Jeffrey Feinstein

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.

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.

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.

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.

US Air Force Command Pilot BadgeUnited States Air Force Navigator BadgeAir Force Parachutist BadgeAir Force CrossSilver Starw/ 3 bronze oak leaf clustersLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying Crossw/ Valor device and 3 bronze oak leaf clustersDistinguished Flying Cross(second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)Bronze StarPurple HeartMeritorious Service MedalAir Medalw/ 3 bronze oak leaf clustersAerial Achievement MedalAir Force Commendation MedalAir Force Presidential Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit Awardw/ Valor device and three bronze oak leaf clustersAir Force Outstanding Unit Award(second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)Combat Readiness MedalAir Force Good Conduct MedalNational Defense Service Medalw/ 1 bronze service starArmed Forces Expeditionary Medalw/ 1 bronze service starVietnam Service Medalw/ 2 bronze campaign starsSouthwest Asia Service Medalw/ 2 bronze campaign starsKorea Defense Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalAir Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbonw/ 2 bronze oak leaf clustersAir Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbonw/ 1 bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Longevity Service Awardw/ 1 silver and 2 bronze oak leaf clustersSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonAir Force Training RibbonRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry CrossVietnam Campaign MedalKuwait 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:

MiG kill summary Date (1972) TFS Pilot Weapon systems officer Acft Tail code Call sign Wpn Kill April 16 13 Major E. Daniel Cherry Capt Jeffrey S. Feinstein F-4D 66-7550 PN Basco 3 AIM-7 MiG-21 May 31 13 Capt Bruce G. Leonard Jr. Capt J.S. Feinstein F-4E 68-0338 ED Gopher 03 AIM-9 MiG-21 July 18 13 Lt Col Carl G. Baily Capt J.S. Feinstein F-4D 66-0271 OY Snug 01 AIM-9 MiG-21 July 29 13 Lt Col Carl G. Baily Capt J.S. Feinstein F-4D 66-0271 OY Cadillac 01 AIM-7 MiG-21 October 13 13 Lt Col Curtis D. Westphal Capt J.S. Feinstein F-4D 66-7501 OC Olds 01 AIM-7 MiG-21