Then again, there is also the possibility of bases
and overflight being refused as on the previous occasion bombing raids were flown against Libya. For
Operation EL DORADO CANYON in 1986, 18 USAF F-111F Aardvarks had to fly from the UK and route around France, Spain and through the Straits of Gibraltar because France, Spain and Italy denied overflight rights and use of their bases
(never happens, right?). This added 1,300 miles (2,100 km) to the trip each way and 6-7 hours flight time demanding astronomical AAR
(28 tankers). Only eight of the 18 F-111Fs hit the correct targets. Five were forced to abort the mission and one was shot down.
In the same operation, the US Navy launched 14 A-6E Intruders and 6 A-7E Corsairs from the carrier
USS America plus 6 F/A-18 Hornets from the carrier
USS Coral Sea (both in the Mediterranean) to bomb radar and anti-aircraft sites in Benghazi before attacking the Benina and Jamahiriya barracks in Tripoli. Two of the A-6Es were forced to abort the mission but all 26 a/c returned to their carriers safely after dropping 72 x 500 lb bombs and firing 12 Shrike and 36 HARM anti-radar missiles.
Top cover was provided by several F-14 Tomcats and four E-2C Hawkeye airborne C2 and AEW a/c, all flying from carriers.