17 FEB 2019 Tunnel Vision
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2019 8:15 am
VFA-41 was tasked with a follow-up strike mission to destroy railroad bridges following a USAF B1-B attack on a tunnel on the railroad line. The strategic objective was to trap a train suspected to be carrying military armament.
Dealer 1 was given escort/SEAD duty. Dealer 2 was the strike package. Both Dealer 1 aircraft were lost on ingress to a mid-air collision. Dealer 2 continued the mission. Moderate enemy air resistance from an Iranian MiG-21 and a MiG-29, as well as anti-aircraft fire from the ground, was encountered and dealt with.
Dealer 1-1 - Hedgehog: mid-air collision on ingress, ejected.
Dealer 1-2 - Shadow: mid-air collision on ingress, ejected.
Dealer 2-1 - Trim: 1x MiG-21, gnd tgts hit, trapped.
Dealer 2-2 - Lion: gnd tgts hit, trapped.
Dealer 2-3 - Ticman: 1x MiG-29, gnd tgts hit, trapped.
MISSION SUCCESS. Despite loss of two aircraft , mission objectives were accomplished. Railroad bridges and enemy ground forces were substantially damaged, trapping the train and making it accessible for possible further tasking by allied ground forces.
Dealer 1 was given escort/SEAD duty. Dealer 2 was the strike package. Both Dealer 1 aircraft were lost on ingress to a mid-air collision. Dealer 2 continued the mission. Moderate enemy air resistance from an Iranian MiG-21 and a MiG-29, as well as anti-aircraft fire from the ground, was encountered and dealt with.
Dealer 1-1 - Hedgehog: mid-air collision on ingress, ejected.
Dealer 1-2 - Shadow: mid-air collision on ingress, ejected.
Dealer 2-1 - Trim: 1x MiG-21, gnd tgts hit, trapped.
Dealer 2-2 - Lion: gnd tgts hit, trapped.
Dealer 2-3 - Ticman: 1x MiG-29, gnd tgts hit, trapped.
MISSION SUCCESS. Despite loss of two aircraft , mission objectives were accomplished. Railroad bridges and enemy ground forces were substantially damaged, trapping the train and making it accessible for possible further tasking by allied ground forces.