The REAL Story of the Only Desert Storm Kill by an F-14 Tomcat

[@richardyork6936]

I was with VF-1 for this event. What a crazy night. The skipper wanted to have an Mi-8 Silhouette, so I had to find a sample, cut out a stencil, and in 20+ knot wind try and paint the kill on the aircraft. That's the life of an airframer. Great video sir. AMS2 at the time, now long retired AM1. Have a great Navy day!

[@WardCarroll]

Awesome sea story, Richard. BZ.

[@jasonsimmons5041]

I'm going to let that pass.

[@rockbutcher]

@@jasonsimmons5041 Me too, but I'll point out that was a Hind silhouette.

[@jrvreugdenhil]

@@rockbutcher I thought so too first, but detailed comparison confirms: a Mi-8 silhouette. Best discerning difference: Mi-8 has a straight (thin) tail, whereas the 24 has a (thicker) conversing tail 😉.

[@richardyork6936]

@@jasonsimmons5041 Do you remember where we got the silhouette? According to my journal, and I am not saying I was the greatest at writing a journal, we found the picture in a book from the ships library, An Illustrated Guide to Military Helicopters Hardcover - January 1, 1982. Then we had to make it bigger, and trace it on the stencil board and cut it out. I also remember fighting with the stencil board while trying to paint the 'kill marking' with black rattle can, without covering the side of the jet and canopy with overspray was more than a little challenging. You were there at VF-1 with me, and I can't remember if it WAS an Mi-8 picture or an Mi-24 picture. I didn't even say what it was in my journal. If you remember better than me, that's great. Sometimes I can't even read my own writing from that time. Hope you are well.

[@allanjude]

The addition of recreations via DCS was nice, especially giving us an idea of what the radar picture the Rio would be looking at

[@dananichols1816]

Yes, sir! ...especially for my old-school, analog grasp. Mid-Viet Nam era example: RC-121 Warning Star (Tonkin Gulf area) saw two MiGs way in-country, scooting along level and not engaged. They were able to contact a guided missile frigate, out in the gulf, and co-ordinate it to fire two (large Talos/Terrier/Tartar-type) missiles all the way in and frag the unaware the MiGs -- high-tech back then. This video and Ward's telling it shares the huge leap to AWACS and lots of assets today.

[@johnbrady7431]

@@dananichols1816 That sounds amazing. Thank you for sharing this! Incredible to see the evolution of technology through the decades, and our military using it as they should. Kind of like how we did in Afgh.... Ha! FJB!

[@rodrigogonzalez7858]

We need a film or miniseries forget Netflix based on these air battles on Desert Storm, exactly like Midway (2019)

[@miroslavdockal9468]

@@dananichols1816 , tell us more about French provocation on Tonkin Gulf please......and after years....why you mean this happened. Thank you in advance.

[@dananichols1816]

@@miroslavdockal9468 I have made no mention of any French provocation anywhere in any U.S. Viet Nam war history that I referred to. My only recent mention of Tonkin was relaying a (long-ago) article about a U.S. Navy ship downing two MiGs with long-range missiles, after an RC-121 radar control aircraft enabled the engagement. I hope that helps your question. I did not enlist in the Air Force until a few months after the VN war era ended -- April, 1975 --and I try to be careful that the stories & history anecdotes I share are accurate. Thank you.

[@Chris_Lohmann]

“Cleared hot, weapons free” gave me goosebumps.

[@timblack6422]

Best sentence to hear…

[@tomcatav8r]

Me too. Meat

[@ntrohed]

Followed closely by Master Arm On

[@sheltr9735]

Love the casual reference to Magnum P.I. (12:00) Very glad we have guys like Ward Carroll on our side! Much respect

[@tl5606]

One of the F15C kills belongs to Capt. Charles “Sly” Magill, a top gun graduate and Hornet driver on exchange with the USAF. He was flying F-15C serial 85-0107. That aircraft is still operational today out in Japan.

[@DCS_World_Japan]

Saw that one parked on the flightline at Yokota during their yearly Friendship Festival in 2019.

[@davidnemoseck9007]

Cool!

[@bryonslatten3147]

So a Marine flying an F-15. Cool.

[@taylorc2542]

Gear pins left in, wrong frequency, no HUD tape, wrong rotor ID .....I think it's true what they say about the attention-to-detail in the Navy vs USAF.

[@raynic1173]

@@taylorc2542 lol.

[@kimmer6]

In the early 1980's I worked on the USS Enterprise at Alameda NAS several times. I saw Pukin Dogs painted on several things and thought it was a very clever name. I was a tech rep for GE and we were doing reactor feed pump overhauls. Your sweatshirt just brought back a flood of memories from 40 years ago. One engine room had a sign on a bulkhead that said ''Longest shaft, best screw''.

[@bmwr9tracer668]

In today's navy that would be offensive

[@matta5498]

I was a reactor operator on the USS Texas out of Alameda 87-91.

[@kimmer6]

@@matta5498 Did you go through Idaho Falls in training?

[@chuck62891]

@@matta5498 I was an FC1 and then FCC at about the same time. Never forget the earthquake.

[@suminshizzles6951]

Are you from Santa Cruz? Did you spend any time in Santa Cruz?

[@ThomasTT496Vega]

Was a flight deck trouble shooter with VA-155 on Ranger at the time. Best Boat ever. Thank you for using true pics of Silver Fox airplanes!

[@dahawk8574]

0:27 - Midway was oldest, and to highlight exactly how old... Midway was commissioned as a Straight-Deck Carrier. And then was the first US carrier to do testing of the Angled-Deck concept. So Desert Storm was fought with a carrier that started its life without an Angled Deck.

[@bobbycv64]

I was on Constellation 64 AKA Connie and remember the Midway had to relieved us because Ranger 61 got in a collision 5 April 1979, then we got in a collision 26 June 1980, then Midway 41 got in a collision July 29, 1980.

[@craiglizt8074]

Wow! Very interesting fact there. Thanks for sharing.

[@dB-hy6lh]

@@bobbycv64 I think 43 was the USS Coral Sea, wasn't it? I know USS Midway was CV-41 because I was on that. I was on Connie (CV-64) too, back in 1980, but we were not relieved that year, remember we made that long, 110-day Indian Ocean at-sea period, then made a port visit to Singapore, then Subic, then Korea, and then back home to San Diego. It was the Connie's 1980 cruise (that was the only cruise I made on Constellation) when when we scraped off, with our port aft hangar bay elevator, the superstructure of that small cargo ship, the Bangladesh-registered Banglar Joy? The admiral came on the 1MC next day or so, and said, in support of Constellation's captain, that it was the Banglar Joy's fault as their lights were rigged for having a manned bridge, but obviously nobody was awake as they ignored our approach. We were unrepping and per the rule of the sea (I'm no expert!) we were "burdened" and had the right-of-way because we could not easily change course. The admiral, in his talk over the 1MC, said "the captain of the Banglar Joy must have gotten his license out of a Cracker Jack box!"

[@grumpyfiveoh]

USS Midway ordered August 1942, laid down October 1943, and commission just 8 days after World War 2 ended.

[@bobbycv64]

@@dB-hy6lh you are correct, don't know why I said 43, i just fixed.

[@johnslaughter5475]

Thank you for this episode. I was in the Ranger from 1968-'70 and made 2 Vietnam cruises. I'm now the Helmsman (aka Webmaster) for the Ranger's history & memorial site. I'll add a link to this video. BTW, Ranger had 2 more cruises but never carried the F/A-18. CVW-2 made 16 deployments with Ranger, out of her 23 total deployments. CVW-2 was aboard for both of my cruises. On my first cruise we had a squadron of A-4F Skyhawks. The next cruise they were replaced by A-7A Corsair II's.

[@chrisdanner8080]

I was on the deck of the Roosevelt 13 hours a day in early ‘91. Flight deck troubleshooter for the IWT shop. I knew the Awg 9 well. We had one scare with the call of general quarters, but as soon as the ready 5 launched the bogeys turned around and went home.

[@iam1591]

I was on USS Ranger CV 61 at this time , tension were high . Thank you for your video it brings back memories and gives me a peek what the Air Wing went through

[@timw6596]

My first cruise was with VF2 on the "Big E" and my last cruise was with VA155 on the Ranger in the Gulf war........ that cruise was a trip to remember as I retired with a cat shot off the Ranger and headed back to Whidbey Island to finish off the paperwork !

[@johnshafer7214]

Thank you for serving our country since Veterans Day was last Thursday. My cousin served on the USS ROOSEVELT during the Gulf War and a Paraprofessional at a high school I sub for also served on the USS ROOSEVELT during Serbian war in 1999.

[@donaldjohnson909]

Ward I would like to see an episode devoted to the carriers and there reputations in the fleet. Like hard to maintain, weird quirks etc thanks this is my favorite utube channel

[@lanceschoenbaum1358]

I am sure CDR Carroll can do a much better job, but as a carrier enthusiast I would like to share my favorites. I was career Navy, did two tours on the old conventional steam carriers (Ranger and Connie). Never thought the nukes had much character like the old girls. We used to talk carriers in our shop and the Navy had well known nicknames for most of the old ones, I will share a few with you: Midway (CV-41) "Skidway" as in you had reached the skids in your career, the crew called it "Midway Magic". Squared away ship, was not pretty and forward deployed to Japan her last 20 years in service. The Japanese yardbirds in SRF Yokosuka took great pride in keeping the ship running. She still made 33 knots when returning from Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and the ship was 46 years old then! Franklin Roosevelt (CV-42), "FDR", no nickname I ever heard, decommissioned in 1977. She was never modernized to the level of Midway or Coral Sea and had obsolete electronics, AEW . The stories I heard were that the ship was in pretty bad shape by the 1970's. They only kept her around until the Nimitz and Eisenhower were commissioned in the late 70's. Coral Sea (CV-43) "Oral Sex" self explanatory. This ship was also a Midway class from World War 2 era. She had been modernized extensively during the 1960's and had been run hard throughout the Vietnam Era. She was based in Alameda California for most of her career and had a crew that thought highly of their old girl. In 1984 she was shifted to Norfolk in a swap with the Carl Vinson (CVN-70). and was given an all F-18 air wing. Did a few deployments to the Med and bombed Libya in 1986. She also rammed a freighter in Norfolk. Never seemed to mesh with the East Coast Navy, too California laid back. Decommissioned in 1990. Forrestal (CV-59) "Forest Fire" for her flight deck fire off Vietnam in 1965 which killed many crew members. Every sailor watched that movie (Trial By Fire) in basic training. All East Coast her whole career and based out of Mayport, Florida. Reclassified as a Training Carrier (AVT-59) in early 1990's, but she kept running until decommissioned in 1993 during an overhaul at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Saratoga (CV-60) "Sorry Sara" also based out of Mayport, Florida. First carrier to undergo the Navy's SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) in Philly Naval Shipyard 1980-1983. Called the "Super Sara" after the modernization was completed. Trusty East Coast carrier, was involved in forcing down the Achille Lauro hijackers in 1985. Decommissioned in 1993. Ranger (CV-61) "Danger Ranger" "Top Gun of the Pacific" a West Coast carrier out of Alameda and then San Diego for her career. Involved in several collisions, sabotage incident and a major engine room fire in 1983 which killed six crew members. I reported aboard in 1984 and people wished me luck when they heard where I was going. On the contrary, Ranger was a great ship, earned the Battle "E" in 1986 and the crew had much pride in her. She was clean and ran beautifully from then until she was decommissioned in 1993. Used in the filming of "Top Gun" and "Star Trek IV" when Chekov asked "Where are the nuclear wessels?" Independence (CV-62) only nickname I heard was "Indy Maru" once she was homeported in Japan from 1990 onward until she was taken out of service in 1998. Primarily an East Coast carrier out of Norfolk. Never heard much bad or good about her. I went onboard once in 1995 in Hawaii, ship seemed old and rusty and thats what it was by then. Kitty Hawk (CV-63) "Shi**y Kitty" or "The Hawk". Always out of San Diego until 1999 when moved to Japan to replace Independence. Last conventional carrier in the US Navy, decommissioned in 2009. In the fleet was not well thought of due to the supply scandal that occurred in 1985 onboard, where the ship was paying $500 dollars for toilet seats, etc. Earned a good reputation during her time in Japan, kept steaming and handling her duties. Constellation (CV-64) "Constipation" or "Connie Pig" , "Connie" "Americas Flagship". Also San Diego based her entire career, except when sent to Philly Naval Shipyard for the SLEP modernization 89-93. Well thought of in the fleet as a good ship that completed its assignments. I served aboard 93-95 and she was a well run ship, though we had major engineering difficulties to overcome after the Philly yard period. The equipment was old and had also been run hard through Vietnam and the never ending series of long deployments to the Indian Ocean through the 1980's. Served through the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Enterprise (CVN-65) The "Big E", named after the famous WW2 carrier (CV-6), worlds first nuclear carrier, a one ship class which looked very futuristic when commissioned in early 1960's. Ran all over the world at high speed to show how nuclear ships did not need to refuel. Had a major fire and flight deck explosion off Hawaii in 1967, but was able to be repaired in Pearl Harbor and continue on her Vietnam deployment. Out of Alameda until 1989 when she moved to Norfolk in a swap with the Nimitz (CVN-68). Enterprise had a unique nuclear reactor design where she had eight reactors to provide the power needed for high speed. Newer Nimitz class carriers have only two reactors and provide the same speeds. Excellent reputation in the fleet served another 23 years in the Atlantic until removed from service in 2012. Still awaiting scrapping Norfolk at this time. America (CV-66) The "Big A" a modified Kitty Hawk class, always out of Norfolk her entire career. Unusual in that she was the only supercarrier to have a sonar when completed. She had an SQS-23 bow mounted sonar for several years, until it was removed in the early 1970's. If a carrier is hunting submarines that close, you got real big problems, so aircraft and helicopters pushed the detection zones further away from the ship. The ship was built using thinner steel than other carriers, leading to major corrosion problems in her hull structure., which led to her early decommissioning in 1998. She was sunk as a target in 2005, and there are a few interesting photos on the Internet showing her going down, every carrier CO's nightmare. Finally John F. Kennedy (CV-67) "The Big John" The "Tin Can Killer". Final conventional carrier constructed, was considered the peak of aircraft carrier design and provided the basis for the Nimitz class carriers. Had two major collisions in the Med during the 1970's, first with Belknap (CG-26) which completely destroyed the cruisers superstructure and then with the Bordelon (DD-881) which caused such severe damage the ship was decommissioned and sold to Iran for spare parts.During the 1980's JFK was considered a well run ship, used in several positive documentaries about aircraft carriers and was THE carriers that prospective CO's wanted due to its reputation and being based out of Norfolk, with all the admirals and Washington DC close by. By the late 90's early 2000's JFK was made a part of the Reserve Navy, moved to Mayport, Florida but was considered in poor shape and was under negative scrutiny for failing readiness inspections. Decommissioned in 2007. Of course the Nimitz class are what is being used these days, and having spent time on Nimitz, Carl Vinson and Abraham Lincoln as a fleet instructor I have no love for them. They always seemed sterile and cookie cutter to me. Of course they are more efficient and can operate unrefueled for years. These are strictly my opinions and I did not mean to overstep CDR Carrol's opportunity to review them all at length. Hope someone enjoys it. Lance Schoenbaum SMC(SW/AW) USN Retired 1983-2004.

[@donaldjohnson909]

@@lanceschoenbaum1358 thanks for your insight

[@rickprice6312]

@@lanceschoenbaum1358 The nukes had decent showers and air conditioning. But I'm proud of my time on Sara and am amazed at how often I meet other Sara vets. 6 transits of the Suez and lots of Beer Days. :)

[@rubenvillanueva8635]

I was a civilian ATCer, at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, and we had two A-6 Prowlers. We lost one in the desert, during a night training mission. We also had the remnants of the coalition forces, USAF F-16s, E-3 AWCS, RAF Tornados, and FAF Mirages, plus a U-2 Blacklady. All participating in Operation Southern Watch.

[@videohuggy5308]

It's "U-2 Dragonlady"

[@TravellingAsh-]

I’ve watched a dozen of your videos in the last 12hrs. New fan. Great stories!

[@WardCarroll]

Thank you and welcome!

[@smeernoff7181]

Story goes “Fast Eagle” F14A doing CAP above altitude 14,000 observing a highway north route. Swiftly descended to shoot at a military transport aka school bus hauling Iraqi army. Fired gun to neutralize bus, ascended back up to safe altitude & continue northward to top of patrol quadrant. Returned south and verified bus emitting smoke, surviving “soldiers” milling about. Upon return to ship we all wanted a bus painted on side of jet. No Go. Nuff said.

[@mar3869]

Lol that’s badass. They should have done it anyway.

[@craiglizt8074]

Ward, it would be awesome if you interviewed Jay "OP" Denney on his 2 kills in one sortie! OP was my squadron commander at the 60th Fighter Squadron at Eglin AF Base and I have very fond memories of that man...he was a wonderful Squadron Commander and I'm sure he'd be an entertaining person to interview & listen to. Here's to wishful thinking. Love your channel. 👍👍👍

[@kellamclements8071]

I served my sea duty tour in the Wolfpack AWG-9 maintenance crew back in the 1970s. We made two Westpack deployments aboard the Big E while I was with them. I recall that back then, the infamous Hughes Aircraft Co. Phoenix Missile System required a lot of maintenance man hours to keep it fully combat ready back then.

[@Sibanac]

I visited the USS Midway at San Diego in July 2019 What a day !

[@teddy.d174]

Fun fact: Air Force pilots with air to air kills get to put a green star on their aircraft. That F-15E Strike Eagle, is the only Strike Eagle with a green Star.

[@TheStig_TG]

@Primus Why so rude? Also we do care this is an aviation community.

[@LupusAries]

The green star is pretty new, during the 90's and 2000's it used to be the National flag of the aircraft shot down. Or a Red Star during Vietnam and Korea.

[@teddy.d174]

No offense taken, carry on…

[@jyy9624]

@@TheStig_TG inter service rivalry is not bad manners - race to the top

[@vikingskuld]

Hey just wanted to say I am totally impressed with how well you deliver your information. Its very clear understandable and excellently described. Thank you I can praise your vids enough.

[@FalconMasters]

What a story. 11:22 - that A10A gunning down a helicopter tho ...

[@5695q]

Considering what it does to an armored tank, instant smoked Swiss cheese, Brrrrrt.

[@yolkiandeji7649]

C.W. Lemoine interviewed that guy

[@francisschweitzer8431]

Yea… one round if it was a 30mm HE and that whole chopper would have disappeared … I think they were loading out with DU for armored contacts. One DU round in the right spot would probably rip the turbine and transmission completely out of the chopper…. And then it would have done a Wil-e-Coyote to the desert floor

[@ianobrien3248]

@JZ's Best Friend That was actually a "toss" where he released the bomb on the trajectory to hit the helicopter as it was dropping troops off trying to corner some Special Forces teams. The timing worked and the bomb hit it as it was flying and blew up quite spectacularly, completely surprising the Iraqi's and causing them to back off their assault.

[@alanholck7995]

The standard combat load for the GAU-8 is 5 rounds API (depleted uranium) & 1 round HEI.

[@Williestyle-RobotechxMacross-x]

11:29 and right under those "MRT" and "Mongo" listed Fishbed kills is one of the ... weirdest kills. A josh darned *EF - 111* electronics Aadrvark got a Mirage on the ground! Thank you for the info, Ward Carroll (:

[@tomt6040]

Was there on Ranger! The Chief Electrician in the engine rooms. This was my second tour on Ranger, she was a dirty old beast, but absolutely reliable.

[@steve6353]

As I recall, CV "by God" 61 was heard my than once over the 1MC

[@TexansForChrist]

Fascinating! I worked at LTV Vought Aircraft for 33 yrs as we pumped out A-7s and lots of parts for some of these other history making planes. So satisfying to hear of freedom protected. Was admiring my saved Desert Storm company sticker just this morning

[@rapscallion3506]

Jesus. How do you recall in such precise detail stuff that happened 30 years ago? Respect, Sir.

[@shrimpflea]

Research?

[@l337g0g0]

The way you effortlessly say all the information is so cool. It's great that you held onto all this information and can articulate it well.

[@Tyler-Hagan-Racing]

Another great story by Mooch, I look forward to these every time YT pops up and tells me about a new video from you, Ward!

[@HeliShed]

Loved this - thank you for sharing and thank you for your service Sir - retd (2013) British Army - 26 years Service and very familiar with 'sandy places'! O7

[@lcskibird]

I flew an airline trip with Shaggy......I was captivated by his story of the first night...totally amazing!

[@johnwallace4408]

Ward, your videos are so well thought out that anyone can follow them without Any problem. I just finished the PUNK'S TRILOGY last night. The TRILOGY is some of the Best writing I have read. There is on unanswered question ""What happened to Muddy?"" Maybe the basis for another novel in the future.

[@scottcooper4391]

Ditto - I just finished the Trilogy last night also. "Punk's Fight" got me thinking about - "How well are aviators going into Indian Country prepared to be an Infantryman for a while "?

[@WardCarroll]

I'm thinking she became a Congresswoman from New Jersey.

[@StevenPalmer-cs5ix]

Stu Broce graduated from California Maritime Academy in 1986. At that point we had two majors: deck or engine. Stu was 3-E, a USCG licensed 3rd Assistant Engineer (Steam & Motor).

[@richhoffman3218]

Mooch, Speaking of your books, the hardcover, signed Punk's trilogy arrived in the mail from USNI today. A very handsome edition!

[@bionicsjw]

One of my best friends in college was A-6 driver in Desert Storm. He's now the head civilian of NAVAIR. He was with VA-185 aboard the USS Midway.

[@pjotrtje0NL]

The kill mark on the F-14 actually depicts a Mi-24, which later was changed to a Mi-8.

[@manuelgreil4306]

11:55 The other other helo kill on that list is an A-10A shooting down a BO-105 with the GAU-8. :)

[@CHECK6-963]

The guy that got that kill wrote an A-10 book that details it.

[@racermike1946]

LOVED UR NARRITIVE ABOOUT THE F14 KILL, I WORKED AS A JET ENGINE MECH{CIVILIAN} WG10, AND CERTIFIED TEST CELL OPERATOR,(J52, TF41 & T56) DURING VIETNAM, DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM. RAN TF30-412 & TF30-414 ENGINES FOR AIMD ON ALAMEDA NAS. ALSO RAN J57'S FOR THE WHALE SQUADRON THERE AS WELL. I REMEMBER FONDLY MY DAYS WORKING THERE, KNOWING MY EFFORTS HELPED OUR WAR FIGHTERS PROTERCT OUR COUNTRY

[@leeming1317]

I got to step foot on the midway, and even sleep in one of the sailors old bunks, we were on a boyscout meeting with my son, we got to see the redbull air race competitions (maneuvers) It was a really great experience

[@pierheadjump]

😎 Thanks Ward ⚓️ I have ~ a year on Gonzo Station during Iranian Hostage Crisis…. ‘78 > ‘81, refueling ships 🎸 a lot of fleet ops w/ carriers.

[@SDsc0rch]

LOVE the digital simulation, ward :)) (( especially if that's the way you understand the engagement went down ))

[@rockelino]

Love the digital re-enactment! Definitely adds another dimension to your already awesome videos and commentary.

[@chembleton]

Love listening to your content while I'm working from home here in the UK. Keep it up. Cheers!

[@Mugdorna]

That opening aerial photo is very cool. 4 carriers from 4 different classes working together. Midway was launched in 1945, Teddy Roosevelt was launched in 1984

[@e45065]

That photo is now in the Xos stateroom on the USS Midway museum in san diego. I was aboard ranger when that pic was taken. It's extremely rare to have 4 carriers in one spot like that for obvious reasons but a great pic nonetheless. I forget who was relieving who but that was taken in the Persian gulf.

[@jamesfuria3939]

Another great video. It was reassuring to see all the contrails above us during the ground phase of Desert Shield/Storm. Thanks for making it easy.

[@99bimmer]

I knew about this, but I DIDN'T know it was on my 11th Birthday. I'm a huge Tomcat fan and watched Desert Storm on TV everyday, just to see footage of them. Thanks for this video, and all your others

[@rhutchski]

Mr Carroll, First of all, I don't know that I can properly thank you enough for everything you've done for our country.... but thank you. 2nd, the continued education I receive during every video, of yours, that I watch is truly exciting. Thank you for your continued service as a Patriot. Take care be well and enjoy your holidays. Rich

[@nuchbutter]

That's Awesome! I was a nugget pilot in HS-14, CVW-2, and a friend of Meat's! He came by and we shot the *sheep* about that flight soon after the hubbub died down in the ready rooms...

[@leeming1317]

I was allowed on a tour of the USS Lane Victory, with a reanctment show and all to catalina and back, Holy cow what a cool experience, I would never have been able to afford such an experience, I will never forget that, enormous enormous history on that ship

[@kenwilson3304]

I was a maintenance tech in VF2 during Desert Shield/Storm. I remember when VF1 got this kill, although all we heard was that they got a helo kill, not any of these details.

[@chrisstancer5857]

I was an AT in VF-2 during Desert Storm. I recall hearing the same and not thinking much of it at the time, but it was more kills than we got. However that earlier episode where Saudi F-15s got the kill because our Tomcats were "on the wrong frequency" was total bullshit. That was a political decision to let the Saudis do their part. I remember being at the maintenance shop to debrief aircrews after their return, and our CO "Action" Jackson was absolutely livid about it.

[@lindamcentaffer5969]

When Tomcats came on the scene, they were the best thing flying, until the F-15 "Beast-Mode." Great maneuverability for a plane that big. Great Fighter.

[@andytrail6974]

I was on Ranger during this time frame. When we found out about this, a big cheer went up around the ship. I miss being out to sea.

[@scallen3841]

I was on the america during this, thank you for your service

[@ksamos]

@@scallen3841 Hey shipmate! I was an AO in VF-102 Diamondbacks from 90-94. The only ordnance expended from our squadron was strafing a bridge with 20mm. On a funny note, we did get best "heads inspection" during the cruise, so someone painted a siloette of a commode on one of our jets. Wish I had a photo of it...lol. I remember that photo shoot with us 4 carriers in the Persian Gulf. Got some video and photos of it.

[@scallen3841]

@@ksamos I was an AD with one of the f-18's squadron's aboard the america at that time

[@andytrail6974]

Thanks everyone for their service, I was in V-3 Ilarts.

[@321fightson]

Another great video Mooch. I love how you're starting to use DCS scenes in them to paint a better picture. I bet the skipper took a long time to get past the embarrassment of that little hiccup? :-)

[@WardCarroll]

That DCS recreation was awesome - I had to use it.

[@thebobs9343]

Wound up being a CAG.

[@brunofagulha]

@@WardCarroll DCS is awesome, i fly in VR and i love carrier ops. Give it a try. Thank you for your channel, i learn a lot with you. Be safe, and take care. Greetings from Lisbon, Portugal.

[@craenor]

Great video! I've just started in on reading Punk's War, and I feel like videos like this may be some good homework to watch while I'm reading. :) I'm off to watch the video on call signs next.

[@homefront3162]

After serving in Nam in F-4’s my dad flew at VX-5 on improving Sidewinders then went to Grumman working on F-14’s on Radar and ECM at Pt Mugu

[@LRRPFco52]

Did you know the F-4J first got a helmet mounted sight and Sidewinder Expanded Acquisition Mode upgrade with the AIM-9G in 1968/1969? Russians copied it and used it on the MiG-29 over a decade later.

[@homefront3162]

@@LRRPFco52 No, my Dad did not talk about his work details. That's cool info!👍🏻. My Dad did "Buzz" our "woody" family station wagon in an F-4! Kids loved it Mom was terrified 😊

[@magneticmoneymore]

Commander Rabbit Campbell was our maintenance officer in VF-213 when I was attached to the squadron!!!

[@johnmenke1750]

Hey Ward, I love your chanel. I miss aproach too. I even had an article in 89. I was I DESERT STORM on Cag 3, JFK. We only had 6 CVs there. No worries man. Keep up the great work. Also huge Beatles fan and have walked those Abbey Road steps. Vr, Chef

[@jamesdenton6229]

Excellent discussion and explanations. Deconfliction was a major effort for all. EF111s without dedicated CAP tended to disappear amid their self-generated radar clutter and suddenly reappear as an instant bogey on AWACs screen. Key was not reacting and betting the miffling icon was just a friendly nose run to

[@michaeldavenport5034]

A great way to start Sunday morning with another informative Mooch episode. Once again interesting back ground information. Where was the Navy at the time with the known pid issues on the F-14 fleet? A-10's had two air to air kills, helicopters, during the 1st Gulf War. F-16'S total was 0.

[@WardCarroll]

The Navy was behind in a number of ways when Desert Storm broke out, wedded to a legacy warfighting posture.

[@michaeldavenport5034]

@@WardCarroll I can say the same for the Air Force.

[@WardCarroll]

@@michaeldavenport5034 They were way ahead of us at that time. Box score proves it.

[@michaeldavenport5034]

@@WardCarroll how much was the Navy aircraft, and the F-14, shut out on certain missions? It's a well known fact that the Air Force, mainly General Horner, didn't want the A-10 involved. General Schwarzkopf thought differently. Like many past and current Senior Leadership within the Air Force, they are not fans of the A-10. Spent 30 years on the A-10. We always enjoyed proving Senior Air Force Leadership incorrect on their thought process with the A-10. Putting that nicely to stay within community guidelines.

[@WardCarroll]

@@michaeldavenport5034 Tomcat was shut out because of onboard PID capability and the fact there was a delay in carriers getting the ATO because it had to be brought out hard copy using S-3s. Navy didn't pay attention in the late '80s as the joint world was changing quickly. We caught up quick after that.

[@brianfarrar3594]

I’d give it two-thumbs up if I could. Flew with MEAT many times after he transferred to the USAF and flew the Dragonlady and T-38A. He is an extremely talented and diverse aviator, and you just might see him at United or NASA doing his stuff.👍👍

[@philgiglio7922]

I'm sure he would prefer nasa

[@Slcm02]

Enjoy your show. God Bless all combat pilots and crew. In 69/70 Vietnam i flew uh-1 H models. Not anything like you guys. Be safe. Happy Holidays

[@barrygrant2907]

I suppose it's a good thing when there are so many "allied" forces in the air you're more worried about them than bandits.

[@auxpowerunit]

Nice ! But I must admit I'm more intrigued by the next line on the printout. At 11:55, it lists an A-10A used its 30mm gun to shoot down an Mi-8. Hahaha !

[@bogusdime]

Thanks

[@DesmondsDonders]

We had an aircraft pilot on the Standards Unit that had the checks for Bomb Bay doors to be closed before landings removed from the FRCs. Two weeks after returning to an active squadron he scraped the rear doors off. It was added back.

[@jpshipwash6240]

Your story-telling skills are outstanding.

[@dennishook6529]

Hi Ward, big fan. Love all your guitars too. I’m a collector, have 35 now 😀

[@Watchandcutgearchannel]

Great episode 😊I love these mission retells.. great stuff

[@rogfromthegarage8158]

Man, I love these stories. What a treat.

[@Angus_Gibson]

I need Punk's trilogy on audible! I do all of my reading via audiobook!

[@captcav767]

This is amazingly well presented! i could sit and listen to you describe the battle scene for hours on end!

[@jamescatrett2608]

Ward, two questions: 1) Do you know if the air frame got "demilitarized" (cut up) during the "Don't Give Iran Tomcat Parts" campaign or does it survive (intact) in a museum? If so, where at? 2) Is the Iranian Tomcat ("Ali-Cat") radar different from the NavAir Tomcat for ops over land / desert? Nice way to start the morning: a cup of coffee and a Tomcat / NavAir History lesson. As always, thanks for another great story and keep'em coming.

[@WardCarroll]

There are at least 67 Tomcats parked at the Preservation Facility in Arizona. The Iranians got the AWG-9 without a lot of the ECM capability.

[@maximilliancunningham6091]

@@WardCarroll "They" are very smart people though, and no dougbt, improvised their own.

[@robertf3479]

Let me add that there are a number of F-14 airframes on static display around the country at Naval Air Stations and museums, both Naval and Military Air as well as the Smithsonian.

[@robertf3479]

@@WardCarroll Ward, I was under the impression that most, if not all of the Toms flown to Arizona were shredded within two years of their arrival to end any risk of parts being stolen and shipped to Iran. Those that weren't flown to 'The Boneyard' were shredded here in Virginia Beach, in a corner of the Oceana NAS. I miss seeing those big birds overhead even today.

[@alantoon5708]

I think that particular F-14 later became an operational loss.

[@ep_bigcameraguy4911]

my brother 'Ranch' was on that cruise in VF-1. I think he said they lost an A6 Intruder and the pilot survived ejection but was taken prisoner by the Iraqis. I think he and Zimby are still friends to this day.

[@ianstevenson4378]

Thank you Ward. A great story well told. I much enjoyed your narrative.

[@sprue_goose]

The DCS footage really helps tell the story. Well done!

[@jaazielgarcia3938]

My new fav channel .. love the stories.. especially coming from a RIO

[@jimgutshall4855]

Enjoyed the episode, per your recommendation I have been listening to " One Minute to Midnight". Learning a lot about the Cuban missile crisis, was seven years old when it happened but I don't think I was aware at the time.

[@kimmer6]

My 10th birthday was on that Sunday. It wasn't a birthday at all and the one thing I was sure of was that we were going to die that day in a gigantic flash. The Los Angeles area was without doubt a multi megaton target.

[@billludolph5738]

My first aircraft carrier was the USS Saratoga CVA-60 1969-70 & my 2nd & 3rd cruises was the USS Ranger Cv-61 1970-71 & 1972-73..

[@JonJay66]

Absolutely brilliant channel Ward, so educational from a man that has so much detail of naval aviation in his head, love the stories.

[@peetyw8851]

Thanks!

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks for the support, Peety!

[@HarleyHawk1]

Awesome content Ward! Thanks for your knowledge and preservation of the Tomcat's Naval history

[@duanethomas8753]

I was an AT in VF 2 during Desert Storm. My skipper was so jealous that he didn’t get to shoot anything down. We were too busy running TARPS missions. Can you do a video on TARPS and the role of VF 2 during the war?

[@spleefdowny]

There’s gotta be a good story behind that Eagle driver shooting down a helo with a bomb. “No kill like a bomb kill” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

[@robertf3479]

There is a KZbin video about that unique kill. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4TPeHyum7ppq5o put up by "Grim Reaper." Included was the reasoning behind using a bomb vs a missile.

[@Hypernefelos]

@@robertf3479 There was another video on that just last week: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGGQp2pphb-Kmqc

[@alexandertheissl808]

The Vf 1 Wolfpack.. 👍..and Vf 2 Bounty Hunters 👍 two of the most beautiful color scheme "s in my opinion.❤️ I have a hgu 33 replica Helmet from the Wolfpack and my MDM1 FOX Aerobatic glider is inspired by the Wolfpack scheme too. . Greetings from Austria 🇱🇻.

[@WardCarroll]

I'm working on an episode about the coolest Tomcat paint schemes, Alexander, and VF-1 is right at the top.

[@alexandertheissl808]

@@WardCarroll That would be great Ward to also learn about the history of how the squwadron colors came about.

[@RocketToTheMoose]

@@WardCarroll When I was a kid in the 70's, my first awareness of the F-14 was seeing the box of the Revell 1/48 scale model in early VF--84 colors at the toy store. "The Final Countdown" a few years later sealed the deal!

[@pdexBigTeacher]

Well-told story. You could envision the intensity of such a mission.

[@cavsh00ter]

I was in the Desert Storm war and remember the roar of those jet up there was nice to know yall were up there

[@Lou-Phil]

Enjoyed the Simulation. A Simulation during your story is a sustain. 👍🏾

[@wolfhound45]

Love your channel. BZ brother (from a retired Soldier). And that is an Mi-24 (not Mi-8) silhouette on Wichita 103 😉

[@dB-hy6lh]

I remember reading about that helo kill on the ready room message board, or maybe heard about it in the wardroom, and also remember that it was the only F-14 air-to-air kill of the Gulf War. At the time, it was disappointing to me that the USAF seemed to get the more lucrative fighter missions. I was a Grumman E-2C systems tech rep deployed full-time with Atsugi-based VAW-115 for nearly eight continuous (and very enjoyable) years. By the time of the 1991 Gulf War, I knew practically every NFO and pilot in the airwing well enough to share a table for sliders and auto dog at midrats. Even without the USAF, four carrier air wings bristling with Hornets and F-14 Tomcats could have wiped the Iraqi air force completely off the map. Yet when the actual war began, it was the USAF on the world’s TV screens, and Navy fighter squadrons were not getting those bogie-rich CAP missions among their many, many hours of that once-rare green ink. So, it turns out the issue was simply a lack of PID contributing to the very real risk of dangerous confusion in the joint arena. That capability should have been retrofit years earlier, but the F-14 program was too often the victim of Congressional and DoD funding struggles. Ward, I'm subscribed, but don't know if you've mentioned the Bombcats, the APG-71 vs. AWG-9, or the glass cockpit, JTIDS, or the GE F110 engines... did you fly any of those? That sort of detail might seem a little off topic, but I’m sure you could make it a fascinating video.

[@raynic1173]

My understanding is that was a part of the over all strategy. They wanted the Iraqis to think it was going to be a amphibious assault from the south. Instead they pulled the ole' left hook flanking maneuver and came in from Saudi Arabia with the army and air force. The navy presences was just one big decoy. Of course they threw 'em some crumbs.

[@glennchartrand5411]

The F-14 was low priority on PID development because it seemed unlikely that the F-14 would be used in a situation like Desert Storm. The F-14's job was to protect the carrier group ,not be part of a large international coalition. Also even if the F-14 had good PID we would have still kept it on defense because there is a hostile nation (Iran) that has F-14s and they could have caused some real chaos.

[@chadwickalexanderjr1758]

Great story Ward. Thank you again!

[@WardCarroll]

My pleasure!

[@tysoncott7402]

great video, this is interesting information history class in school will never teach.

[@paulfarstar5589]

I read, that they wanted also more Tomcats in that time, when Iraky aircraft saw a AWG9 they ran, because of the Iran war, they were afraid. So they only needed to light targets up and they ran. Go look into it :)

[@fuzzybutkus3951]

Didn’t he just start doing KZbin a couple months ago.Quickly becoming one of the best military channels on KZbin.Any channel really.

[@whendoweeat]

This is a great oral history series. Thanks for sharing.

[@dantem4119]

Love the use of DCS to show what is happening in real time.

[@bennybenitez2461]

As an former IWT trouble shooter the APX-72 IFF system i.e. Mode IV was at best hit or miss.

[@mish130]

Great story. Thanks, mate.

[@michaeltuckerman6983]

Amazing this is my first time watching just the kind of short to-the-point get it across information I'm looking for

[@alirezakh739]

thanks Ward Carroll for your good contents and information. I wish you make a video and cover things you know or heard about clashes between US navy and Iran in 1986-88.

[@kenhanson1819]

Great video, Ward! Interesting to note that the Tomcat was not as advanced as most people imagine. With only 2 years separating the F-14 and F-15 first flights, the avionics capabilities had advanced a bit.

[@LRRPFco52]

AWG-9/AIM-54 was developed well before the F-14, and concurrent with F-14A introduction, they missed the solid state and digital revolution that were pioneered in the F-15 avionics architecture. During that same time in the 1970s, almost $400 million was spent on developing the intended motor for the original F-14B, the Pratt & Whitney F401-PW-400. Once I saw how much was spent, I began to wonder if all that money thrown into F401 took up developmental money for the F-14 in the 1980s, albatrossing it with the legacy avionics while all the teens moved forward with significant Radar and MFD cockpit improvements.