Originally Posted by
BEagle
It was on Night One. 8 Italian Tornados took off from Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi; 1 went U/S after take-off when the landing gear wouldn't retract, one crew had to take the spare but eventually all 7 RV'd with 2 BDA-equipped USAF KC-135s. 6 couldn't refuel, which is hardly surprising at night in bad turbulence given what a sod the BDA is to prod even at the best of times in CAVU daytime, let alone when carrying 5x MK83 retarded 1000lb bombs, 2 BOZ pods, 2x drop tanks and 2x AIM-9L. One aircraft, flown by Major Gianmarco Bellini and Captain Maurizio Cocciolone refuelled successfuly and subsequently destroyed its assigned target, but shortly afterwards they were shot down by a ZSU 2-34 and ejected, surviving to become POW.
What a crazy list of events.