USAF F-16s shoot down 4 Serb attack aircraft

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If any of you are curious, I was recovering 2147 that day at hardened shelter 13 in the Nickel loop in Aviano. It was a sight to see. Also, aircraft 89-2009 was the first 555th FS aircraft to fire a willie pete rocket (white phosphorous) after our AFAC training was complete at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona. Just a little gee wiz info. Capt O'Grady Is now a legend already with his books and appearances. It was a hell of a party when he got back to Aviano.

Ciao
LeeRichardson

Yeah, I couldn't find out what "S. Allen" 's rank was at the time of the event so I didn't put it down. ( sorry : ) )

Elp

>>10 years ago today in history, February 28, 1994, six Serb Soko J-21 Jastreb ( RVRS ) combat jets were in the wrong place at the wrong time........One of these later crashed due to fuel starvation...<<

This is just partially true.

4 J-21, 2 IJ-21 and 2 J-22 were involved in action. Pilots of 2 J-22 spotted F-16 above them and after attack they left area in a low level flight. F-16 engaged and attacked the rest of the group.

1st J-21 - Hit in the left wing, pilot ejected successfully from upside-down plane on low altitude.

2nd - J-21 evbr. 24275 hit by Sidewinder (proximity fuse), but continued flying on low level and tried to escape. After 10+ minutes of air-rodeo, F-16 finally joined him in a close formation; pilot saluted and let him go. His engine stopped in the final approach on H=50m (due to lack of fuel), but pilot successfully landed at Udbina airbase. Plane is later repaired, got a new tail and serial number.

• http://www.avijacijabezgranica.com/Photos/YuWars/images/1994-28feb-rvvrs-01.jpg
• http://www.avijacijabezgranica.com/Photos/YuWars/images/1994-28feb-rvvrs-02.jpg
• http://www.avijacijabezgranica.com/Photos/YuWars/images/1994-28feb-rvvrs-zakrpljen.jpg

3rd - Hit in tail section on H=50m, plane hit the ground, pilot KIA.

4th - Hit, pilot ejected in low attitude, parachute did not fully open, KIA.

5th- Hit and pilot ejected trough the canopy (in J-21 you have to manually release the canopy before you could eject)- survived without enjuries.

6th - The same as 3rd plane. This is the pilot's grave site photo.

http://www.avijacijabezgranica.com/Phot ... ezdan2.jpg

All pilots killed during that action were my very good friends and great guys, but, as you said, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Let their souls rest in peace.

Regards,

Ex- YAF pilot

Wow. Thanks for providing that very important info!!

Elp

Hrm....kinda got different stories on this matter myself when I was in Aviano from 96-98...my first jet was 89-2009 and it had the clean up kill that Capt Wright missed. My pilot Capt. Steve "Yogi" Allen was the wingman for Wright, and O'Grady wasnt there. Course O'Grady was a hero to some and a zero to the rest of us. When you get shot down because you didnt turn on your detection gear, and get the best flying aircraft shot to bits (89-2032) you don't become much of a hero. Let alone forgetting almost all of his survival gear and training on the ground.

Ghettobird

Lt. Col Wright was my Commander/Pilot at Cannon AFB in the 523 FS in 2000. He is a great Commander and was a great friend. I have not heard from him in a couple of years, I heard he is no longer in the military due to reasons I could never have forseen. Either way it is cool to see him talked about in a place like this. Grab

The true story is that three F-16s were in the area when they got the call to intercept six J-21s. After repeated warnings to the Serbs to leave the area, the F-16s were given the go to shoot them down. The first falcon fired an AMRAAM missile taking out the first jet, then the same pilot fired two sidewinders taking out two more J-21s. The second falcon fired a sidewinder taking out a fourth aircraft. The remaining two Serb pilots then ran for home, one of the J-21s crashed 3 miles from its base, but the sixth pilot made it home and survived. After landing he told his fellow Serbs "Don't mess with those Americans."