runestone
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- Nov 25, 2004
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Originally posted by: dphantom
Originally posted by: Zebo
Originally posted by: AstroGuardian
Friends of mine shot down the US F-117 Stealth in Serbia near the town of Zajecar. I guess they did not know it was stealthy?
I remember that. Stealthy can't beat luck and line of sight fire. Wasn't he flying too low?
I don't remember the details but I recall the mission profile was screwed up and the pilot was too low, hence the lucky shot. Others who know better feel free to correct my memory.
D, as I remember there were a number of factors that led to that hit:
The primary control over all air strikes was not under USAF command- they had to stay within certain air lanes during most of that conflict. The 117 was operating against targets that had been bombed for four nights in a row- intelligence can figure out when and where another strike would be with some reasonable certainty. The F-117 was/is never invisible and if you know when the bombs fell, you can kind of figure out where the airplane that dropped the bombs should be, if a pattern is followed and you have reasonably sophisticated radar and missiles.
The following is from an article that I was unable to find the original of; caveats in order:
"Callsign was Vega 31, pilot was Lt.Col Dale Zelko.
Basically the target that night was of high importance and near Belgrade. It was also a difficult one because of exceptional Russian state-of-the-art defence systems operated by motivated and well-trained crews.
Several missions were sent previouosly against that target without success, his was on the 4th night. I'll translate directly:
During my initial penetration into Yugoslav airspace, I was monitoring a primary attack frequency, listening to other events that were happening as part of the attack sorties. Even before boarding, on the aircraft shelter, i sensed that if there was a night where it was particularly appropriate for my plane to get shot down, this was it. I was plainly conscious of my vulnerabilities, and the risks and dangers that the mission presented. The information coming to me through the radio during ingress only increased the sensation that something bad would happen that night. Thus, when it did happen, I was not surprised at all. To tell you the truth, I watched the whole thing happen.
He was asked whether he received any RWR warning, to which he did not answer owing to the fact that it involved the Nighthawk's capabilities. Still secret. He went on.. But I can tell you that I saw the entire ground-to-air engagement and even during the initial stages there was no doubt that I had no way out. I did everything to avoid impact,but the truth is there was no way out. And remember, I had a front row seat during the entire engagement. So, was it pilot error? No. Was it maintenance? No. Was it a good shot? Yes, it was a good shot.
So he was detected!
He goes on to say that he saw two incoming missiles, the 1st went over and so close he was surpised the proximity fuse did'nt go. He felt the shock wave as it blew behind him. He then reacquired the 2nd incoming and realized it was going to go right through him. He does'nt know whether it was direct hit, but notes that wreckage pics show the entire left wing to be missing."
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