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aviation

The 50th birthday of the USAF’s F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter

by Till Daisd October 12, 2023

The undefeated F-15 Eagle continues to develop and give the US Air Force (USAF) fighter fleet advanced capabilities

Irv Burrows, the chief test pilot, piloted the first flight of the Boeing F-15 on July 27, 1972. After 50 years, the undefeated F-15 is still evolving and giving the US Air Force (USAF) fighter fleet more cutting-edge capabilities.

“Boeing is proud of the F-15’s proven performance and of our shared legacy on this platform with the U.S. Air Force and operators around the world,” said Prat Kumar, vice president of F-15 Programs, in a Boeing news release. “With its unrivaled combat performance, five decades-long production run, and continuous evolution, the F-15 has a remarkable history and continues today to be a critical asset for U.S. and allied forces. And with the development of new, advanced capabilities and the evolution of the F-15EX, the best is yet to come.”

The USAF, which required a fighter jet to preserve the country’s air superiority, requested that Boeing start the F-15 development.

F-15-Prototype — McDonnell Douglas F-15A (S/N 71-0280, the first F-15A prototype). Note the square wingtips and unnotched stabilator.

Early in 1975, an F-15A known as Streak Eagle that was based at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota broke numerous time-to-climb records. Eight time-to-climb world records were broken by the Streak Eagle between January 16 and February 1, 1975. After releasing the brakes at takeoff, it climbed to 98,425 feet in just 3 minutes, 27.8 seconds, then coasted to almost 103,000 feet before descending.

Boeing claims that the Israeli Air Force’s Eagles were the first to encounter a true aerial foe. They suffered no casualties while taking down more than 50 Syrian fighters.

The F-15E Strike Eagle was created to satisfy the USAF’s requirements for air-to-ground missions. In December 1986, it took off for its inaugural flight from St. Louis. With its superior navigation and infrared targeting system, the Strike Eagle can carry 23,000 pounds of air-to-ground and air-to-air weaponry while protecting from enemy defenses. Due to this, the Strike Eagle can fly at a low altitude and a high speed regardless of the weather or time of day.

The F-15 has been manufactured in both two-seat B and single-seat A versions. A dual-role fighter with two seats, the F-15E Strike Eagle can engage both air and ground targets.

First-F-15E-1 — The first McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle which from Mar. 2, 1987, was used at Edwards Air Force Base for Developmental Test & Evaluation.

In 1991, the F-15C, -D, and -E versions took part in Operation Desert Storm. F-15s attacked Iraqi ground targets while downing 32 of 36 USAF air-to-air victories. During Operation Allied Force in 1999, F-15s downed three Serbian MiG-29 planes while serving in Bosnia in 1994. In the 1990s, they enforced no-fly zones over Iraq. In Operation Enduring Freedom, Eagles also made direct hits on Afghan targets, and in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the F-15E variant flew air-to-ground missions.

Through its versions, the F-15 has performed that task for a variety of international customers, including Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, and Qatar.

F-15EX-173rd-FW-1 — F-15EX Eagle II prototype

The most recent F-15, the F-15EX Eagle II, features modern sensors and avionics in addition to a cutting-edge electronic warfare system. The aircraft can transport next-generation hypersonic weaponry thanks to its unmatched payload capacity.

With digital design, automation, and tooling, the F-15’s manufacturing process has evolved over the years to incorporate cutting-edge full-size determinant assembly advanced manufacturing processes.

“Boeing’s modernized manufacturing process improves quality while decreasing time and costs,” said Kumar. “We’ve seen increased global interest in the contemporary F-15 and its next-generation capabilities.”

Around the world, more than 1,500 F-15s are in use. In March 2021, the USAF received its first F-15EX.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

October 12, 2023 0 comment

History

Boeing developed the pre-flight checklist after the crash of the prototype B-17

by Till Daisd October 11, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The B-17 prototype, known as the Model 299, crashed on October 30, 1935, at Wright Airfield in Ohio, killing two of the five crew members on board, including the pilot

A preflight checklist in aviation is a list of duties that pilots and other crew members must complete before takeoff. Its goal is to increase flight safety by making sure that no crucial activities are overlooked. A major contributing factor in aviation accidents is improper preflight inspection employing a checklist.

When did pilots start using preflight checklists?

Boeing’s website states that the turning point that resulted in the innovation of employing a formal checklist happened in 1935.

Three companies were competing for the contract to produce the Army Air Corps’ next-generation long-range bomber: Boeing with the Model 299, Glenn L. Martin Co. with the Martin 146, and Douglas Aircraft Co. with the Douglas DB-1. More payload was carried by the 299 than by either of the other two entries, and it flew faster and farther. The cutting-edge, complex Boeing four-engine aircraft was acknowledged as the winner. Once the formalities of an official flying demonstration were finished, the Army had already intended to order at least 65 of Boeing’s aircraft.

The Model 299 took off, climbed to 300 feet, stalled, and crashed on October 30, 1935, at Wright Airfield in Ohio, killing two of the five crew members on board, including the pilot. The crash was caused by a pilot error, according to an investigation. The pilot neglected to release a new locking mechanism on the elevator controls while tending to the aircraft’s numerous switches and controls. The Model 299 was deemed “too complex to fly” by critics.

Although Boeing first lost the contract, several people persisted in their belief that the aircraft could be flown safely. A team of Boeing test pilots and engineers came up with a straightforward strategy: they produced a pilot’s checklist containing important action checks for takeoff, landing, and taxi. They held the opinion that this aircraft was not too complicated to fly, but too sophisticated to be left to the pilot’s memory.

Boeing was able to build and test an additional 12 Model 299 aircraft because of a technicality in the selection procedure. Using the checklist, Boeing and Air Corps pilots flew the first 12 aircraft 1.8 million miles without having an accident. The B-17 bomber, which the Army ultimately ordered in nearly 13,000 units, gave the Allies an air advantage during World War II and helped in the operation of a devastating bombing campaign across Nazi Germany.

All Boeing fleet pilots, all military pilots, and soon commercial pilots had to use the checklist as a permanent and required tool for both military and soon after in commercial aviation.

Photo by Boeing and U.S. Air Force

October 11, 2023 0 comment

History

Bismarck was vulnerable to attack from Royal Navy Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers because its guns couldn’t target slowly moving aircraft

by Till Daisd October 10, 2023

written by Till Daisd

16 Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal attacked the Bismarck as it was on her way toward occupied France to carry out repairs

The first of two battleships of the Bismarck class constructed for Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine was named Bismarck. The ship, which was built at the Hamburg shipyard Blohm & Voss and was given the name Otto von Bismarck, was laid down in July 1936 and launched in February 1939. She was commissioned into the German fleet in August 1940, following the completion of construction.

Throughout the warship’s eight-month service, under the sole leadership of Captain Ernst Lindemann, Bismarck only engaged in one offensive operation, code-named Rheinübung, lasting eight days in May 1941. In order to attack Allied cargo from North America to Great Britain, the ship and the powerful cruiser Prinz Eugen were intended to enter the Atlantic Ocean. The two ships were seen off Scandinavia on numerous occasions, and British naval personnel were sent to block their route.

The battlecruiser HMS Hood accidentally engaged Prinz Eugen at the start of the Battle of the Denmark Strait as HMS Prince of Wales engaged Bismarck. The combined fire of Bismarck and Prinz Eugen in the ensuing fight wrecked Hood, damaging the Prince of Wales and forcing her to retreat. Three hits from the Prince of Wales were enough to cause enough damage to Bismarck to stop the raiding mission.

Following Hood’s destruction, the Royal Navy pursued relentlessly, sending forth scores of warships. Two days later, the battleship Bismarck was attacked by 16 Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal while it was making its way to occupied France to carry out repairs. One of the bombers scored a hit that rendered the battleship’s steering gear unusable.

‘Bismarck like a lot of German vessels didn’t make it beyond its first outing before it was crippled by a torpedo launched from a Fairey Swordfish biplane. A slow plane from the early 1930s era,’ Andy Lee, an aviation expert, explains on Quora.

‘Next stop?

‘Captain: The seabed.

‘The oversight on the part of the Germans unwittingly exploited by the British?

‘The Bismarck’s gunner crews could not calibrate Bismarck’s guns to target planes moving so slowly [as the video in this post explains]. Bismarck’s timed fire basically kept exploding short of the planes due to its range finders inability to accurately marry target range and altitude with target speed. There was a target speed dial on Bismarck’s guns and it simply didn’t dial down to a speed slow enough to match the Swordfish.’

Lee concludes;

‘Once modified by a torpedo from a Swordfish, Bismarck became great moving target practice for The Royal Navy Ships that engaged [it] to the point in the fire exchange that Bismarck was eventually scuttled by her own crew rather than let the British victors board her.’

Photo by The Aviation History Online Museum

October 10, 2023 0 comment

History

How the iconic U-2 got its name

by Till Daisd October 9, 2023

written by Till Daisd

On the radio, Kelly Johnson instructed Tony LeVier on how to land the U-2 front wheel first during the maiden flight at the Ranch

In Lockheed’s “Skunk Works” in Burbank, California, a group led by Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson developed and produced the U-2 to carry out surveillance missions in perfect secrecy. The first flight of this single-engine aircraft, which had sailplane-like wings suitable for the thin atmosphere over 55,000 feet (over 70,000 feet for subsequent models), took place in August 1955. After going into service in 1956, its use was kept a secret until Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 was shot down over Soviet territory on May 1, 1960, by a surface-to-air missile.

The U-2 continues to serve US and allies’ forces by providing high-altitude, all-weather surveillance and reconnaissance, day or night. Throughout all facets of warfare, from low-intensity hostilities to large-scale conflicts, it provides decision-makers with crucial imagery and signal information.

Kelly-Johnson-U-2 — Kelly Johnson and the iconic U-2 spy plane

In his unpublished book, “The Very First,” Colonel Richard “Butch” Sheffield, the SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO), recalls how the U-2 received its moniker.

‘The first six SR-71 crew members (Gray Sowers, Cos Mallozzi, John Storrie, Richard Sheffield, Al Hichew, and Tom Schmittou) were invited to Bob Gilliland’s house, looking over Los Angeles.

‘Tony LeVier [the test pilot who flew the first flight of the U-2] was sitting at Bob’s bar when we arrived. The story of how the U-2 was named came up. During the first flight at the Ranch, Kelly [Johnson] was on the radio telling Tony how to land the U-2, front wheel first. Every time Tony tried landing front wheel first the aircraft would bounce up into the air. Kelly insisted, finally Tony gave Kelly the finger as he bounced by, Kelly returned giving Tony the finger, and yelled, “U-2”.

‘The staff quickly wrote down the name.’

“Butch” Sheffield continues;

‘We had been briefed not to tell anyone why we were in Southern California or that we were Air Force Officers visiting the Skunk Works (SW). We were told to stay at a hotel on Hollywood Way a few miles from the SW. After a few days, one of the people working at the hotel said, “Why are all you Air Force Officers visiting the SW?” ‘We guessed that because of our Air Force issued “hack” watches and our short haircuts that anyone could guess who we were.

Grey-Sowers-Butch-Sheffield — SR-71 pilot Grey Sowers and SR-71 RSO Richard (Butch) Sheffield

‘The first six crewmembers did not have any time in the simulator before their first flight; it wasn’t ready yet.’

Check out the Habubrats Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin, and Linda Sheffield Miller

October 9, 2023 0 comment

History

When Capt. James Jabara was nearly shot down by future ace Capt. Boris Abakumov

by Till Daisd October 8, 2023

written by Till Daisd

Jabara of the 334th FS/4th FW dived alone after his sixth MiG was downed in F 86A 5 49 1318, making him the first “ace” of the jet age. This occurred in the late afternoon of May 20, 1951.

Capt. James Jabara of the US Air Force was the first jet-versus-jet ace in history.

After taking down his sixth MiG in F 86A 5 49 1318 on May 20, 1951, Jabara of the 334th FS/4th FW dived alone because his wingman, 1Lt Salvadore “Jack” Kemp, had become separated from him early in the battle. This made him the first “ace” of the jet age. More than 50 MiG-15s were at that time dogfighting Sabres in the skies over “MiG Alley,” according to Peter E. Davies in his book F-86A Sabre Korea 1950–1951.

White smoke began to emerge from the jet pipe of Capt. V. A. Nazarkin’s 196th IAP aircraft after Jabara collided with it. The MiG-15 slowed to 195mph and went into a terminal spin. Jabara tracked it down to 6,500 feet, where he was startled to notice red tracers passing by his plane. Future five-victory ace Capt. Boris Abakumov and his unidentified wingman had made Jabara their target. The freshly crowned ace found it difficult to maneuver as his aircraft kept dipping to the right due to his right external fuel tank stubbornly remaining under the wing when he tried to discard it earlier in the battle.

Jabara was saved by squadronmates Capt. “Mo” Pitts and 2Lt. Rudy Holley after a tense pursuit in which they chased the MiGs off his tail and damaged one. At 3,500 feet, Nazarkin’s jet exploded after he ejected. According to Soviet reports, Snr. Lt. Mikhail Zykov, Jabara’s sixth victim, flew his damaged MiG back to Antung despite having sustained serious injuries during the battle.

But Jabara was then sent back to the US for special duty following his fifth and sixth victories.

In January 1953, he went back to Korea at his own request. He achieved a total of 15 air-to-air jet victories during the Korean War by the end of June after taking out nine additional MiG-15s. During World War II, Jabara was also credited with 1.5 wins over Europe. (During World War II, the German Luftwaffe claimed 22 jet pilot aces, but all of the claims used Allied prop-driven aircraft.)

Jabara, who was a colonel at the time, was killed in a car accident in November 1966 while en route to a new assignment.

F-86A Sabre Korea 1950–51 is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by U.S. Air Force, Gareth Hector and Jim Laurier

James-Jabara — #K6896 Major James Jabara, 835 So Dellrose Str., Whichita, Kansas of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing, who became the 1st jet ace of the Korean Conflict on 20 May 1951, is shown standing in the cockpit of his F-86 “Sabre” jet in full combat fluing gear. April, 1953 (U.S. Air Force Photo)

October 8, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

9 amazing facts about the legendary Blackbird

by Till Daisd October 7, 2023

written by Till Daisd

Nobody ever shot down a Blackbird. Nonetheless, 12 of them crashed out of combat

The SR-71 Blackbird acquired intelligence during its service in some of the most difficult environments on earth. The SR-71 was designed to operate at high speeds, altitudes, and temperatures; in fact, it was the first aircraft to be built using titanium since a typical aluminum frame would melt under the friction of air molecules passing over it at Mach 2.6.

Because of its cutting-edge engineering, even the tools used to build the SR-71 had to be created from scratch. These are just a few of the countless fascinating details regarding the legendary Blackbird.

If you want to know more, we report here some additional interesting facts about the iconic SR-71 that aviation expert Lachie Smith listed on Quora.

If you’re interested in learning more, we’ve included here a few more intriguing tidbits about the historic SR-71 that aviation expert Lachie Smith shared on Quora.

1. Solid quartz measuring 1.25 inches thick made up the cockpit glass.

2. Due to its design, the plane was among the quietest on the inside, despite traveling at a speed of Mach 3+.

3. Modern engineers conducted a study using extremely cutting-edge technologies to determine how the Blackbird’s architecture may be enhanced. They came to the conclusion that there was no opportunity for aerodynamic advancement—it was flawless.

4. Never was a Blackbird shot down. Yet, 12 crashed while not in a combat situation.

5. As numerous other answers have already mentioned, the fuel was completely odd. In fact, it needed a boost from something quite explosive. The engines could not be restarted as in a typical airplane if there were many outages because the aircraft only possessed enough of this chemical for a few engine starts.

6. These stunning engines’ ram-jet design meant that the faster they traveled, the better they performed. One pilot said that when he reached Mach 3 (the top service speed), the engines were not only still running properly, but they were also accelerating further.

7. The M-21 was a modified version of the CIA Mach 3 A-12 reconnaissance aircraft (the SR-71’s forerunner), with the addition of a super-fast drone launcher. The drone, known as the D-21, was basically a J58 engine with some side wings. Tragically, a drone launch ended with an M-21 crash. Following it, B-52s launched the D-21 program.

8. Before being moved to the numerous museums they visited, the wing spars in each of these aircraft had to be destroyed. As a result, no SR-71 will ever take flight again.

9. To catch all of the fuel that leaked from the fuel tanks (which are designed to leak, btw), many of these museums had to place large trays underneath the aircraft. They reportedly take 8 to 12 years to completely dry up, and they may continue to leak until that point.

So yeah, this is a pretty cool aircraft.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

October 7, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

When a pilot of an F-101 once attempted to compete against an SR-71

by Till Daisd October 6, 2023

written by Till Daisd

‘On takeoff roll, an F-101 came upon our wing; he was going to race us whether we wanted to or not,’ Richard “Butch” Sheffield, SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Systems Officer

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft kept its title as the world’s fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft for approximately 24 years. It could survey 100,000 square miles of the Earth’s surface per hour from an altitude of 80,000 feet.

It is therefore not surprising that the aircraft has consistently broken records for both speed and altitude due to its astounding flight qualities.

The following story is taken from Colonel Richard “Butch” Sheffield, an SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Systems Officer, unpublished book by Col. Richard (Butch) Sheffield titled “The Very First” (RSO).

‘Sometime, early in the program, in January 1967, I believe, we aborted and landed at Buckley Air National Guard (ANG) Base near Denver. The base was home to an F-101 squadron. The F-101 was an interceptor assigned to defend the US in case of war. The fighter community considered it a “hot” aircraft.

‘After we got out of our pressure suits and arranged for the take-off the next day, we went to the Officer’s Club wearing loaned flying suits and our white pressure suit boots. The fighter pilots who came around wanted to know all about our aircraft, like; how fast, how high, and the rate of climb. What they really wanted was to race us as we climbed out after takeoff. We declined all offers of information and races.

‘The next day, on takeoff roll, an F-101 came upon our wing; he was going to race us whether we wanted to or not. Apparently, the F-101 had been orbiting the field just waiting for our takeoff.

‘The SR could climb fast but was no match for the F-101 at those altitudes. He stayed right on our wing up to 25,000 feet where we leveled off to hit a tanker that we always did. About the time we leveled off, someone from the F-101 came on UHF and said, “You guys aren’t so hot.” So I replied, “How fast can you climb above 80,000 feet?” The F-101 made a quick exit.’

Check out the Habubrats Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

October 6, 2023 0 comment

History

The time a P-51D pilot took off on a mission in a Mustang and an RTB took off in a German FW 190

by Till Daisd October 5, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The Kommandogerat, a system of the FW 190A series that allowed boost pressure, fuel flow, mixture setting, and prop control with a single lever, made it virtually the only World War II aircraft that an enemy pilot could steal.

A highly decorated US Air Force (USAF) colonel, Bruce Ward Carr (Jan. 28, 1924 – Apr. 25, 1998) during World War II was shot down over Germany.

After evading capture for several days, he snuck into a Luftwaffe airfield and stole an enemy plane which he flew back to Allied lines. He also became a flying ace, credited with 14 victories, including five in a single day, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Jay Thompson, a pilot and aviation expert explains on Quora.

‘In October 1944 Colonel Bruce Carr of the USAAF took off on a mission in a 354th Fighter Group P-51D and was shot down by flak while strafing ground targets over Czechoslovakia. He landed near a Luftwaffe field with the intent of surrendering to the Luftwaffe troops since they were generally much more friendly to US aircrew than were the soldiers of the German army, but it was becoming dark just as he got there, and from the trees, he watched two mechanics fuel up and then run up an FW 190A-8 and shut it back down again.

‘He decided well, that seemed to be a perfectly good airplane, why not give it a try. Near dawn, he snuck out and jumped in the cockpit, and having no knowledge of it he went with the theory that if he kept flipping switches and moving controls to the opposite position of where they currently were, he’d find the starter somehow. And damned if he didn’t, and luckily the FW 190A series included the most advanced throttle system for a WW2 aircraft called the Kommandogerat, where boost pressure, fuel flow, mixture setting, and prop were all controlled with a single lever, making it about the only plane in WW2 that an enemy pilot could steal and manage to get going down a runway with less than 30 minutes of experimentation.

‘Luftwaffe personnel were already coming out to see what was going on, so Col. Carr didn’t really have time to line up on the runway, he just gunned it across a corner of the field on a path that had him pass between two hangars before he was airborne. He was very pleased with himself when he managed to get the gear up.’

Thompson continues:

‘He then later said that he decided to fly back at treetop height in hopes of not drawing any Allied fighter attention, but said that the choice wasn’t great, because he was convinced that every .50cal M2 machine gun in existence in the 200 miles between that German airfield and his home field had taken shots at him.

‘When he got close to his squadron’s base in France, he decided not to mess around at all and line up with the runway some distance out and fly straight in before anyone could man the AA defenses – at this point in the war the Allies had pretty much total air control and there was almost no threat of German attack.

‘The only problem was that he couldn’t get the landing gear back down. Rather than make himself a target while trying to figure out what the problem was, he decided to just belly-land it. And that’s what he did, as American soldiers ran for the quad .50cal guns.

‘Needless to say, everyone was very confused when they found (then) Captain Carr sitting in the cockpit. It was an awesome opportunity for a one-liner, like “yeah, I never liked the P-51 anyway”, or maybe “you wouldn’t believe what happened in that fight yesterday, but some German is flying my P-51”, but unfortunately he was too exhausted from the adrenalin and just said something to the effect of “**** you, I’m Captain Carr of this goddamned squadron” when the first soldiers arrived and pointed lots of guns at him.

‘Col. Carr later earned the Distinguished Service Cross when he and three other P-51s climbed (very bad idea) into a formation of 60 German fighters, and shot down seven, with Col. Carr being credited with five.’

Thompson concludes:

‘I had the honor of meeting Col. Carr, I think it was 1997 down at Kermit Week’s air museum called Fantasy of Flight in Florida, and he arrived at aged 70 something, flying a P-51D that blew over our heads at about 300kts and 50 feet before breaking into a perfect entry to a final on the runway. We got to then listen to him tell this entire story, and ask him questions afterward.’

Photo by U.S. Air Force

October 5, 2023 0 comment

History

Twelve B-25s attacked a rocky outcrop in the Alps in 1945 in an effort to spark a landslide that would block a road

by Till Daisd October 4, 2023

written by Till Daisd

Operation Glass Knob was the cover name for the mission. In order to create a landslide that would block the road, a colonel decided to bomb the rocky outcrop of the mountain adjacent to it

By the end of 1944, the French operations had taken precedence over the Italian Campaign, and Allied forces lacked the strength necessary to breach the Germans’ formidable Gothic Line. The German Army received 600,000 tons of supplies per month by hourly trains that traveled through the Alps to reach these fortifications, which was more than enough to last forever.

But, as described by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver in Gothic Line 1944-45, The USAAF Starves Out the German Army, the powerful Gothic Line would be shattered by American air power in one of the most important but little-known air campaigns of World War II during the severe winter of 1944–45. Operation Bingo would ruthlessly sever the Germans’ supply lines instead of attacking them directly, leaving them to starve. It would not be simple, though. Every raid was anticipated and a strong array of heavy flak defended the rail routes. Men experienced hypoxia and frostbite while wearing electric flying suits due to the subzero temperatures.

12 B-25 Mitchell bombers from the 486th Bomb Squadron took off on February 13, 1945, for San Ambrogio, which is located in the Brenner Pass 10 miles northwest of Verona. Despite the cold, the sky was clear beside a ground haze.

Operation Glass Knob was the codename for the mission. To create a landslide that would obstruct the major road, a colonel thought it would be a good idea to bomb the rocky outcrop of the mountain adjacent to it. On the lead ship, the colonel flew on the mission as an observer.

One thousand-pound bombs were carried by the B-25s. After “Bombs Away,” the formation would usually yell, “Let’s get the hell out of here!” and resume its evasive maneuvers. However, the formation performed a slow turn so that the colonel could turn around and assess how his plan had worked out.

The B-25 depicted in the foreground of Anastasios Polychronis’ artwork for this article, 6Y, “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” was in the No. 6 position off the right wing of 6A, “Sahara Sue II.” As the left engine of 6Y was struck directly, it trembled. Co-pilot 2nd Lieutenant James O’Connor was instructed to feather the prop by pilot 1st Lieutenant Roman Figler. “I can’t,” the gloomy response was, “The engine’s gone!”

While reaching Rovereto, the aircraft was struck by another burst of flak on the right side, taking out the hydraulics and causing the wheels and flaps to drop and the bomb bay doors to open. Figler then turned the aircraft back toward home. The additional drag caused 6Y to lose altitude and face mountains they were unable to climb. The instruction to bail out was given. As soon as they landed, the crew was captured.

In the same box of six aircraft, 6W, which was also hit and was unable to land, was flying. The road remained open and the mountain withstood the barrage of bombs.

Gothic Line 1944–45, The USAAF starves out the German Army is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by Anastasios Polychronis

October 4, 2023 0 comment

History

First American F-16 MiG-killer painted in a scheme resembling the Desert Camouflage Uniform worn during the first Gulf War

by Till Daisd October 3, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The Desert Camouflage Uniform used in the First Gulf War and a related experimental camouflage livery that was developed at the time serve as inspiration for this “What if” design

On June 17, 2022, an F-16D Fighting Falcon painted in a historical color scheme was unveiled at the 310th Air Maintenance Unit hangar by the 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona. It was the first American F-16 to achieve an aerial victory, as Senior Airman Caleb F. Butler explained in the article Luke AFB Unveils Newest Heritage Jet.

“The aircraft before you earned the moniker ‘MiG Killer’ as a result of the events that took place on Dec. 27, 1992,” said 1st Lt. James Mobbley, 56th EMS Fabrication Flight officer in charge, at the unveiling ceremony. “On this day, Lt. Col. Gary “Nordo” North, who was flying this F-16D, tail number 0778, led a flight of four F-16s on a routine Operation Southern Watch mission in Iraq.”

An armed MiG-25 Foxbat flew into the no-fly zone during this mission.

Nordo-F-16 — An F-16D Fighting Falcon sits on display during an unveiling ceremony at the 310th Air Maintenance Unit hangar on June 17, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Lt. Col. Gary “Nordo” North utilized this jet to eliminate an enemy MiG-25 Foxbat during Operation Southern Watch. It is the first American F-16 to earn an aerial victory.

According to what we have already said, Nordo ordered a tactical offset to the north to “bracket” the F-16s between the MiG and the 32nd parallel, resulting in a blocking maneuver and trapping the Iraqi fighter in forbidden airspace. Without a fight, the MiG was unable to return to Iraqi territory. “Someone was going to die within the next two minutes, and it wasn’t going to be me or my wingman,” North said.

North recognized the aircraft as a MiG-25 Foxbat outfitted with AA-6 “Acrid” radar-guided missiles and asked for permission to fire. He again asked permission to fire before ordering his wingman to use his electronic jamming pod. On his headset, he eventually heard “BANDIT-BANDIT-BANDIT, CLEARED TO KILL.” AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Anti-Aircraft Missile) was fired by North after locking up the MiG-25 at three nautical miles, fifteen degrees nose high, and fifteen degrees right bank. The missile was directed to hit and completely destroyed the Foxbat built in Russia.

F-16D-MiG-Killer-OSW — An F-16D Fighting Falcon sits on display during an unveiling ceremony at the 310th Air Maintenance Unit hangar on June 17, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The names of the corrosion control team members responsible for painting the jet can be seen in the lower right corner of the photo. The corrosion control team’s responsibilities revolve around preventative maintenance in an effort to prevent or control corrosion, supporting aircraft generation, and pilot training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb F. Butler)

In addition to being the first aerial victory for an American F-16, this battle also saw the first AIM-120 AMRAAM kill.

To commemorate North’s actions and the Air Force’s heritage, 12 Fabrication Flight Airmen who were assigned to Luke AFB’s corrosion control department created the paint scheme for this jet. Almost 13 gallons of paint and 1,500 man-hours were used for the paint job.

MiG-Killer-F-16D — A bay door of an F-16D Fighting Falcon sits ajar during an unveiling ceremony at the 310th Air Maintenance Unit hangar on June 17, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Lt. Col. Gary “Nordo” North utilized this jet to eliminate an enemy MiG-25 Foxbat during Operation Southern Watch. It is the first American F-16 to earn an aerial victory.

“This ‘What if’ design pulls cues from the Desert Camouflage Uniform worn during the first Gulf War and a similar experimental livery of camouflage that was tested at that time,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Cichonsky, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron F-35 low-observable aircraft structural maintainer. “Very few pictures exist of the test scheme since it was hand-rolled using latex paint and only lasted a week before being removed. With this design, we not only pay homage to the history of General North and 0778, but it also allows us to reimagine if this paint scheme was selected for use during Operation Southern Watch.”

Photo by Senior Airman Caleb F. Butler / U.S. Air Force

October 3, 2023 0 comment

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