver after Vietnam (Feinstein wore glasses to correct mild nearsightedness to 20/20).

Reassigned to the 9th Air Force staff at Shaw AFB, South Carolina in the 1990s, Feinstein also flew as Airborne Command Element Director aboard E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 1990 to February 1991. [3]

Lieutenant Colonel Feinstein retired from the U.S. Air Force on 1 July 1996.

Awards and decorations

In addition to his Command Pilot wings, Navigator wings, and Parachutist wings, Feinstein was awarded the Air Force Cross, Silver Star (4 awards), Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" (5 awards), Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (23 awards), Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and numerous unit, expeditionary and service awards.

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png
United States Air Force Navigator Observer Badge.svg
US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif
Air Force Cross ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Silver Star ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Bronze Star ribbon.svg Purple Heart ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Medal ribbon.svg
Aerial Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg AF Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.png
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg Air Force Good Conduct ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
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Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
U.S. Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon.svg
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg
USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
United States Air Force Navigator Badge
Air Force Parachutist Badge
Air Force Cross
Silver Star
w/ 3 bronze oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross
w/ Valor device and 3 bronze oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
(second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)
Bronze Star Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal
w/ 3 bronze oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
w/ Valor device and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
(second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)
Combat Readiness Medal Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
w/ 1 bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
w/ 1 bronze service star
Vietnam Service Medal
w/ 2 bronze campaign stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal
w/ 2 bronze campaign stars
Korea Defense Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
w/ 2 bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
w/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Longevity Service Award
w/ 1 silver and 2 bronze oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Vietnam Campaign Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Air Force Cross citation

Feinstein, Jeffrey S.,
Captain, U.S Air Force
13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand
Date of Action: October 13, 1972
Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain Jeffrey S. Feinstein, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-4D Phantom Weapon Systems Officer in the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in action against the Paul Doumer Bridge, a major north-south transportation link on Hanoi's Red River in North Vietnam, on 13 October 1972. On that date, while protecting a large strike force attacking a high priority target deep in hostile territory, Captain Feinstein engaged two enemy aircraft and destroyed one as they attacked the vulnerable chaff-dispensing flight. Having destroyed one of the aircraft and realizing that his wingman was coming under fire, Captain Feinstein continued his attack on the second enemy aircraft. This courageous and aggressive maneuver negated the immediate threat to his wingman and caused the second MiG-21 to flee the area in which he would constitute a threat to the strike forces. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Captain Feinstein reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. [4]

MiG kill summary

Date (1972)TFSPilotWeapon systems officerAcftTail codeCall signWpnKill
April 1613Major Edward D. CherryCapt Jeffrey S. FeinsteinF-4D 66-7550  PNBasco 3 AIM-7 MiG-21
May 3113Capt Bruce G. Leonard Jr.Capt J.S. FeinsteinF-4E 68-0338  EDGopher 03 AIM-9 MiG-21
July 1813Lt Col Carl G. BailyCapt J.S. FeinsteinF-4D 66-0271  OYSnug 01AIM-9MiG-21
July 2913Lt Col Carl G. BailyCapt J.S. FeinsteinF-4D 66-0271  OYCadillac 01AIM-7MiG-21
October 1313Lt Col Curtis D. WestphalCapt J.S. FeinsteinF-4D 66-7501  OCOlds 01AIM-7MiG-21

References

  1. "MiG Killers: USAFA grads prove lethal to enemy pilots" (PDF). United States Air Force Academy. March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
  2. "Jeffrey Feinstein - Recipient -".
  3. "Veteran Tributes". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  4. "Jeffrey Feinstein - Recipient -".