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.
17 FEB 2019 Tunnel Vision
Re: 17 FEB 2019 Tunnel Vision
Pilot records and Greenie Board updated.