VFA-41 was tasked with a night operation to strike an operational SA-10 SAM site located 35 miles North of the ancient city of Palmyra, neutralize the site's radars and as many launchers as possible launchers. This SA-10 represents the longest-range SAM threat still functioning in Northern Syria, and is critical in protecting many strategic targets of interest that lay beyond the SA-10 site.
Three Dealer Flights launched from the USS George Washington (CVN-73). Dealer 1, 4 ship flight of FA-18's, Dealer 2, 4 ship flight of FA-18's, Dealer 4, 2 ship flight of F-14's. Dealer 1 was tasked with the striking the SA-10 launchers and radars once activated by Dealer4 Tomcat TALDS. Dealer 2 was tasked with striking the SA-10 launchers and radars once dealer 1 had made initial run and was cleared off target. Dealer 4, a 2 ship flight of Tomcats, was tasked with launching TALDS and providing CAP. F-14 escort had been assigned to help keep the ingress and egress routes clear.
Dealer 2 Lost two ships to technical difficulty during the ingress to the target area. Deal 1 lost one ship to enemy missile fire on the initial run. Deal 1 was successful in hitting and destroying ground targets in the target area, Dealer 2 although down 2 ships also was successful in destroying ground targets in the target area. Dealer 4 had successfully deployed TALDS and engaged and destroyed a Mig-25 that could have disrupted the entire mission. Once Dealer flights 1 and 2 had expelled all viable weapons they returned to mother.
Upon reaching Mother strange atmospheric conditions made recovery operations difficult and caused many ships to bolter multiple times. One FA-18 was lost to a ramp strike during recovery operations. The Flight deck was not damaged as the aircraft fell in to sea. The pilot was not recovered. The recovery tanker also returned to mother prematurely. Mother changed course while actively trapping aircraft on the ball. The Air Boss and Mini Boss are being debriefed to why these decisions were made heads are going to roll. Remaining aircraft did successfully recover on mother.
Mission objectives Met, successful mission.
DEALER 1
1-1 Mad Dog - Ground targets, trapped
1-2 NOCS - Ground targets, trapped
1-3 Chaos - Ground targets, Ramp Strike, Assumed KIA
1-4 Maniac - Shot down, Assumed KIA
DEALER 2
2-1 Hedgehog - Ground targets, trapped
2-2 Ticman - Disconnect technical
2-3 Rhino - Ground targets, trapped
2-4 Dirty Dan - Disconnect technical
DEALER 4
4-1 Mr Bean - trapped
4-2 Iceburg - MIG-25, trapped
12 June 2022 - Damasus Dawn Week 21
Re: 12 June 2022 - Damasus Dawn Week 21
Pilot records and Greenie Board updated.