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NIGHTHAWKS OVER IRAQ   

 

Preface

 

This unclassified account of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing’s accomplishments during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM was prepared to permit members of the “Team Stealth” community to reflect with pride on their contribution to sustained world peace. They proved their mettle in battle and have earned the title of American warrior” It is a testament to their love for country and their willingness to sacrifice for the ideals they defend every day of their lives. The peoples of the United States and the entire Free World are forever in their debt.

 

Nighthawks over Iraq is based entirely on the contingency historical reports developed by SMSgt Phil Myers during his visit to Saudi Arabia as historian of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing and the mission tally sheets developed by the wing’s operations network.

 

Introduction

 

On 5 October 1989, the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) relocated to Tonopah Test Range, Nevada, to take up the role as the Air Force’s only Stealth Fighter unit. Since assum­ing the stealth mission, the 37th has twice taken part in combat operations. The wing’s F-117As led the attack against Panama on 21 December 1989 during Operation JUST CAUSE. Pinpoint bombardment stunned and disrupted the Panamanian infantry at Rio Hato and paved the way for U.S. paratroopers to land and crush Panama Defense Force resistance. It is important to note that Operation JUST CAUSE did not test the F-117A’s stealth technology because Panama had no radar defense network. Rather, the F-117A was picked for this mission on the basis of its bombing accuracy.

 

The proof of the pudding for stealth technology came during the F-117A’s second combat employment. On 19 August 1990, the 37 TFW deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation DESERT SHIELD. That deployment transformed into Operation DESERT STORM combat operations against Iraq from 16 January to 28 February 1991.

 

Operation DESERT STORM featured the F-117A in its first real world test against a modern, integrated air defense. The “Nighthawks” of the 37 TFW repeatedly flew into and through intense anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missile fire, accurately employing 2,000 tons of precision guided munitions during 1,300 combat sorties. Wing pilots scored 1,600 direct hits against enemy targets in nearly 400 locations. Without suffering a single loss, or experiencing any damage, they destroyed hardened command and control bunkers, aircraft shelters, production and storage facilities for nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, and other heavily defended targets of the highest military and political significance.

 

Employing just 2.5 percent of the USAF assets in theater, the 37th not only led the U.N. coalition force against Iraq, but also hit nearly 40 percent of the Iraqi targets that came under fire in the first three days. Twenty nine Stealth Fighters hit 26 high value targets on the first night alone. The F-117A’s were so effective that the Iraqi air defense system practically collapsed. Iraq’s command, control, and communications network never recovered.

 

Thereafter, the wing constantly hit key political and military targets to further weaken Iraqi resistance and to prepare for the ground campaign. Early on, and employing only four F-117A’s, Stealth Fighter pilots attacked Baghdad’s nuclear research facility, obliterating its three reactor cores. Of significance, the F-117A was the only coalition aircraft tasked to fly over Baghdad during the entire conflict.

 

In another strike, the wing destroyed a whole network of surface-to-air missile sites in central Iraq in the space of one hour, thus enabling B-52s to come in and carpet bomb military production facilities without fear of interception. Immediately prior to the start of the coalition’s ground campaign, the F-117As destroyed a complex of pumping stations and a distribution network that fed oil into anti-personnel fire trenches in southern Kuwait. This attack earned strong praise and the gratitude of the multinational ground forces.

 

The 37th’s performance and devastating air power also drew high praise from military and political leaders. In particular, Senator Sam Nunn, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, stated that: “[The F-117A was] the heart of our offensive power and targeting capability.” Brigadier General Buster C. Glosson, Fourteenth Air Division Commander, called the wing “the backbone of the strategic air campaign.” General Colin S. Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commented: “You are showing the nation what it’s all about, the combination of the very highest technology with the very best kind of people we can put together in the field as a team.” Secretary of Defense, Richard B. Cheney, stated: “You have gone far beyond anything anybody envisioned. It has been phenomenal.” Statistically, the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing compiled a record that is unparalleled in the chronicles of air warfare: the “Nighthawks” achieved a 75 percent hit rate on pinpoint targets (1669 direct hits and 418 misses) while crippling nearly 40 percent of enemy strategic targets.

 

Chronology of Events

 

DESERT SHIELD

 

August 1990

 

17 Aug     At 1000 hours, Col Alton C. Whitley, Jr., assumed command over the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) from Col Anthony J. Tolin. At 1400 hours, the wing received its deployment orders to Saudi Arabia.

 

18 Aug     The 37 TFW began processing people and cargo for deployment to Saudi Arabia for Operation DESERT SHIELD.

 

19 Aug     Twenty one F-117A Stealth Fighters from the 415th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) deployed to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, completing their first leg to Saudi Arabia.

 

20 Aug     The first C-5 touched down at King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia, with Colonel Whitley and Lt Col Ralph W. Getchell III, 415 TFS Commander, on board. They were officially greeted by Brig Gen Abdulaziz Bin Khalid Al Sudairi, Base Commander, and Col Faisal Eurwailli, Flying Wing Commander.

 

21 Aug     Eighteen 37 TFW F-117As arrived from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, at King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia.

 

23 Aug     The 415 TFS launched eight orientation sorties with the Saudis. The host wing used four F-5s, three F-15s, and one Tornado to chase 37 TFW aircraft.

 

26 Aug     The.F-117A assumed alert duty for the first time in its history.

 

September 1990

 

4 Sep      Maj Guy C. Fowl, the deployed Deputy Commander for Maintenance, initiated Shade Tree Aircraft Repair (STAR) procedures to repair broken line replaceable units (or avionics boxes). This was another F-117A first.

 

12 Sep     Gen Michael J. Dugan, the Air Force Chief of Staff, visited the wing at King Khalid.

 

22 Sep     Two C-141s brought the 37 TFW’s avionics maintenance vans from Tonopah Test Range, Nevada, to King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia.

 

23 Sep     Colonel Whitley issued Special Order #1 to assign all previously attached personnel to the wing for the duration of Operation DESERT SHIELD.

 

25 Sep     General Norman Schwarzkopf, US Central Command Commander, visited the 37 TFW (Team Stealth) at King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia.

 

October 1990

 

1 Oct      The 1880th Communications Squadron became a TAG unit and joined the 37 TFW as the 37th Communications Squadron.

 

3 Oct      Colonel Whitley initiated Sneaky Sultan I, a limited operational readiness exercise, to challenge the 37 TFW’s response capability.

 

3 Oct      His Royal Highness, Prince Sultan Abdul Azizibn Saud, Saudi Defense Minister, conferred with Colonel Whitley and viewed an F-117A static display.

 

18 Oct     Colonel Whitley returned to the Tonopah Test Range to requalify in the F-117A. The Deputy Commander for Operations, Col Klaus J. Klaus, assumed command over the deployed forces.

 

November 1990

 

12 Nov     Colonel Klaus initiated Sneaky Sultan II, an exercise to test the wing’s ability to recall and generate aircraft on short notice to support D-Day planned operations.

 

15-18 Nov The 37 TFW flew thirty-two sorties for Imminent Thunder, a six day joint and combined exercise that enhanced warfare skills. Headquarters, Central Air Forces tasked coalition air forces to attack a simulated “mirror image” of Kuwait and Southeast Iraq.

 

December 1990

 

3 Dec      At 1903 hours, the 416 TFS Commander, Lt Col Gregory T. Gonyea, took off from Langley AFB, Virginia, leading an element of six F-117As to King Khalid Air Base. Another six aircraft left 30 minutes later, followed by two successive groups of four on 30 minute intervals. Colonel Whitley flew with the third group on his return journey to Saudi. The entire group of 20 F-117As arrived in Saudi on the following day.

 

5 Dec      Central Air Forces underwent an internal restructure resulting in the creation of the 14th and 15th Air Divisions. The Command assigned the 37 TFW to the 14th Air Division.

 

11 Dec     Team Stealth received a “how goes it” visit from Lt Gen Charles A. Horner, the Commander, Central Air Forces.

 

14 Dec     Representative Dave McCurdy (D-Oklahoma), accompanied by Brig. Gen Buster Glossen, 14th Air Division (prov) Commander, visited the 37 TFW.

 

20 Dec     To standardize and stabilize organizational structure, Central Air Forces redesignated all wings as provisional units. Thus, the 37 TFW deployed became the 37 TFWP (Provisional). The Command also established provisional combat support groups under each wing.

 

23 Dec     Headquarters, Central Air Forces initiated Threat Condition Charlie to heighten the command’s security posture during the Christmas holiday period.

 

23 Dec     Colonel Whitley initiated Sneaky Sultan III to evaluate the wing’s flexibility to accomplish taskings outlined in the D-Day air tasking order.

 

January 1991

 

5 Jan      General Merrill A. McPeak, Air Force Chief of Staff, arrived in an F-15 to visit the 37 TFWP.

 

13 Jan     The 37 TFWP started a gradual load out to prepare for hostilities with Iraq.

 

15 Jan     The Joint Chiefs of Staff declared Defense Condition 2.

 

16 Jan     The 37 TFWP received orders to execute its D-Day tasking against targets in Iraq; however, the first wave of F-117As did not take off until after midnight.

 

DESERT STORM

 

17 Jan     Day 1, Wave One: At 0022 hours, the 415 TFS launched ten F-117As against a combined integrated operations center/ground control intercept site at Nukhayb, two air defense control sector headquarters and the Iraqi Air Force Headquarters in Baghdad, a joint integrated operations center/radar facility at Al Taqaddum, a telephone center at Ar Ramadi and two in Baghdad, an integrated operations center at Al Taji, a North Taji military related facility, and the Presidential grounds at Abu Ghurayb. The 41Sth paved the way into Iraq for other Air Force units scoring 13 hits in 17 attempts.

 

Day 1, Wave Two: The 37 TFWP sent 12 F-117As (three 415th and nine 416th jets) to repeat strikes on the Iraqi Air Force Headquarters, air defense sector headquarters, and telephone exchanges in Baghdad; the Al Taqaddum integrated operations center/ground control intercept facility; military related facilities at North Taji, and the Presidential grounds at Abu Ghurayb. New targets included the Salmon Pak troposcatter station; a television transmitter station, international radio transmitter, and the Presidential bunker in Baghdad; Rasheed Airfield; a joint integrated operations center/ ground control intercept site at Ar Rutbah; a troposcatter station at Habbaniyah; and the communications satellite terminal at Ad Dujay1. This wave scored ten hits on 16 attempts.

 

Day 1, Wave Three: A third wave of eight F-117As proceeded to Salmon Pak, Nukhayb, Ad Diwamiyah, An Nasiriyah, Ash Shuaybah, Qabatiyan, and Karbala to strike sector operations centers, more headquarters buildings, ammunition stores, and a chemical / biological facility. This wave scored only five hits in 16 attempts, bad weather obscuring many of the target sites.

 

The Voice of America reported anti-aircraft fire and bombs exploding in Baghdad at 0300 following the first weapons drop on the Iraqi capital by 37 TFWP aircraft.

 

At 0800 Pacific Time: eight more F-117As left Tonopah Test Range for staging out of Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. These aircraft were slated as attrition reserves.

 

Day 2, Wave One: Late in the afternoon, the 415 TFS launched 12 F-117As against Iraqi targets in Baghdad, Han Al Mahwah, Abu Ghurayb, Salmon Pak, North Taji, Al Taji, Alkut, Al Asmara, Ar Rutbah, and Al Taqaddum. Due to an air abort, only 11 aircraft completed successful runs against transmitters, command and control bunkers, the intelligence service headquarters, Baghdad’s nuclear reactor, the Iraqi airborne warning and control system (AWACS), integrated operations centers, sector headquarters, and the national computer center. This wave achieved ten hits in 18 attempts.

 

18 Jan     Day 2, Wave Two: The 416 TFS sent 12 jets to attack enemy integrated operations centers, headquarters buildings, communications sites, a nuclear reactor, and ammunition bunkers. Target areas included Baghdad, Salmon Pak, Nukhayb, Al Sugary, Al Zahra, Vallejo, Habbaniyah, Tally, Al Asmara, Al Tallulah, Alkut, and Qabatiyan. Stealth pilots achieved 13 direct hits out of 19 attempts.

 

Day 3, Wave One: The 415 TFS attacked com­munications sites, integrated operations centers, a nuclear reactor, sector head­quarters, the Ministry of Culture and Information, Hawk missile sites and training centers, and the Ministry of Defense. Target areas included Umm Ai Aish, Ai Jahrah, Ali Ai Salem, Baghdad, and Nukhayb. Above the targets, the pilots found bad weather. As a result, they achieved only four hits on eight attempts.

 

19 Jan     Day 3, Wave Two: The 416 TFS sent ten F-117As against various targets, including Scud missile sites, signals intelligence facilities, a highway bridge, and command, control, and communications facilities. Target locations included Baghdad, North Taji, Ai Diwamiyah, Abu Ghurayb, Ai Taji, Ai Kut, and Ai Amarah. The weather was so poor that the pilots only managed two hits on 18 attempts. Clouds obscured many first targets, leading to nine no drops. As a result, most pilots attempted to drop both bombs on alternate targets. Most missed.

 

Day 4, Wave One: 415 TFS pilots attacked bridges, command and control bunkers, integrated operations centers/ground control intercept sites, sector headquarters, sector operations centers, radio trans­mitter stations, ammunition storage dumps, and two telephone exchanges. Target positions included Ash Shamiyah, Abu Ghurayb, Ai Kut, Ai Amarah, Ar Rutbah, Ai Zubayr, Ali Ai Salem, Ad Dujayl, Ai Fallujah, and Karbala. Once again, weather conditions limited pilot success as they scored seven hits with seven misses.

 

20 Jan     Day 4, Wave Two: Nine F-117As of the 416 TFS attacked a target list comparable to the previous three nights. This time the weather cleared up enough to permit a much higher degree of success: ten hits in 13 attempts. This wave concentrated on targets at Baghdad, Salmon Pak, Karbala, North Taji, Abu Ghurayb, and Ai Taji. Types of target included Scud sector operations centers, chemical and biological warfare centers and research facilities, ammunition storage dumps, a signals intel­ligence station, military related facilities, bridges, command and control bunkers, and an integrated operations center.

 

An Air Transportable Hospital arrived at King Khalid on nine C-14’s to provide rear echelon treatment for war casualties.

 

21 Jan     Day 5, Wave One: The 415 TFS initiated the fifth night of combat operations one minute after midnight. Due to two air aborts, only ten jets flew their missions against the Taji biological warfare facility, the Salmon Pak troposcatter station, Tallil Airfield, a Tall King radar station; the Latifiya satellite ground station, the Baghdad television transmitter/radio relay terminal, and the headquarters for the Ministry of Defense and Iraqi Air Force in Baghdad. Stealth Fighter pilots achieved ten hits on 14 attempts.

 

Day 5, Wave Two: This wave’s tasking obligated the 416 TFS to fly 14 combat sorties. One jet ground aborted. The other 13 accomplished their missions with weather impaired results against ammunition dumps, surface-to-air missile sites, Scud missile bunkers, a combined integrated operations center / ground control intercept site, a troposcatter station, and a Scud and Frog missile site. Attack areas included Al Qaim, Salmon Pak, Ad Diwamiyah, Balad, Habbaniyah, An Nasiriyah, Abu Ghurayb, and Khan Al Kahawil. A combination of poor weather, unreliable aircraft systems and target acquisition errors attributed to 14 missed targets of 21 attempted.

 

Day 6, Wave One: The night’s first wave against Iraq pitted 14 F-117As from the 415 TFS against a radio relay terminal, Iraqi Air Force Headquarters, the main signals intelligence station, the international radio communications transmitter-receiver, two telephone exchanges, and the nuclear research center in Baghdad, the Ad Dujayl communications satellite terminal, an acquisition and warning site at Bir Akirshah, the troposcatter station at Salmon Paki, a telephone exchange at Ai Fallujah Ubaydah Bin Ai Jahrah Airfield; and a command and control bunker at Abu Ghurayb. Two air aborts reduced the wave to an even dozen Stealth Fighters. Of 23 targets attacked, the squadron pilots registered 20 hits and three misses.

 

22 Jan     Day 6, Wave Two: The 416 TFS sent a wave of 14 F-117As to bomb Iraqi targets at Baghdad, Ai Taji, Abu Ghurayb, and North Taji. Nighthawk attacks on surface-to-air missile sites; Internal Security, Ministry of Defense, Intelligence Service, and Air Force Headquarters; the Presidential Palace; the Presidential Retreat; military related facilities, telephone exchanges, a biological warfare facility, and a nuclear research center featured 26 hits and only two misses for the 37 TFW’s best performance so far.

 

Day 7, Wave One: With the setting sun in the background, the 415 TFS launched 14 F-117As towards the Balad Southeast airfield. Stealth pilots scored 21 hits on the airfield and one hit on an alternate target. Only four bombs missed their targets.

 

23 Jan     Day 7, Wave Two: The 416 TFS had 14 combat sorties slated for this wave. Insufficient time for mission planning and photographic support, however, caused the unit to drop four sorties. The remaining ten aircraft took off on time at midnight to bomb missile handling facilities, the main signals intelligence station, and transportation facilities in Baghdadi a very important person (VIP) residence at Abu Ai Jahish; highway bridges over the Euphrates River at An Nasiriyah and As Samawah and a highway bridge at Ai Quanah. The 416 TFS pilots hit on 16 of 18 attempts.

 

Day 8, Wave One: The 415 TFS launched 13 of 14 scheduled jets against road bridges in Iraq; however, bad weather limited the pilots to three bomb drops at Ai Basrah, Urn Ai Aish, and Ai Khirr rendering only two hits, one miss, and 23 no drops.

 

24 Jan     Day 8, Wave Two: The 416 TFS combat schedule also called for 14 sorties against bridges, communication centers, and an airfield. All 14 F-117As launched on schedule, scoring 11 hits and five misses at Taji, As Samawah, Ai Basrah, Al Quanah, An Nasiriyah, Ar Rumaylah, Umm All Aish, Tallil, and Jalibah.

 

Day 9, Wave One: To increase the pressure on Iraq, Headquarters Central Air Forces tasked the 37 TFWP to resume flying three waves of F-117As against military targets. For the first wave, the 416 TFS sent 14 aircraft against airfields at Qayyarah West, Ai Assad, and Kirkuk. One aircraft aborted after takeoff due to a lack of tanker support; however, the other 13 jets scored 20 hits with five misses.

 

Day 9, Wave Two: The 416 TFS launched the day’s second wave against highway bridges at Ai Quanah, An Nasiriyah, As Samawah, Ai Kut, Ai Fifl, Hachama, Samawa, Muftul, Ar Rumaylah, Ai Madinah, and Saqash. The squadron dropped 20 bombs, scoring 14 direct hits and six misses.

 

25 Jan     Day 9, Wave Three: The wing’s third wave combined resources from both squadrons. Seven 415 TFS and three 416 TFS jets con­centrated on enemy airfields; but bad weather made all 20 targets impossible to hit (19 no drops and one miss).

 

Day 10, Wave One: The 37 TFWP combined unit operations again as the 415 TFS and 416 TFS each sent three F-117As after several bridges at Ai Madinah, Ar Rumaylah, Ai Quanah, Muftul, Ai Fifl, Ai Basrah, An Nasiriyah, and As Samarah and an airfield at Tallil. On these targets, the pilots scored five hits, three misses, and five no drops due to bad weather. Six more F-117As flew from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, to King Khalid Air Base. These aircraft were assigned to the 416 TFS for maintenance and management.

 

Day 10, Wave Two: The wing launched this wave in two groups: four 415 TFS jets took off at 2200 hours; four more 415 TFS jets launched at 2300 hours. All eight jets attacked Iraq’s H-2 and H-3 airfields. The wing’s post-strike assessment indicated eight hits, four misses, three systems malfunctions, and three no drops due to bad weather.

 

26 Jan     Day 10, Wave Three: For this wave, the 416 TFS sent eight aircraft to bomb Iraq’s H-2 and H-3 airfields. Their relative success reflected eight hits, three misses, and five no drops for weather.

 

Day 11, Wave One: The 37 TFWP launched ten aircraft. F-117As attacked Iraqi airfields at Mosul, Kirkuk, and Al Assad; ammunition ‘depots at Kirkuk and Tikrit and a joint integrated operations center/ground control intercept site at Al Mawsil. This raid proved largely ineffective as three F-117As air aborted and attacks by the other seven produced only eight hits with and six misses.

 

Day 11, Wave Two: The wing dispatched 13 Stealth Fighters (eight 415 TFS and five 416 TFS) to strike Iraqi airfields at Qayyarah West, Al Assad, Kirkuk AI Muhammad, and Tikrit. Also at Kirkuk, the F-117As bombed the integrated operations center/ground control intercept site and the air defense control sector facility. The Qayyarah West Airfield went unscathed due to bad target weather, but the alternate target at Al Assad bore the brunt of seven direct hits. Kirkuk Airfield also quaked under the force of eight bomb strikes. Al Muhammad Airfield took three direct hits while the Kirkuk ground control site and sector headquarters were rocked by one each.

 

27 Jan     Day 11, Wave Three: The 37 TFWP dedicated a third wave to the destruction of Iraq’s H-2 airfield and various -Scud missile sites. Six 416 TFS and four 415 TFS F-117As took part in the attacks scoring nine hits on 18 tries while suffering one air abort, four bomb failures, and five misses.

 

Day 12, Wave One: The 37 TFWP sent three waves of F-117As to strike airfields, shelters, ammunition dumps, and other miscellaneous targets in Iraq. In the first wave, the 415 TFS and 416th TFS dispatched six and four jets, respectively, to attack airfields at Balad and Rasheed, communications facilities at Baghdad and Ad Dujayl, a troposcatter station at Salmon Pak, the Iraqi Intelligence Service Headquarters in Baghdad, and a biological warfare facility at Abu Ghurayb. Stealth pilots scored 13 hits in 18 attempts.

 

Day 12, Wave Two: The second wave, with six F-117As from the 415 TFS and eight from the 416 TFS, achieved great success bombing’ Balad and Rasheed Airfields, a chemical/ biological warfare research, production, and storage facility at Salmon  Pak, highway bridges at An Nasiriyah and Al Madinah, and the Baghdad Nuclear Research Center. Twenty four of 26 bombs found their targets.

 

28 Jan     Day 12, Wave Three: Ten F-117As raided Iraqi airfields, ammunition stores, and a missile site. Six 415 TFS jets concentrated on ammunition storage facilities at Ad Diwamiyah, Ash Shuaybah, and An Nasiriyah, as well as H-3 airfield shelters, and a surface-to-air missile site at Ar Rutbah. Four pilots of the 416 TFS spent their bombs exclusively on targets at Iraq’s H-2 and H-3 airfields. The ten jets bombed their assigned targets with much success, scoring on 16 out of 20 attempts.

 

Day 13, Wave One: The 415 TFS and 416 TFS contributed four and six aircraft, respectively, to this night’s first wave. These aircraft, except for two jets that air aborted, hit various missile and communications facilities at Baghdad, An Nasiriyah, Ad Diwamiyah, and Ar Rutbah; hardened shelters at Rasheed Airfield; and the Presidential grounds at Abu Ghurayb. Stealth pilots enjoyed a high margin of success, hitting 15 targets and missing only one.

 

Day 13, Wave Two: Wave two tasked eight 415 TFS and six 416 TFS F-117As to attack chemical and biological warfare facilities, Republican Guard barracks, one missile facility, an airfield, ammunition stores, Central Intelligence Headquarters, Security Service Headquarters, and several highway bridges. Target locations included Samawah, Baghdad, Ai Taqaddum, An Nasiriyah, Fallujah, Kirkuk, Al Basrah, Al Quanah, Tikrit, Salmon Pak, and Karbala. A review of F-117A target tapes revealed 17 hits and seven misses.

 

29 Jan     Day 13, Wave Three: The 415 TFS and 416 TFS repeated the pattern of the first wave by flying four and six sorties, respectively. All ten F-117As took off as scheduled, but due to an air abort only nine jets reached their targets. Objectives for the wave included Rasheed airfield, chemical and biological warfare facilities at Salmon Pak, the Republican Guard Headquarters in Baghdad, the Abu Ghurayb biological warfare facility, and ammunition bunkers at Karbala, Fallujah, and Baghdad. Stealth pilots scored 15 hits and two misses.

 

Day 14, Wave One: The 415 TFS launched the first wave against enemy targets with ten F-117As. A few hours later, the Stealth Fighters arrived over their prospective targets only to find most obscured by foul weather. Nevertheless, alternate targeting enabled the pilots to strike heavy blows on highway bridges at Al Kifl, Ar Ramadi and Al Fifl; an ammunition depot at Karbala; and a fiber optics bridge at Al Jamahiriya. Fourteen of 20 bombs found their mark.

 

Day 14, Wave Two: Thirty-seven minutes after the 415 TFS’s departure, the 416 TFS sent the second wave on its way to enemy targets. One aircraft ground aborted. Nine others hit out at ammunitions dumps in Karbala and An Nasiriyah; the Taji steel fabrication plant; the Presidential grounds at Abu Ghurayb; and the Iraqi Air Force Headquarters, Intelligence Service Headquarters, and Nuclear Research Center in Baghdad. Bad weather and weapons system problems limited the squadron’s effectiveness to six hits, eight misses, and two no drops.

 

30 Jan     Day 14, Wave Three: The 415 TFS and 416 TFS combined forces in the last wave of the day. The 415 TFS bombed bridges at Al Fifl, An Nasiriyah, and Al Madina while the 4l6th went scoreless against chemical and biological facilities at Salmon Pak and an ammunition depot at Tikrit due to foul weather. Strike reports reflected four hits, five misses, and nine no drops.

 

Day 15, Wave One: The squadrons again combined operations for the first combat wave of the night. Four F-117As of the 415 TFS joined with six 416 TFS aircraft to attack bridges at Al Basrah, Saqash, and Ash Shuaybah; the Ash Shuaybah telephone exchange; and the sector operations center at Ali Al Salem Air Base; and various communication facilities. Pilots were again plagued by bad weather and managed only nine hits in 14 attempts.

 

Day 15, Wave Two: Just before midnight, 14 F-117As took off to strike bridges at Al Basrah, Saqash, and Tannunah; airfield facilities at Ali Al Salem, Ubaydah Bin Al Jahrah, and Tallil; and communications systems at Al Basrah, and Urn Qasr. The Stealth pilots struck cleanly on 16 of 28 attempts.

 

31 Jan     Day 15, Wave Three: Of ten scheduled sorties, the 415 TFS lost one due to a ground abort and the 416 TFS lost two due to non-availability of aircraft. Seven jets still launched to bomb stores of ammunition at An Nasiriyah, Ad Diwamiyah, Karbala, Habbaniyah, and Fallujah, .as well as chemical and biological facilities at Salmon Pak and Abu Ghurayb. These aircraft achieved 11 hits in 12 tries. Two bombs were not dropped due to inclement weather.

 

February 1991

 

Day 16, Wave One: The wing began alternating between two and three waves per day, sending nine F-117As from the 415 TFS and seven from the 416 TFS on the first wave. Targets included enemy bridges at Al Basrah, Tannunah, Al Madina, and Saqash; communication systems at As Samawah, Tallil, Ad Diwamiyah, and Al Kuwayt; and ammunition stores at Ash Shuaybah, Ad Diwamiyah, and An Nasiriyah. On the way, one 415 TFS jet aborted, but the other F-117As hit on 23 of 28 tries.

 

1 Feb      Day 16, Wave Two: The two squadrons combined operations once again with six aircraft each for the second wave. This wave concentrated on bridges at Al Basrah, Al Quanah, Ar Rumaylah, and Al Fifl; com­munications facilities at Al Kut, Al Amarah, and An Nasiriyah; chemical warfare bunkers at Tallil; ammunition storage facilities at An Nasiriyah and Ash Shuaybah; and Ubaydah Bin Al Jahrah Airfield. Stealth pilots hit 13 targets on 23 attempts.