Harriers in the Gulf | Role of the USMC AV-8B Harrier II in Operation Desert Storm

[@cp-iy1ku]

i was a Sgt in 311...powerline div........wish i was 25 again on deployment...lots of illness from all the hazmat semper fi

[@jamesf.ryaniii7918]

At 7:41, a Harrier is landing on a US Navy aircraft carrier (you can see 2 F-14s on the deck) - this was NOT during the Gulf War in 1991. That photo is from 1988 when the USMC and USN did a test trial aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) to study the concept of integrating the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) Harrier into the carrier's normal Air Wing operations. A few aircraft from VMA-542 Tigers (WH) deployed aboard the Kennedy for a few days of testing. VMA-542 had transitioned from the AV-8A and -C models in 1986, so the Harrier in this photo is only 2 years old!!!! It is sporting the ULTRA COOL dark green and grey camouflage paint. 2 years later many of the Harriers would be repainted for operations in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Some were repainted into an ugly dark grey and light grey camouflage, while other were painted ghost grey like all other USN and USMC aircraft. After the Gulf War, the Night Attack AV-8Bs (w/ FLIR sensor on the nose) would be added to the squadrons and most were painted in dark grey.

[@RCAvhstape]

4:10 The aircraft with nose number 01 is the only Harrier I've ever seen that had shark teeth painted on the nose. That is bird 01 of VMA-231, commanded by Lt. Col. Jones.

[@seaharrierfrs1]

There were a few other US ones in the late 80s with teeth... Beyond that there was quite a few British ones, the ones during Op Telic were quite impressive.

[@raymondyee2008]

Great CAS bird for the AV-8B for “SFMC” in the Desert Storm 1991 campaign I got a liking for VMA-542’s livery.

[@yanktornado5121]

Footage is 👀 🔥 wherever it is your finding the clips, must be a goldmine! This or you are just good at hunting it down! Most of the stuff your showing I’ve never seen Wich is rare and stands out to me. You’ll get a 👍🏼 and comment every time I see a Iris video! Got trigger those algorithms and make the video get seen more!

[@IrisAviation91]

I just search (aircraft+gulf war 1991) and usually it comes up with a bunch of videos. Sometimes you have to search for the squadron or ship flight ops to get the best footage!

[@AmmoRacks]

Great video, great to see these aircraft's stories being told!

[@IrisAviation91]

Thanks mate!

[@David-so9qx]

Pretty cool coming across this video having been with VMA-542

[@brianok2759]

Excellent videos, you’re great. Keep going

[@IrisAviation91]

Thanks mate

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you for telling this story.

[@jaypayne2461]

He got it a little wrong. We did have Night Attack Capabilities with Some Harriers Equipped with Flir ( Forward Looking Infrared) also the 0V10B played a Role in Laser Marking Targets for our Laser Guided Bombing

[@andrewblakely5908]

Very neat video

[@IrisAviation91]

Thanks

[@n8ahbl471]

Nice vidio mayt

[@IrisAviation91]

Cheers bud!

[@jaypayne2461]

I was the Head DECM Tech at King Abdul Aziz. I helped write the Book on Maintenance and Troubleshooting of the New never seen before DeCM Pod

[@RCAvhstape]

This is a good history vid. Where did you get the diagrams of King Abdul Aziz and Tanajib airfields?

[@thefrecklepuny]

Nice informative channel. Just subbed.

[@IrisAviation91]

thank you very much!

[@yanktornado5121]

The music you use is like Middle Eastern and adventurous!

[@IrisAviation91]

Yeah, I'm trying to capture the vibe of the persian gulf

[@tmobaile1187]

NICE 👌 EPISODE I WISH MORE LIKE THIS WISH YOU SUCCESS 🙏 👍👍👍

[@IrisAviation91]

Thanks mate

[@ellnegro]

I was in Vma231 I remember that Flight line....Also remember when Capt Sandborn was shotbdown.shot down. And we dropped a shit load of Mk 20 cluster bombs Rockeye...

[@IrisAviation91]

Thank you for your service, love it when people who served see the videos.

[@ellnegro]

Yes definitely some vivid memories were brought back after watching your video. 🙏🏽💪🏾🙏🏽💪🏾

[@harryb8945]

The Harrier truly is an amazing aircraft, and I doubt any other type could truly replicate its specific capabilities. Although this video made me realise we never deployed ours on Granby. Do you know why?

[@IrisAviation91]

I think the RAF were in the process of converting GR.5s to GR.7s with similar materials and engines to the AV-8Bs. The first generation harriers were deemed to be incapable of supporting coalition forces due them not being properly suited for hotter climates. Also I think aircraft such as the USMC AV-8s and USAF A10s would've already been designated to a CAS role, so the British first gen Harriers never got to the Gulf. Hope that helps.

[@christianscaveniusandersen8972]

Really enjoy these gulf vids. A little bit of constructive criticism ... Maybe explain what is happening when you put dcs clips in

[@christianscaveniusandersen8972]

Instead of it being silent

[@IrisAviation91]

Thanks a bunch - a lot more yet to come :) As for the DCS clips, I can certainly put in some more context, I'll make sure to properly explain everything.

[@ndfgaming6824]

why would they band the snakeye fins? lack of normal dumb bombs?

[@Tigershark_3082]

I think one of the crazier parts about the original Harriers (not shown in this video) entered service before the end of Vietnam. 1969 for the Royal Air Force's GR.1s, 1971 for the USMC's AV-8As.

[@IrisAviation91]

First gen Harriers had been around for a while. The RN got rid of FA.2s in 2006, which I assume were converted from some of the originals. Definitely nice to see the type still flown by some arms around the world.

[@cturdo]

They played a key role in destroying escaping/looting Iraqis on the road of death.

[@jaypayne2461]

Yes, we did. I got to see the Flir ( Forward Looking Infrared) video of the Attack, because the Flir Techs were right beside our DeCM maintenance Work Center

[@EricTheActor805]

I was always interested in how the UK would have performed in the Gulf War without support from the US or Europe So the UK and an Arab Coalition alone vs Iraq

[@demetriusbrown9028]

Why not give the A-10 the speed of the Harrier,talk about bad ass, DAMN

[@jaypayne2461]

Because they are Old and Out of Date. I think all of the Harriers have been replaced with the F35C now.

[@minthouse6338]

@@jaypayne2461 2026 is when they're scheduled to be all retired. Only this year USMC Harriers shot down Iranian drones.

[@AA-xo9uw]

Straight wings

[@bvrcavalera2786]

Mcdonald Douglas my arse. The ground work was done for them in the 60s

[@IrisAviation91]

Yeah but its a gen II harrier, much better than british original

[@AA-xo9uw]

Without the sizable financial and technical assistance provide by the US taxpayers via the MWDP the Pegasus/Kestrel/Harrier never would have made it past the drafting table.

[@bvrcavalera2786]

We sold our soul, when we sold the Harriers. Complete travesty.

[@IrisAviation91]

How so? McDonell Douglas and Hawker Siddley made the second generation of harriers, much better than the first