SR-71, The Blackbird
Finally, at 80 feet, Jewel 62 was in the clear, although doing 600 knots, at night, using TFR.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Finally, at 80 feet, Jewel 62 was in the clear, although doing 600 knots, at night, using TFR.
(Either that or the author is exaggerating for effect)
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: @exRAF_Al
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Brick.
In today's age where collateral damage is far more integral to how we operate, would he have been more likely to have aborted in those circumstances, or would it be acceptable to press on?
Poignant stuff.
Continues ‘Yama,’ “At our pull.. our Pave Tack died. So only a couple of seconds from pickling, we had what the ROE dictated was an abort. Since the radar was still good and had a recent good update, I felt confident that we could still drop accurately, so we did. Post-strike we found out we’d hit a little short, but with 2,000 pounders, we still did significant damage to the area with no collateral damage.
One tanker with the remainder of Karma flight orbited for nearly another hour, hoping that 52 would somehow make it out, but eventually had to leave as well.
Guest
Posts: n/a
(Either that or the author is exaggerating for effect)
Except for the KIA crew, no medals were awarded.
Guest
Posts: n/a
It was also very politically sensitive. Besides the European uproar (BTW, thanks to Mrs. Thatcher for letting it go. Not so much to France and Spain), Washington was not sure how the American public would react so they wanted it kept low key.
The USAF went even further and practically swept it under the rug. One of the guys interviewed was the vice-wing commander of the the 48th at the time. He has written his own book, "Raid on Qaddafi," and both in that and in my conversations with him, he was p1ssed about how the Air Force treated the crews.
Also, there were/are many terrorist security concerns both for the crews and their families and for the UK. More than a few of the aircrew did not want to talk about the mission nor have their names released. The ones in the story agreed to callsigns and last names, but not full names.
The crew of Karma 62 received Purple Hearts and DFCs. They left wives and children behind. RIP, gentlemen.
But, to get the thread back on course, my posting it was to highlight the SR-71's overflight of the formation.
The USAF went even further and practically swept it under the rug. One of the guys interviewed was the vice-wing commander of the the 48th at the time. He has written his own book, "Raid on Qaddafi," and both in that and in my conversations with him, he was p1ssed about how the Air Force treated the crews.
Also, there were/are many terrorist security concerns both for the crews and their families and for the UK. More than a few of the aircrew did not want to talk about the mission nor have their names released. The ones in the story agreed to callsigns and last names, but not full names.
The crew of Karma 62 received Purple Hearts and DFCs. They left wives and children behind. RIP, gentlemen.
But, to get the thread back on course, my posting it was to highlight the SR-71's overflight of the formation.
I was covering excercises on Otterburn at that time for RAF Strike Command.
We were politely told to stand down for a few days as schedules were changing.
We stood down a bit !!
From our slightly more "remote" location we were able to spend the next few days watching F-111's from Heyford and Lakenheath pounding the ground in a varying selection of styles.
One quickly prepared target looked for all the world like an area of Bedouin Tents.
It was only a few days later that we were told that this was the Lybian package warming up for the show. True or false I cannot say.
Suffice to say that my cameras remained well stowed for the duration of the excercise
We were politely told to stand down for a few days as schedules were changing.
We stood down a bit !!
From our slightly more "remote" location we were able to spend the next few days watching F-111's from Heyford and Lakenheath pounding the ground in a varying selection of styles.
One quickly prepared target looked for all the world like an area of Bedouin Tents.
It was only a few days later that we were told that this was the Lybian package warming up for the show. True or false I cannot say.
Suffice to say that my cameras remained well stowed for the duration of the excercise
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ATHENS,GREECE
Age: 46
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I Need A Favour!!!
Hello My Friend!i Read Your Small Article About The "eldorado Canyon" Operation And I Found It Very Good.
Now I Need A Favour From You Or Any Other That Maybe Know!i Want The Name Of The 2 Pilots Of F 111 70-2416 With The Callsign "puffy 12".as You Say They Had A Problem Over The Airport Of Tripoli While They Were Ready To Bomb It.thanking You In Advance!
Now I Need A Favour From You Or Any Other That Maybe Know!i Want The Name Of The 2 Pilots Of F 111 70-2416 With The Callsign "puffy 12".as You Say They Had A Problem Over The Airport Of Tripoli While They Were Ready To Bomb It.thanking You In Advance!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Duckberg
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i Want The Name Of The 2 Pilots Of F 111 70-2416
I'd be interested to know if IP address for the user 'IDALGO' does in fact come from Greece...
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Writes as if he was a Nigerian and wants to offer a once-only all-time good deal, just needs Puffy's bank details.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Come on IDALGO, spill the souvlaki.
Who you and why you want to know.
A bunch of argumentative twats we might be, but in a funny kind of way, we are still a band of brothers
Who you and why you want to know.
A bunch of argumentative twats we might be, but in a funny kind of way, we are still a band of brothers
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: All over the place
Age: 51
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The two crew names are printed in a book I have right in front of me, "F-111 - Success In Action" by Anthony Thornborough. He also says there were five aborts over the target but no further details on which jets.
As has been said - I'm sure a search could unearth these details if you really want them!
As has been said - I'm sure a search could unearth these details if you really want them!
AustralianMade
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Out in the weather!
Age: 54
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That JP7 fuel is pretty interesting stuff.
Click here to read a good SR71 article.
Click here to read a good SR71 article.
JP-7 is very slippery and extremely difficult to light in any conventional way. The slipperiness was a disadvantage on the ground, since the aircraft leaked fuel when not flying, but at least JP-7 was not a fire hazard.
AustralianMade
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Out in the weather!
Age: 54
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts