Author Topic: US Navy F-14As vs Libyan MiG-23s January 4, 1989 (Read 458 times)

Sundowner · « **on:** September 18, 2006, 05:01:29 AM »

The final 30 miles of the intercept will put you on the edge of your seat!

Enjoy!

Regards,
Sun

The day is January 4, 1989. The airspace close to the Libyan coast. Two VF-32 F-14As from USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) fly a mission as Combat Air Patrol when a pair of Libyan Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Floggers were detected. The MiG-23s had taken off from Al Bumbaw Airfield near Tobruk and they continued their flight towards the US fighters, even though the F-14s radar had locked on the bogeys. It's a common procedure under such circumstances to lock the powerful AWG-9 radar on the incoming Libyan fighters, to give them the possibility to turn around and head back home. Usually this procedure was impressive enough to drive the Libyans back since the radar warning tone resulting from an armed F-14's radar was fearsome enough. But this time it did not work. For the second time US Navy F-14s were engaged by Libyan fighter aircraft under hostile conditions. During the 8 minutes engagement, the MiGs kept turning in on the Tomcats to maintain a firing solution for their Soviet built air-to-air missiles. As later examination of F-14 still photography resolved, the MiG-23s were armed with AA-7 Apex missiles. After several evasive maneuvers by the Tomcats and aggressive maneuvers by the Floggers, the incoming pair of MiG-23s were declared hostile and the F-14 crews were cleared to engage. The crew of the lead F-14A, AC202 (BuNo. 159437) fired an unsuccessful AIM-7 Sparrow missile, while the second F-14As, AC207 (BuNo. 159610) AIM-7 found its target and destroyed one MiG-23. Thereafter, the lead F-14 closed in on the remaining MiG-23 and launched an AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seaking missile. The missile exploded in the tailpipe of the fleeing Flogger. The pilot of this MiG-23 also managed to eject from his destroyed aircraft. Both pilots were seen with good chutes. After this engagement, the victorious Tomcats headed north for the carrier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACTPV8Sgij8

x0847Marine · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:15:41 AM »

Very cool.

scot12b · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2006, 12:44:07 PM »

If you like that go to http://www.furballunderground.com/ Morpheus has a great flim called gypsy days. It is based on that intercept

Sundowner · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2006, 05:44:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by scot12b
If you like that go to http://www.furballunderground.com/ Morpheus has a great flim called gypsy days. It is based on that intercept

Thanks scot

Regards,
Sun

cav58d · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2006, 08:24:59 PM »

Damn that was awesome...and now im off 2 play AH

Vulcan · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2006, 09:37:53 PM »

Quote

the F-14 crews were cleared to engage

I missed the bit when they were cleared to fire. Sounded to me like they were on weapons hold. Then the Mig's got within 20 miles in a head on and the lead pilot made a 'tactical decision' (sounded like "ahh **** fox 1").

Awesome to listen to.

eddiek · « **Reply #6 on:** September 18, 2006, 09:57:56 PM »

......and I may be wrong, but one of the F-14's involved in that engagement is down at Midland at the CAF Museum, out back of the main hangar.
Last two times I was down I always looked at that kill marking on the side of the cockpit with the date and plane type, told myself to look it up, but always forgot by the time I got back home.
Thanks for reminding me!

Wolfala · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2006, 01:00:18 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Vulcan
I missed the bit when they were cleared to fire. Sounded to me like they were on weapons hold. Then the Mig's got within 20 miles in a head on and the lead pilot made a 'tactical decision' (sounded like "ahh **** fox 1").

Awesome to listen to.

"Warning yellow, weapons hold" -- indicating they recognized as being under threat ("warning yellow") and were free to prepare for and engage in combat ("weapons hold", as opposed to "weapons tight").

See http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/army/docs/fm101-5-1/f545-a.htm

a. Air defense warning yellow - attack by hostile aircraft and/or missiles is probable. This means that hostile aircraft and/or missiles are en route toward an air defense division/sector, or unknown aircraft and/or missiles suspected to be hostile are en route toward or are within an air defense division/sector.
b. Air defense warning red - attack by hostile aircraft and/or missiles is imminent or is in progress. This means that hostile aircraft and/or missiles are within an air defense division/sector or are in the immediate vicinity of an air defense division/sector with high probability of entering the division/sector.
c. Air defense warning white - attack by hostile aircraft and/or missiles is improbable. May be called either before or after air defense warning yellow or red.