(Cockpit Recordings) F-16 gets hit by SAM..Pilot Ejects! (goosebumps guaranteed)
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- Опубліковано 1 тра 2024
- #Desertstorm #gulfwar #missiles #F16
On February 17th, 1991, Captain Scott "Spike" Thomas, with the 17th TFS, 363rd TFW, temporarily based at King Khalid Military City, was flying a night interdiction mission in his F-16C with the codename of "Benji 53". As the package was coming off of station (egress), his F-16 experience engine problems. Early reports suggested he had been hit by a Surface to Air Missile (SAM), but that has not been confirmed.
Thomas's wingman, 1st Lt Eric "Neck" Dodson, came to his aid and helped him nurse his plane closer to the Iraq-Saudi Arabia-Kuwait border, nearly 60 miles south of their position. Dodson assumed control of most radio communications between AWACs (call sign "Bulldog"), leaving Thomas free to fly his injured plane. Captain Thomas was attempting to make an emergency landing at Hafr Al-batin Air Base (at approximate co-ordinates 27°54′03″N, 045°31′41″E)
With less than 40 miles to go to the border, and his plane leaking what appeared to be fuel, Thomas and his wingman realize his F-16 beginning to develop a catastrophic engine fire. With a valiant effort to get as close as he could, Thomas finally decides to eject over enemy territory.
His radio contact was spotty once he was on the ground, but Search and Rescue helicopters (a package of 2 UH-60 Blackhawks and 1 MH-53J Pave Low, along with F-15E's providing Close Air Support), located his position roughly 2 hours later. The F-15E's were called in to engage an approaching Iraqi truck with cluster bombs during the extraction.
During debrief, it was realized that an SA-7 Surface to Air Missile (SAM) had been shot at the rescue helicopter in which Thomas was riding, but the missile was out of range and landed short. It was also learned that Thomas had less than 1 hour of freedom, as there were Iraqi troops within 2 miles of him in 2 different directions.
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Air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net
The positions of the aircraft may not be 100% accurate. Only involved aircraft are shown. Animations are based on air traffic control communications and data from flight tracking services.
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Great video. Would like to see where the enemy lines were, airbase he was trying to get to, etc.
Thank you sir. Well noted
They're over the Iraqi deserts just 60km NW of the Kuwait border, about 200km north of the Saudi airbase Hafar Al Batin (where they were heading). Bagdad is 450km NW, but they're probably well within 100km of air defenses to the north.
Why show him in an F-15? The other plan Benji31 looks like an F-35.
A phenomenal look into what the training these pilots go through enables them to do when there’s a problem!
Coordinated brilliance!
No Top Gun BS, just sober professionalism. Very nice
Sir yes sir!
This is called teamwork.
you can tell the wingman SOLID, really spoke up for the younger guy when he couldnt.
Agree 👍
I salute Spike, my former commander. Never has there been a better pilot, or commander. Cheers for the rescue team.
Brave man
@@Flight_Follower5 by 5 on that remark, Sir & God bless our brave servicemen & women 🇺🇸 ❤
Any word on if Spike is still with us, and, if so, what he's up to these days?
@@michelm.6033 Oh, come on... Nothing wrong with sharing his tax ID #, and maybe some private banking info! (kidding!)
Thanks for the follow-up.
Thank you for your service. 🇺🇸
Just listening to the conversation between these pilots makes the hair stand on my arms. These men are so intelligent and courageous and deserve respect. You can hear and feel the brotherhood going on.
I could feel the tension. Great to know the pilot was rescued. Awesome wrk by the wingman who showed true leadership.
His wingman was brave
That is what all of us call "THE RIGHT STUFF!" I salute them all. Retired Navy 1964-95. OLD but still kickin.
Trying to find folks that knew sr. Rear Chief Remington . I'd like to find stories for his grandson .
How incredibly calm they are in such a tense moment ! These guys are proper
1:27 gave me the goosebumps
that tiny little bit of hope he clings onto knowing theres a chance
and immediately relays that to his wingman whos totally and 100% confidently alongside him both physically and now mentally
“Bummer dudes”
I felt that
Thoroughly in awe of these heroes. My heart rate is so high. God bless all of you, young and old. All my love and respect. 🫡 ❤
🫡
One of the best videos on YT right here. I got to live the dream and was fortunate enough to never be tested like this but man, do I miss that life when I see this stuff.
Spike was always a stud. Football player at the Academy. Cover of Sports Illustrated. I think he was actually draft by the NFL. Cool under pressure. I think there’s a picture of him with President Bush. Rumor is that he told him something like, “ we both have one more takeoff than landing, Mr President”
He was not hit by a SAM, he was having engine problems (he was getting good RPM from his engine but it just wasn't putting out thrust like it should, and it only got worse). This incident is well-published, I read an account of US Navy, USAF, and RAF ejections. There's also a published magazine article on what happened.
Nice! The true meaning of “no man left behind”. Nice call on mentioning the choppers. Great call on not sqwacking emergency. God bless all those who serve.
so cringe when people say "god bless" this and "god bless” that.
@@guaporeturns9472God Bless you.
@@guaporeturns9472 sounds like you have a personal quarrel with God. May God bless you with eyes to see and a warmer open heart. May God bless all of those who serve!
@@jsh4401 God is a manmade pacifier , nothing more. No quarrel to be had.
And I feel so sad for the kids that join the military with the most honorable intentions and end up doing the bidding of our dirty , corrupt country in far away lands.
@@guaporeturns9472 Still, may God bless those who serve and have already served.
That's some scary stuff. I was amazed they mobilized helicopters to come get him so quickly.
Active warzone, they would have likely been sitting on alert waiting for something like this.
Im amazed they where not already in the air and the wingman had to request it.
Ops staff was sleeping
@@scp8412 HUA
really? I'm surprised it took them so long. "Do you want helicopters?" "What do you mean do I want helicopters? YES"
God bless each and every hero that was truly heart pounding stuff right there!!! The calm & professionalism in their voices blew my mind, all he wanted to know was when the fire started so he could bail, an the wingman...jus solid all the way around!!!
Our military has the best trained pilots in the world.
Flying the best aircraft in the world.
Thank you for your service and I'm so proud you made it home.... My dad was flying out of KKMC at the same time... Combat scouts
I can't believe that, while in a marginal thrust situation, Benji 53 was recommended to extend flaps for increased lift! Yes, flaps will improve lift but the cost is increased drag and the plane will not go further, it will go less far. I doubt there's any airplane that will go farther with flaps down vs flaps up.
Incredible professionalism in the face of disaster. We are so proud of our military and your courage. All I can say is, Thank you !
Well trained professionals, glad they're on my side!
🇺🇸 ❤ God bless our brave servicemen and women and thank Q for your service we are forever in your debt.❤ 🇺🇸
Makes me want to watch TopGun again ….. Never leave your wingman Mavrick
Wow. That was tense.
Thanks. Good to know u liked it
The fact choppers weren't deployed immediately is unacceptable
Wow. Intense. Thank you so much for everyone's service to our nation !!
Thank you for your service
Damn that 6mins of full attention and concentration. Thank you for your service!
“bummer dude”
4:04 yea... no, thanks.
Why do they not want to do that?
@@RussellTurman Because they would show up on the enemy's radar. They were flying over enemy territory (Iraq). Now, one could make the assumption that they (Iraq) wouldn't respond to the emergency by providing them with a safe runway to land but rather with a ground to air missile straight to their face.
Wow, absolutely heroic. Just..wow.👍
Thank you for your service!! Glad to see no one was harmed.
"Are yoy gonna need a chopper?"
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? THAT WAS ALL HEARD. WTH MAKES THEM THINK IT WASNT NEEDED ALREADY!!??
Totally, unacceptable for ops to not react on their own.
.. intense...it's what wingmen do...these jocks are tight, band of brothers .. stay till you get'm out 💖
I hope pilot was ok! Shows us how dangerous it can be I salute all service members! Thank you!
Brilliant togetherness and team work.
Wow. Hopefully you made it home safe buddy. God Bless!!!!
That is what TEAMWORK is. More people need to learn how to work as a team.
I worked on these planes and with these pilot at Shaw just prior to this deployment
Good to know sir. Good part is the pilot was rescued
I remember this. We were at KKMC at the time.
The rescue chopper boys are all living heros aforce trains at kalispel mountain and is the best of the best that go on for air and sea cimbat survival and rescue well done boyz
Good stuff guys, nice work.
Glad you enjoyed it
I’m filing a guaranteed goosebumps claim and I want my money back. No goosebumps for me 😂. In all seriousness, good video!
Glad to know u loved it 😊
Imagine havin a bro like that
U don’t need anything if u have a bro like this 😇
I'm retired USAF AMEN SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏💯💯🌵🤠
UKN1 is actually BENJI 51 and the wingman of BENJI 53 is BENJI 54, not BENJI 31. They're a flight of four, BENJI 51 through 54. The very first radio call by UKN1 is actually BENJI 51 calling BENJI 53 ("BENJI 3, 1 Victor"). At 03:39, BENJI 51 is calling BENJI 54 ("BENJI 4, 1").
Thank you sir. Really appreciated
2 hours to rescue him is longer than I was expecting.
I was at Hafr Al Batin in Feb 91 in that area.
Professionalism in action. Nice job from both pilots.
Amazing video... our very best right here.
Thank you, sir. Glad u liked it
Thanks for sharing, did Thomas get a red barreled MBII?
Even though the outcome was known was anybody else willing him to get over the boarder???? Goosebumps indeed
BEN 31 amazing composure, situational awareness, and leadership
Thank you to the brave who fight for us everyday.
Both dudes were classmates of mine at USAFA and Thomas was a teammate as well. First rate both of them. Really cool picture in Air Force magazine of George Bush with his arms around the shoulders of both aviators.
Remarkable jet, engine was on fire fuel leaking everywhere and yet it stayed together long enough to let the pilot eject safely.
Outstanding! ❤
Glad you like it!
Always Loyal, Always Faithful!😎
Yeah 👍
Our Service Members are all fucking amazing! Awesome to learn everyone was ok.
Harrowing and Impressive.
dont they have PTT? or is it full duplex all the time?
As an old a4 driver these are two well trained pros god watch iver them theirs and their squadron f 16 has best ejection system better than old nes8s etc
Thank you for your service!!!!!! USA!
He said “bummer” 🤣 love military guys gotta be humorous lol
I guess that blows my flat tire last week on the highway right out of proportion....
Cool courage❤
I'm guessing his titanium balls were not helping to stay up.
Agreed 👍
4:18 whenever benji referred to bulldog if calling out an emergency was a good idea, considering they were in enemy territory (that’s all I can think of), that must have been such a surreal moment. You know you’re not going to make it to the border and you are overhead enemy troops and if you call mayday or emergency then that will alert the enemy to scramble their resources to try and kill the “invAder”. That must have been such a scary and unreal moment that he had to of been going through. Wondered how or where he hid or what tactics he used to stay hidden while he awaited transport. I am seriously just picturing a “Behind Enemy Lines” situation that probably happened to Ben 53(Homer) 3:28 and then when Ben 31 said that the area was clear with threats. Did he mean that if their man was captured that they are clear with what is going to happen? I can’t imagine what he was experiencing.
Classic example of USAF badassery. "OK, you're on fire" and boom... over enemy territory. Bless our men and women that swore the Oath.
“Doug, i I’m not gonna make it…
CHAPPY!!!!”
4:18 whenever benji referred to bulldog if calling out an emergency was a good idea, considering they were in enemy territory (that’s all I can think of), that must have been such a surreal moment. You know you’re not going to make it to the border and you are overhead enemy troops and if you call mayday or emergency then that will alert the enemy to scramble their resources to try and kill this “invAder”
Frickin STUDS
So why weren't the choppers scrambled before asking ?????? And why did they need to ask someone to look for threats????????
God bless the military!!!!
God bless
He bailed cause of Fire? I'd take my chances and go as far as I could rather than risk capture, he handled the stress good!
Bad ass wingman
Loved this guy. He is awesome 🫡
Whenever a plane is far from its home land 13000 klm that means it is an enemy plane and will be targeted with all kinds of sam...stay home and stay safe.
Intense...
All in a days work for our military 🙌
Yeah 👍
Tho not alone.
Also really alone.
All at the same time.
God bless the pilot n god bless the usa.
what are the cons of trying to land in the desert vs ejection?
Awesome patriotic American studs. 🙏✌️♥️🇺🇸
wow...thats something that he will never forget, amazing stuff, amazing how those radios are so clear and highly trained guys, thank God he made it safely..Hollywood Movie, based on similar events.Benji jumps into enemy territory, captured and tortured, escapes and kills enemy president who is an expert hand to hand combat, on his way out of enemy territory he is rescued by American helicopters, only to find out they are a rogue unit of a Commander who wants to overthrow the American government..Benji 2 coming soon
Best thing you can have in combat is your battle buddy. That took me back. Great job gentlemen. 🫡
Goosebumps confirmed
100% 😎
All attention is on BEN53. As opposed to a Russian Su-25 over Ukraine. That's the difference guys.
So it took 2 hours to retrieve him?
And how was thomas?
Intense.
Every time I listen to these , the single seat pilot is thinking way ahead of the AWACS team, ie “ do you want choppers . “ or “ ok I will check local threats for you “ , I mean , how dull are these blokes ??
Solid piece of airman ship and great Ground to air communication!!!..Team work!!🙏
Yes indeed!
Yes indeed!
I didn’t know Live ATC was around back in 1991.
Its uploaded on their website
Audio source is liveatc
My ship is almost finished as well so I know in due time I must leave it in order to live eternally. I think God with this video showed it
OLD FORMER NAVY SAR, HOUSE BOUND NOW, THIS MAKES MY MY BP RISE,
"Wars Hell"
~Everybody
I am unaware of any airbase at Hafir Al Batin. Fairly sure they are referring to the airfield 2 miles east at Al Quesuma where I was at with my army aviation battalion
This was 91, you were serving at the time?
@@jessicaregina1956 yes. I do remember an F-16 having to divert there once the two are close together with nothing but desert out there so they just probably assume it’s part of that town.
Great wingman
Yeah. Great work
What all that fuss is about? The wingman has a joyride, nobody is shooting at them, nobody is chasing them. The damaged aircraft is stable, the ejection should be as in training. Of course they are cool as supposed to - hysterics are not accepted to the airforce. The only potential danger may be the enemy on the ground, but there will be 3 fighting copters and at least one F-16 to protect. Landing the damaged aircraft would be more dangerous for the pilot.
If someone can answer - they had the exact coordinates of where he ejected, and I'm assuming the pilot had a homing beacon on him - why did it take two hours to find him? thanks
Its a combat sar not a normal sar
Damn
2:50 Do I want choppers|?@ @?@?@?@? DUDE