During our 10 day deployment to Cairo West Air Base, Egypt, we flew numerous low level flights. On one such sortie, we flew a 300 mile low level across the Egyptian Desert. It was the flattest most barren terrain I’d ever experienced.
As we started the last leg into a target area for practice attacks, a dust trail came into view at our ten o’clock position moving left to right. At first this dust trail was a very small speck near the horizon. As we got closer, cruising at 480 knots and 500 feetish, it became apparent that the dust trail was being generated by a WWII era deuce and a half, complete with a ragged canvas cargo cover. All the while as we approached closer, the dust trail remained pretty much in the same place in the windscreen of my Phantom. This indicated we would cross overhead at the same point on the vast desert. My wingman was stacked slightly high as briefed. Getting closer, I decided to offer a salute with the Rhino’s defensive flare dispensers. My plan was to expend one prior to crossing over this guy and one after. So, with him about to go under the nose, I punched out one flare and then another after. We continued on heading to the target area, a combined force exercise of US and Egyptian ground vehicles.
As we arrived at the IP (initial point) for our pop up to a tactical dry (no weapons dropped) attack, I checked in on the radio with the USAF ALO (Air Liaison Officer) who was attached to the US Army unit leading the combined forces on the ground that we were about to “attack”. As we climbed to about 10,000 feet to get a big picture of the layout of vehicles on the ground, the ALO started jabbering about a specific vehicle for us to attack. From our vantage point the huge assembly of vehicles looked like pepper scattered all over the desert. So, I urged him to back up and use the Big to Small description that was standard when talking pilots eyes on to specific small ground targets. With that accomplished, we made our attack and climbed back up for another. At that point, the ALO asked for a low pass and attack on his position “over here on the southern end of the assembly area”. Again, let’s go Big to Small. After doing that, he also gave us a mirror flash to pinpoint his exact position. He was in a Humvee equipped with the associated radios for the job. With him spotted we descended to low altitude and headed at him. Just short of his position, we shackled, went to full AB, pitched up in the vertical, and aileron rolled dispensing flares as we climbed. Over the radio, the ALO screamed that was S_ _ T HOT! The General loved it can you do another?! My reply, “What General?” His reply, “the Corp Commander”. My reply,”NegativeBingoFueRTBseeyalater!” No need to push our luck any further.
We turned and head toward Cairo West AB for landing. After landing, parking, and shutdown, the two guys in the other jet came running over to us and were excitedly worried if we were going to get in trouble for what we did to that deuce and a half. I asked, “What do you mean?” They then explained that my first flare bounced directly off the hood of the deuce and a half. I asked if it set him on fire. They said that no, it bounced off onto the sand. The guys were worried about repercussions. I explained that as far out in the middle of nowhere as that guy was, it was going to take a long time for him to find civilization, find a phone, someone who could operated a phone, and then someone who cared, we would all be collecting social security before word got back to us.
That was August of 1985. So far, haven’t heard a thing about it.
