Actually, the F-4 had a higher kill ratio. It was a Navy F-4 that shot
down
the first MIG and no F-8 guy ever achieved "ACE" status. Having posted
that
fact I must admit that most of us who flew the F-4 are not particularly
fond
of Randy "Airhead" Cunningham.

Incorrect. The F-8 posted a 6:1 kill ratio (not counting the last Mig-17
that was a no ordnance expended kill ... given to the Hancock vice the
Crusader duo who engaged it). The F-4 was barely 2:1 until Topgun and 1972.
Then they ran at 12:1 (always the figure advertised) but the OVERALL figure
was around 5 point something.

Duke was an OK guy. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, but perhaps the
driver most dedicated to being prepared for an opportunity should it occur.
While others were reading Playboy on their alert 5's, Duker was running
switchology drills, reviewing missile envelopes, the whole nine yards. When
he came off a flak suppression run, he reset the gunsight to sidewinder
boresight (more than a few Migs escaped because the driver forgot to reset
the sight). He was a good, albeit not great driver (and would admit the
same).

At any rate as a TG instructor and later in VF-154 he never acted over the
top. Willy, OTOH, really started to believe he was somebody special.

Duke saw more Migs on 10 May 1972 than many air wings saw for the entire war
(CAG-19 comes to mind). Given that, he also capitalized on the opportunity.
(What is luck but when preparation meets opportunity?) In 1972, F-8's
couldn't BUY a vector or an engagement. The frustration of the time led to
the phrase, "A Mig at six is better than no Mig at all."

R / John