The Real Story of Slate 46: The F-14 Tomcat Shot Down in Desert Storm

[@thomastrask1230]

Great telling if this story. I learned new things 30 years later! Two very minor corrections: the Moccasins did not launch together on the first sortie, only because we still thought there was an A-6 down also, otherwise we would have always operated as a 2-ship. Also, the gunner you mention was actually MSgt Tim Hadrych. Ben Pennington is the PJ who is in the photo you showed.

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks for the detail, sir. And amazing airmanship, courage, and determination on that mission. Thanks for getting Boots out. Beers on me if you're ever in Annapolis.

[@JustinLong1977]

Seems like this comment should be pinned!

[@WardCarroll]

@@JustinLong1977 Great idea. Done.

[@Damitsall]

Here comes the roosters.

[@Mrcrisis2012]

My brother Maj Ed Ashley was commanding the AWACS on a rescue mission that was written up in Readers Digest....not sure if this was his mission or another rescue. I think on his mission they rescued the crew...he called in strikes against Republican Guard coming after the Crew.

[@pmurray0511]

I remember when Boots came back to the ship and I caught him right before he entered the ready room. I welcomed him back to the ship and I noticed the whites of his eyes were red. The blood vessels in his eyes burst with the yaw rate of the flat spin. I am truly grateful to everybody involved in getting my squadron mates back to us.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

did you see Ratsy again after he was released?

[@pmurray0511]

@@pontiacGXPfan I saw Rat one more time after we got back before he transferred.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

@@pmurray0511 you were with the Sluggers when all this happened right? was the skipper Bluto(James McFillin)or Santa(Don Santapaola)?

[@pmurray0511]

@@pontiacGXPfan Santa

[@pontiacGXPfan]

@@pmurray0511 then Brian(Rocky) Fitzpatrick WAS the Sluggers' XO. He was interviewed in the Robert Wilcox book Wings of Fury

[@dokken440]

Minor correction: Ben Pennington was a pararescue specialist, PJ, and was on the aft ramp with myself, the tailgaters. The left side gunner who made the call was Msgt Tim Hadrych. Tim also took that picture by blindly pointing his camera over the right gunners shoulder. That was an awesome day for sure.

[@thomastrask1230]

Dock. I most remember you saying "pilot, tail, up 5, we're kicking up dust" so we climbed from about 15 to 20 feet

[@CoryC1033]

👊💪

[@HAL_9001]

I'd like to nominate this for a pinned comment as well, Mooch.

[@hoghogwild]

@@thomastrask1230 Sounds like the UK Buccaneer crews at Red Flag. "OK Gentlemen, final attack run, no lower than leader."

[@Tuglife912]

@dokken440 awesome pic of the Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV!!

[@DaveMcGhee]

A-10 pilot Captain Randy Goff grew up just 10 house down from me in Jackson, Ohio. I delivered papers to his mother when he was in Saudi Arabia. I remember delivering the paper with Randy’s story of this rescue to his mother who was very proud. I still have a copy of that paper. Thanks for covering this story and mentioning the people who were involved.

[@dennisgoff4723]

Dave McGhee, that’s a GR8 personal interest memory- Bringing the News to proud parents! Noticed yer Esty shop offerings - will be in touch 🔜 ! Gummit P’day💰 only comes 1 🦅 drop / month LoL 😝

[@nexpro6118]

Yeah I bet he did lol

[@spyone4828]

I work overnights in a convenience store, and being near Oceana and Norfolk Naval Base we got a lot of Navy folks on their way to work. One day my coworker asked me what a particular officer's ribbons were, and I said it isn't like I have them memorized - I would have to look them up. "But the purple one is the Purple Heart, and the star means he got it twice." So the next day my coworker says to the guy, "So, how does one go about getting two purple hearts?" "You get one if you eject over enemy territory, and another if you are actually injured in the ejection." And that's how we met Captain Slader (Rat), who was at the time he retired the last former POW on active duty. Or as he described it, a "former guest of the Government of Saddam Hussein."

[@kiltedscorpio]

5

[@Magikarp-4ever]

@spyone4828 another good reason they aren't worth shit and looked upon as a crybaby medal more often than not lol

[@thomasd3862]

Adequate proof of the well understood axiom that the SAR mission is always ten times harder than the original mission.

[@thomaslore730]

I worked at NADEP Pensacola on the MH-53J PAVELOWS. We were told about this after things had settled down and it was a GREAT feeling know that we were able to give a hand in this rescue. This was the 1st rescue of a down aircrew since Vietnam. PAVELOW Leads...

[@chrischilds916]

It’s so interesting to hear the play-by-play on these uncommon but critical events, thank you. And the digital simulation of that truck exploding was nicely done!

[@mattteee2973]

That 'simulation' got a giggle out of me too

[@williammfelmleebill1470]

Ultimate training aid!

[@deadendfriends1975]

Umm....that's real footage

[@davewaterworth8846]

It's amazing how realistic these simulations are these days ;)

[@jeffhanson9244]

Great story. Paul Johnson was a new pilot in my squadron when I got out of the Air Force. 20 plus years later we had an A10 reunion at Davis-Monthan AFB. BGen Paul Johnson got up to speak to us and told us he was very confident in his public speaking but when he looked into the crowd and saw the old Captains and Majors he flew with as 2Lt Paul Johnson, Snack bar officer, he was a little nervous. A great guy.

[@jamesesenwein5152]

OIF in 2003, a F-15E was shot down over Tikrit by a SA-6. His wingman stuck around looking for survivors and ran critically low on fuel. CFACC at the time, Gen Moseley, directed a KC-135R out of Bahrain to go drag the remaining F-15E out of the area. Three days later, Gen Moseley shows up at Shaikh Isa in Bahrain and pins DFC's to the KC-135 crew. NKAWTG!

[@jamesfuria3939]

I had a Stratotanker buddy of mine that said on more than one occasion the tankers flew further north than directed to help a plane low on fuel. Thanks guys!, lots of people appreciate it more than you think.

[@jamesesenwein5152]

@@jamesfuria3939 when I flew KC-135’s in Afghanistan we would refuel Special Ops AC-130’s and MC-130’s. Due to the differences in performance envelopes we had to descend with them from 10k’. We took it to 1500’ AGL in the Hindu Kush mountains several nights, and then call disconnect. Got our asses chewed for leaning forwards in trying to get gas to the ass kickers.

[@dananichols1816]

@@jamesesenwein5152 That took some professional stones. Good on ya and your entire crew, for just doing it and taking the heat later. I'm sure that the crews looking back up at you through their windshields are still grateful.

[@DeliveryMcGee]

The single-seat fighter version of the F-15 has a perfect record against the enemy (one got oopsied by his wingman), the Mudhen ... well, it's a low-level medium bomber, they get shot down rather often by ground fire.

[@cacornett58]

That ancient SA-2 missile must be bad ass, shooting down an F-15 and 2 U-2s in the 60s, many B-52,s in Nam.

[@ryankc3631]

This is probably the most accurate account of this event we'll ever have. Sometimes, the historical value of this channel is invaluable. BZ, Sir!

[@flparkermdpc]

SOMETIMES?!?!

[@StrikerVTB5]

As a former Pavelow aircrew member well done. The picture was taken from the right door (FE position w/50 cal) and not the cockpit. Always enjoy listening to your channel. Keep it up.

[@citadelgrad87]

Thats awesome. My dad was CINC of 23AF, ARRS in the late 1980s. Pavelows rule the night.

[@2-Hands]

"PAVELOW Leads"!

[@rickprice6312]

Remember those guys. Also saw Zule (Jeff Zaun) in that last picture. Jeff and I were on the same strike planning team. Saratoga took its lumps. The worst was the ferry accident in Haifa.

[@dandychiggins8329]

Incredible story. As it turns out I was deployed to Haditha Iraq in 2007 with 1st Battalion 3rd Marines and have been to Al Assad many times. I never knew I was in the general area where a Tomcat was shot down. I’m glad both aviators are alive and well.

[@ahmedvawda1282]

Did you know you were in the area which had a more significant incident? The killings on November 19, 2005, in which a group of United States Marines killed 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians?

[@dandychiggins8329]

@@ahmedvawda1282 that’s not what the video is about is it

[@dandychiggins8329]

@@ahmedvawda1282 shall we discuss how many innocent Iraqis were killed by other Iraqis?

[@ahmedvawda1282]

@@dandychiggins8329 yes I know. After the 20 year anniversary of the war of mass DECEPTION I want people to remember the 1.2M Iraqi victims also.

[@dandychiggins8329]

@@ahmedvawda1282 no you don’t, you are trying to push an idea that the US went to war to kill Iraqis. And btw General Odierno was told by Saddams top generals that there were nuclear weapons in Iraq prior to the invasion. So unless your some deep cover intel agent maybe just comment as to the facts of this video which took place in 1991. Also those Marines you spoke of were charge with war crimes.

[@OMG_No_Way]

I could listen to Ward tell stories all day long.

[@TheWeatherbuff]

Well, that was a story. Us Civvies rarely get to hear the intricate details of operations like this, told so well. Mooch, you always do a great job!

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

The way Ward tells stories is so captivating!!! Love his channel!

[@180mph9]

Yes, I totally agree, such attention to detail.

[@rapscallion3506]

This took some work to put together. Thank you for investing your time.

[@reggierico]

An outstanding recount of that incredible time period in our lives. I was at King Fahd during the entire Desert Shield build up. The 20th SOS, the Pave Low guys, were certainly the right choice for this mission. The INS did have a ring laser gyro that made it pretty accurate but you had to update it regularly in order to keep that small CEP. A good friend of mine was in the 20th and put this on his Facebook. Thanks, LTC. Bill Berner! It is always bitter sweet to hear these great stories because our squadron lost 14 great guys during Desert Storm. Thanks again, Ward Carroll, great job as usual.

[@RWforRP2012]

Sounds like that could have gone BAT 21 in a hurry if not for the A-10s and the skill of the CH-53 crew hiding in a wadi. That's awesome.

[@williammrdeza9445]

What a great episode, Ward! You have a gift for story telling that draws us in while also shedding light on the facts of the incident. This took me right back to the early chapters of Punk's Fight and juxtaposed the scenario depicted in the novel with actual events on the ground. Outstanding and thank you for a great way to start out my weekend! The best part is the fact that both aviators survived their ordeal and were able to continue their service. It was especially neat that you subsequently served with each one at a later date. Thanks again for the most interesting recounting of this operation.

[@johnciccone]

William, I write for a living. First, I must agree with you about Ward. He is a great writer, more important, he is a great story teller...two different talents.

[@tylersathern1076]

You couldn't have said it better. Gifted and intelligent.

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

The complexities of navigating a battle space or the globe without GPS are immense. Its amazing that people have been doing it for centuries with any degree of success. From the air the battle space may not look that huge but when you're on the ground the desert out there is massive. It can be very difficult to differentiate the good guys from bad guys when your positioning isn't very accurate.

[@michaeldavenport5034]

Great story. Always interesting hearing what goes on behind the scenes compared to the "Official release stories". Capt Johnson retired as Major General from the U.S. Air Force. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for this mission. As per the museum website: The A-10A on display was flown on Jan. 21, 1991, by Capt. Paul Johnson on an eight-hour rescue support mission during Operation Desert Storm, for which he was awarded the Air Force Cross, the USAF's second highest award for valor. The aircraft was delivered to the museum in January 1992.

[@erievon1]

I absolutely love that they stuck around with our downed crew and told the approaching trucks "not today son..."

[@weaponeer]

Capt. Paul Johnson (PJ) was known as likely the best A-10 pilot at the time. another great story is when PJ got hit by a SAM during Desert Storm and had a hole in his wing big enough to crawl through, and was down to flying the plane with just cable and pulley, and flew that plane home. you can see it in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/q52wf2VoqLZ6jc0 (BTW I'm a Desert Shield and Desert Storm Army Vet)

[@freegedankenzurbaukunst5613]

what REALLY went on behind the scenes compared to the "Official release stories . Empire of Chaos , Death & Destruction killed millions people , sent a country back to stone age , open the sectarian pandora box .Time for the fallen decay country Send ALL its WAR CRIMINALS to the ICC

[@michaeldavenport5034]

@@freegedankenzurbaukunst5613 you mean the illegal invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein back in 1990 which led to Desert Storm in 1991?

[@freegedankenzurbaukunst5613]

@@michaeldavenport5034 That idiot got trapped like a rat by the Empire of Death , Chaos & Destruction . It was used by the Empire of Death , Chaos & Destruction to destroy Iran ( Google WAR CRIMINAL Rumsfeld shaking hand with Saddam Hussein ) . Koweit was the promised gift to do it . And that idiot felt on the booby trap . PS / When will USA send their WAR CRIMINALS to the ICC ??? I know the answer . Never . But karma is the bitch . At the end , you will get what you deserve . Clio never ever forgets

[@jouuueee]

Photomate station on board Saratoga during desert Storm. Vf103 was a designated TARP squadron and we work closely with them to process their aerial photography. Did not know the details of the rescue. Phenomenal story. Thank you!

[@dksl9899]

I remember reading this story as a kid in Reader's Digest, your wonderful retelling brings me right back to that! I still recall the callsigns and the "Smoke the trucks!" moment.

[@ibbylancaster8981]

These stories are so awesome. I wish when I was a kid in the 70’s that we had the tech that we do now because my grandpa and many of the men of the small town of Parkton NC had left to fight in WW2 together and some of their stories were absolutely remarkable. One of my grandpas best friends retired as a Brigadier General and was later the commander of the eastern NC Guard units. The man had some stories. They all did, and unfortunately, they are all gone like a breeze on a cool morning. God Bless all who have served our great country. Thank you again for the stories Ward. Maybe you could try and get some of these great older Americans that are left to share some of these stories they have before they are lost as well. Much love and thank you again for all you do and have done. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@belindaintexas8789]

My Father was a WW2 marine bomber pilot deployed to Pacific Theater. Flew a modified Mitchell bomber (PBH-1 modified with 3 canons and rocket rails?) No real action. Mostly guarding shipping lanes. His last flight was to deliver one of their bombers to a museum in Oklahoma. He took a Marine buddy on the flight who had never flown before. The windshield blew out, fortunately at low altitude. He managed to land and was told a replacement windshield would be installed the next day. My Dad said I have been flying these things for 4 years and my final flight almost got me. You can get some one else to fly this to the museum and he walked off. That was the end of his service. Pretty sure his buddy never went up again after that. Told to me by one of Dads squadron . I thought it was kind of funny.

[@Ryanboy2020]

Thanks for doing this one Ward! As I briefly mentioned in your preview post of this story, I was a young E5 Medic with the 1st INF DIV during Desert Shield/Storm and the day this happened we heard all of the open freq as well as the encrypted tac freq of comms. I had no idea at the time who was who, we just knew that 2 pilots were down and that SAR was out looking for them. I went back and looked at my journal for that day and it says..."Long day...no orders...no contact...lots of radio calls on open frequency for downed pilots of two planes"...I guess I was wrong about the two planes. Anyway just thought I would add my tiny insignificant participation in this story.

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks, Doc!

[@Ryanboy2020]

@@WardCarroll Thank you, Ward! It was my pleasure.

[@1-501Infantry]

Hey doc thank you for your service and welcome home!

[@Ryanboy2020]

@@1-501Infantry Thank you, it was my honor to serve!

[@freegedankenzurbaukunst5613]

Doc , you're a WAR CRIMINAL . 500,000 Iraqi kids killed . Do you think the price was worth it ???? Your honor to serve rotten WAR CRIMINALS politicians

[@rattler0812]

I remember the movie "Heroes of Desert Storm" from ages ago where their shoot down was part of the movie. They portrayed it as at night and more towards the opening hours of the air war. But this is great to hear the actual story. Thank you for sharing this.

[@timgeist1450]

I flew with Boots at NSAWC in Fallon in the back seat of an F/A-18B. I was teaching electronic reconnaissance as an EP-3E NFO ('98-'01). Boots taught me to fly from the back seat for the first time, and I had a blast! Every Hornet flight after that, I jumped at the chance for some back seat stick time. Thanks Boots! - Polter

[@irtnyc]

Polter, please summarize for us muggles how flying from the back seat worked at the time? Thanks

[@timgeist1450]

@@irtnyc Flying from the back of the two-seat F/A-18B was a challenge, mainly from the perspective of the pilot's head in the front seat blocking your view, from my recollections. Still tons of fun though!

[@rong1924]

The Digital Simulation of the truck made my day. Thanks for that.

[@werewolf5674]

I was in VF 74 at the time. The Squadron had gone out and bought handheld GPS. We put the dome antenna on top of the top of RIOs sunscreen. It was so much better then INS.

[@WardCarroll]

We did the same thing when I was in VF-102 flying over B-H in '95.

[@calvinnickel9995]

But….. I was told that only the backwards Russians do this! Truth is, military hardware is designed to be absolutely state of the art ten years before it enters service for a 20 year lifespan (or longer). The F-14 had the worlds first microprocessor.. yet in five years time kids were getting more advanced ones for Christmas (Atari 2600 with the MOS6502 in 1977). It got so bad that the USAF decided enough was enough and built a supercomputer out of PS3’s rather than have the expense of a custom made one that would be completely obsolete by the time it was designed and constructed. But then Sony ended third party OS support and it was bricked.

[@chuckprice4541]

This might be my favorite episode so far.

[@steveperreira5850]

It was riveting. Very determined Air Force crew. They didn’t have to do it, it was just navy guys!

[@antiskell]

Hi ward - as a guy that has serious PTSD , after almost 20 years as a firefighter paramedic in an urban environment and very very busy urban dept… and loves history ….. I appreciate your channel and level and steady delivery of small things of history to be remembered - I’m retired and KZbin and channels like yours keeps me busy and entertained as a stay at home dad doing chores and learning g civilian life and schedules - thank you for your service The transition is hard but worth it - I have a healthy daughter and wonderful step mother that I reconnected with after not talking for 20 years - my high school sweetheart Maybe collaborate on PTSD for a video ? I open and honest - I’m disappointed in the lack of coverage and help - I’m fortunate to have a partner that cares for my mental health and keeps me in check Sending you love, wellness and always keep the blue side up I miss skydiving - something you guys never want to do if you are flying - always was a good release - My hand is jacked up - and I’m 100 percent disabled - so I can’t do it safely - hell - I’d rather eject for fun now just to fix my risers and have a smooth canopy ride down from 12000

[@rossebbinghaus869]

Sir, I served under the RIO callsign Rat. He made it a full career in 2007 I was in his retirement ceremony. He recounted his experience twice in my remembrance. Both times it came with heavy emotions. I personally moved on and was deployed in 2012 to Afghanistan where I personally had a event where I too still am effected by it to this day. Everyone handles PTSD in there own ways. Some better than others, the best thing we can do is acknowledge its existence and ruthlessness.

[@davidruel213]

I got to Saudi Arabia as a Flight Engineer on MH-53's shortly after this mission. Thank you for telling the story.

[@moonasha]

what a crazy story. It goes to show how absolutely essential AWACS are. And the A-10s in that story were badass too. You could totally make a movie out of this story.

[@dougrobinson8602]

Certainly a better one than 'Behind Enemy Lines'!

[@bartk07]

Movie yes, but not Hollywood-like.

[@heatseekerws6]

Along the lines of the movie BAT21

[@Youtubeparolee]

I was on the Saratoga that day. I worked in AC&R. Nothing glorious like a pilot. I remember Jeffery Zaun and Scott Spiecher, not in the same bird, but getting shot down.

[@christopherdarling7096]

Mooch, your description of the faulty location coordinates is a perfect illustration of von Clausewitz’s “Friction of War”, a concept unfamiliar to most folks. Well done!

[@ut000bs]

I was on the roof when Boots came back. I'll never forget. Unfortunately, Spike never returned. LCDR (now CAPT) Michael Scott Speicher (July 12, 1957 - January 17, 1991) I proudly salute them all. Thank you very much once again, Mooch.

[@rolltidelbc2832]

Roof of the Sara?

[@ut000bs]

@@rolltidelbc2832 Bah, I wasn't clear… I was on the flight deck of the Saratoga. Some don't know what roof is and, of course, some wouldn't know it was the Saratoga. Thank you. I was in a hurry.

[@rolltidelbc2832]

@@ut000bs I was crash crew on Sara at that time.

[@ut000bs]

@@rolltidelbc2832 I was with VAQ-132.

[@timsparks7049]

@@ut000bs Sparky here, the OPS O in 132. TP was the CO I'm still in contact with Panic the pilot in the story

[@dananichols1816]

Again, 18 min of outstanding, detail-saturated history! This all happened while I was out of the mil for 16 years -- didn't re-enlist until after 9/11 -- ending in aircrew life support maintaining the egress/E&E gear for HC-130s & HH-60Gs. PRC-90s were being phased out for the -112s/GPS/encrypted radios (in the aircrew vests). 2012-ish, the new 406MHz GPS ELT beacons (attached to seats & inside the bailout chutes), were prematurely fielded with lots of critical failure points -- however, the faster, precise satellite acquiring GPS signals far exceeded the older line-of-sight beacons. ISOPREP very much in-play, as well. Many hours of disciplined mx and good mil techs behind each piece of your gear... and those systemic goddamn PRC failures were not on us, lads -- we (AF) had to send all of ours to the mfgr for almost every failure. Your happy hour discussion of returning to cel nav would have made my (recon & tac air nav) dad smile. You carry and tell high-speed, no bullshit stories -- all legit and real world, especially with how fast plans & SOP evaporate when the gear comes up. Great descriptions of the different players committing to cut-the-crap decisions and working the problems from their own seats! Thank you, Ward, and all of the old heads chiming-in with facts & stories!

[@wretchedexcess1654]

One of my side jobs as a 67U in the Army was ALSE and the Prick 90's were just plain amazing equipment for the time. Batteries were the only thing about them that I had to monitor/test closely/often. Once I got on flight status I turned my cage over to another 67U. The equipment was very simple but, there was a lot of it and every piece very useful with at least two purposes for each Item. I was glad to have gotten the experience with the gear before I went to survival training.

[@dananichols1816]

@@wretchedexcess1654 Yes on those battery mx checks, and really frustrating that we couldn't provide more, expedient shop-level repair for the internal PRC problems. It was great that you had that familiarity when you showed at survival training -- huge advantage. By the time I retired in 2016, we were getting so much new gear, so fast, that I felt like an impostor for all of the stuff I did not know. Thank God for all of those sharp, great kids I had to carry the load and blast through the new iPad tech orders! I hope your flight status years were good ones. Thank you for showing up, every day.

[@dohc22h]

Be like... Go tell the Master Sgt. your looking for a PRC E8

[@soonerfrac4611]

I definitely sent a few PV2’s to see the Prick E7!

[@mikeareno7406]

to my knowledge the PRC-112 never passed the Standard Navy Water Immersion Test no matter what they did to it

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

Damn nice setup , Marshall , a Les Paul studio , a Taylor , and a Rick. Sweet. Cool story also. Lol 🤠🎸🎶🤙

[@ChristinanathanWesterfie-pr4jj]

Yess I also vote he should create another channel devoting this much attention to his musical ambitions...if ya need a drummer lmk!!! Cheers!!

[@bluehornet6752]

Wonderful story sir. Here's to no one ever having to go through that sort of thing again.

[@frankgulla2335]

Ward, Thanks for that detailed summary of rather convoluted resue mission, though I am guessing that many combat SAR missions are convoluted.

[@joeangell5652]

First-rate graphics at 15:24! I felt I was actually there. Seriously though, another great video Ward! Thank you for everything you do and everything you’ve done. Take care.

[@cplassen2138]

I could listen to those stories all day long. Well done.

[@samilsilta9004]

Ward, You did it again! You took me right there! I felt like I was in one of the rescue aircraft during this operation. Well done in the finest traditions of storytelling.

[@ChrisZwolinski]

Love hearing these unheard stories by someone who actually understands what he’s talking about but doesn’t make the regular viewer feel like they’re being talked down to. BZ

[@jonathanmimnagh8956]

I was aware of the MH53 rescue of a downed pilot but not the entire operation. Thanks for this Video Ward.

[@jameshisself9324]

15:24 Ahh the sweet, sweet graphics of 'digital simulation'. Thanks for making this tense story a little funny too.

[@WardCarroll]

Only the best on my channel. 😜

[@halb37]

Sandy has been the call sign of SAR escort since at least the 1960s. As for the A-10s being airborne 9 hours I can guarantee (from experience) they had a major flat spot on their ass for the next day. Because of the complexity of the mission I'm also pretty certain all of the helo/F14/A10 crewmembers landed with no adrenalin left in their system.

[@falconeaterf15]

Read a book written by an A10 pilot. His squadron flew all the way to Iraq non stop. A gruelling ordeal in a plane that flies as slow as a WW2 prop plane. Even sketchier when the refuel probe starts leaking fuel into the cockpit ! Nothings easy in aviation. Especially in wartime.

[@schwenk929]

Thanks , I was just about to ask if Search and Rescue always uses the call sign "Sandy".

[@DCS_World_Japan]

The "digital simulation" of the technical was epic.

[@bbarker5766]

Ward this hit really close as I was a PC with VF-103 when this happened. I wasn't the one for that flight but I remember hearing the news that they got shot down and both were alive. Thank you for sharing this.

[@unpilot1]

Great story....and great story telling skill. You have a gift Ward. Love the presentation of facts in a professional manner.

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

That's a classic CSAR story, Ward! Thanks for putting this together for us to learn about some of these incredible missions, brave guys, and I do feel for Rat getting nabbed before help could get to him. I remember a friend at University just after Desert Storm describing being in Israel on holiday. They were issued gas masks, and plans were afoot to extract westerners out due to frequent threats of SCUD launches.

[@clwatts]

That produced a cheek squeezing for me and I wasn't even there.

[@12what34the]

I could listen to stories like this all day, especially with Ward's excellent narration and the use of such cutting edge digital simulation 😄

[@sheltonsaved2001]

Thank you and all who served in every war/conflict. Thank God for the boots.

[@JohnS-ps9jv]

Never heard about them. Thanks so much Ward for telling us their story.

[@ngelorum516]

Ward always knows how to tell a great story and honor our men and women who put their lives on the line every day

[@harrylime3.143]

Another great story I look forward to the next, I'm halfway through Punks War and it's great, keep doing what you do.⚓💪🇺🇸🍺😎

[@CraigGood]

I so appreciate the no-nonsense, concise, and inside-baseball way you tell these stories.

[@tmckenny2994]

Love this story, Ward. I appreciate your no nonsense, straight forward approach to all of your stories/videos. Your YT channel is so unique.

[@robertw.bauesjr9190]

Ward, have chills after watching this video. The professionalism of everyone involved in the rescue of Boots was amazing. Thank goodness for Trask, Paul Johnson + his wingman to get the job done. Our men and women of the armed forces are simply the BEST!! God Bless the all!!

[@PavelowGunner1122]

Fantastic to hear the history of this event from the Navy side. My PaveLow brothers have relayed it from our end, but it's cool to get Squadron props from our esteemed sister services. Well told bro

[@andy164501]

"Edge of my seat" story of my fellow military men during Desert Storm. Thank you, Sir.

[@stonecoldmunchin]

Always a great story teller. Keep the Tomcat tales coming!

[@johnpayne1503]

Great story. Joined CAG 17 in VA-35 as a Department Head just after Desert Storm. Nice to know the effort involved in recovering a downed crew.

[@thebronzetoo]

Great info Mooch. Been to Al Asad a few times. Took several helos/crews from the 160th SOAR to ArAr just before the war started in 2003 (I was a C-5 LM).

[@bubbajeph]

Great to hear a positive outcome. I lost a coworker to a SAM 1st night in an F15E from SJ.

[@carabela125]

Hey ! I had one of those Datsun Kingcabs. It overheated but not like that one. lol

[@steveperreira5850]

Me too, I actually have a 1985 Datsun king cab four-wheel-drive. I could’ve been working for the bad guys!

[@calvinhobbes7504]

I served 20 years in the navy - most of it on carriers .... I must be about the navy's second biggest blackshoe fan of the F-14 .... I think I say that on all Mr. Carrol's vids, but it's true. I wonder what would happen if an true F14D airframe was updated with modern navy electronics - cockpit, RADAR, computers ... everything .... the badass engines we have today ... and had vectored thrust technology added. I think I'd work out ... fit into my uniform again ... and stow away on a carrier just to stand on Vultures' Row to watch one operate! :)

[@dancrawford829]

Thanks for another great story Mooch, some have forgot the losses we incurred then... and the crews who hung it out to get our warriors back. The comms & nav issues you contended with back then make this event all the more remarkable... well done Sir!

[@eoyguy]

The digital simulation of the Datsun truck exploding had me rolling! Nicely done.

[@donalddempsey1072]

I remember as c-130 and c-9 crewman In the late 90's and early 2000's pilots using hand held gps on some flights before gps was incorporated on aircraft. Love the story.

[@vxe6vxe6]

VXE-6 Navs were issued hand-held GPS's. We used to tape a wired antenna to the outside of the plane, it was fed through the copilots side window. The GPS's worked well in parts of Antarctica. Part of the testing was to find the GPS blind spots. 94 - 96 time frame.

[@donalddempsey1072]

@@vxe6vxe6 I flew with VR-53 in the late 90s. Had a few members who flew served with VXE-6, load master flight engineer AM McMurtry rings a bell

[@johnrossman6679]

I was one year out of high school and in the Montana National Guard as an 11B when this was going on. I remember being very anxious watching the news on the war.

[@davidnichols4770]

Col Tom Trask was the 58 SOW Wing CC during one of my tours at Kirtland AFB

[@hannhonculada4269]

They should make a movie of this story

[@richhoffman3218]

Mooch, Another thrilling, real-world event that shows just how hard it is to do something, even though you've trained for it. The fog of war was thick that day but everyone showed outstanding determination to get the job done.

[@andrewmorke]

I love how the second Iraqi truck bailed after the A-10 used the GAU-08 on the other hostile.

[@Galf506]

Amazing video. Thanks for getting the story out in such an informative, no bullshit way.

[@Bat21bravo]

Well done as always. That's why you are a Commander. FLY NAVY

[@1jbunceiii]

We are so spoiled by gps these days!! I remember buying a Garmin gps back in the mid 90s, it was a Garmin gps 38. It didn't work very well in the cold weather, the batteries were not able to work very well. My dad had one he mounted on his yoke when he flew his bonanza. Great story as usual! I wonder if any military pilots bought their own to bring with them.

[@Private_Idaho_1]

See my reply on this very topic! The short answer is yes! Semper Fi

[@jonaspenson4834]

Thank you for the great stories and insights. From an e3 aircraft handler on an amphibious assault ship in the '80s.

[@davidruel213]

Correction: Sgt Pennington was Pararescue (PJ), NOT a gunner.

[@LtLysander]

This is subtle but , I love that your videos have no music . Another great story Ward!

[@jrshivley]

As usual great episode 👍👍👍

[@223Carbine]

Ward - Thanks for the research you did to compile this story. A compelling tale

[@daryltolliver7271]

Sweet vid Mooch! Keep it up buddy.

[@robhileman8890]

Always a great listen. Thank you all that served!

[@cosmicyeti6804]

You are an AWESOME DUDE! And, as a proper-Irishman, you are a great storyteller. Take it from me, that IS saying something.

[@wgaswyt]

So I'm watching/listening for the 3rd time. Such great story telling. The first hand technical knowledge and lingo makes it amazing to listen to. Thank you Commander Carroll!

[@spacecatboy2962]

any guy that takes on an A10 thunderbolt with a datsun deserves a medal of honor or something

[@rox6385]

WEll done as usual...always a pleasure to see your stuff on video!

[@johnstacy7902]

Great Googly Moogly a fellow needs to dummy cord everything in their vest as to not lose it. Plus as a UH60 crew chief I had a revolver with all 6 cylinders loaded with flares. Most of time when our apache helos flew missions there would one UH60 that could refuel, rearm or pick up downed aircrew as needed.

[@dennishayes65]

Ward, you’re a close personal friend to lots of hero’s !!!!!

[@williammfelmleebill1470]

Great storytelling, Mooch! I was nervous to view this: there are gossipy background stories within the main report and lessons; I am glad you stuck to the main story to keep focus and ensure "just the facts." You are a credit to your fellow aviators, sir. Ever thought of a presentation on the before/after military life of pre- and post- GPS implementation? 1990-1991 time period was a tectonic shift in situational awareness, and there are people under 40 who have no idea that GPS was a military R&D application.

[@charliealpha11f3b2]

Small world...Paul Johnson, one of the A-10 Sandy pilots, was one of my instructors when I went through A-10 RTU. Cool story.

[@aghistorian763]

Thank you for bringing these to us! It means a lot to get these detailed insights into these moments in Tomcat history in such an easy to digest format. And speaking of an F 14 A+.... could you imagine making a video comparing all the F 14 versions? Especially the cockpits? :)

[@AvengerII]

There's little difference between the A and B models of the F-14 with regards to the cockpit. They have the same avionics setup. The basic differences in the cockpit would be the engine readings for the GE engines in the B-model and a new radio for the B as well. The ejection seats are the same in the A's and B's, and so were the HUD's for the majority of the B model's service in fleet. A number of B-models got a new separate HUD unit in the early 2000s. I believe it was called the Hawk HUD. The original HUD was actually part of the flat combiner/glass windscreen in front of the pilot. It had terrible maintenance issues and didn't read well in harsh light. The D-model from the beginning always had a separate HUD; they got away from the combiner HUD the A's and early B's had. There's not much to recommend in the D-model cockpit honestly. They call it a "glass cockpit" but it's a mid-1970s version of a "glass cockpit"; in other words, they kept the changes minimal to keep the upgrade costs lower. No LCD that I'm aware of! [The Germans did a similar thing with their F-4 ICE upgrade. They installed APG-65 radars with HUDs in their refits BUT they made the original radar scopes compatible with the APG-65!] I think the big changes in the D-model were in the RIO's slot (new tactical information display, LANTIRN controls, and upgraded radar scopes/tubes) but you have to look for them. You can barely notice the changes. I'm sure the Tomcat aircrews got used to the differences between the A/B and D-model cockpits within a few weeks if not days. Oh, and the F-14D also had new ejection seats that had a broader operation envelope. A basic safety upgrade (besides the F110 engines and later digital flight control upgrade) ALL the Tomcats should have ideally gotten. Had they gone forward with Tomcat 21, probably the ASF-14 version, they would have revamped the cockpit entirely. It would have been at least equal to mid-1990s F-18 cockpit layout if not further advanced with LCD screens; remember the F-22 was in test and it had LCD screens already. The Navy and Grumman would have done what they could have afforded with more money. The main problem with the F-14 through most of the program life was funding -- never enough money, and the alloted money always got snatched out of the program at the last moment like Lucy's football whenever the contractor proposed sensible safety and equipment upgrades! The D-model was originally slated for service entry in 1987 but it didn't reach the fleet until AFTER Desert Storm! They would have also gotten rid of the flat forward pane glass with the ASF-14/21 and installed a full wraparound forward canopy section like they did for a few F-4E's and G's. The biggest criticism you could charge the F-14 cockpit with (aside from being way too analog and having circuit breakers in inconvenient positions) is reduced forward visibility of the pilot. The F-15, F-16, and F-18 have better forward visibility. To the side and rear, the F-14's visibility out the canopy is excellent. They adopted a lot of features from earlier aircraft to reduce development costs on the F-14. A lot of the ducting and maybe the landing gear were adapted from the A-6. The forward glass pane and canopy in the F-14 look suspiciously influenced from the F-4. The reasoning behind flat plane glass is that it distorts images less I believe. (What good that does you with a plane designed to snipe from BVR I don't know! Flat plane glass makes more sense for a low-level attack plane like I'll explain later.) The problem with round glass is spherical aberration -- image distortion. The funny thing with a flat forward plane that's heavily framed like the F-4 and F-14 is that you lose part of your forward vision because of the heavy frame around that center glass section!!! With the F-14, I'm amazed they kept that heavy frame. It's a plane honestly designed to have better handling than the F-4 and was a dogfighter (contrary to popular belief and misinformation from groupies of other planes) from the beginning. I'm sure some pilot somewhere told Grumman to put in a wraparound canopy from the beginning but the contractor probably just didn't have the money to develop a higher-viz front canopy! The F-15 was the first American fighter in a LONG time to have a wrap-around front canopy (which had its issues with a frame design that caused canopy weakening and wear long-term; they changed the canopy frame design for the E-model) although the F-14 was the first fighter plane (probably from anywhere) to reintroduce a bubble canopy since the 1950s! As soon as they stopped building F-86s, they got rid of bubble canopies (for the most part). The bubbles caused drag and manufacturers needed to eliminate as much drag as possible so that planes with weak engines could go supersonic! That design mentality is why the F-4 became what it is -- fast plane, terrible visibility by modern-day standards. The P-38 had a bubble canopy, too, -- WAY before the P-47, P-51, and F4U Corsair did -- but the way it was built and framed led to more vision issues to the front, side, and rear; it was far worse than the F-14 canopy design! The bubble canopies in the revised P-47, P-51, and F4U were far better than the P-38 system. The F-14, btw, wasn't the only plane built in the 1970s and 1980s with a flat plane like this. The Panavia Tornado also had a similar flat plane. Their reasoning was to guard the aircrew against birdstrikes because most Tornados were built as low-level attack aircraft. Flat plane glass is easier to build thicker than rounded glass (which is actually a plastic plexiglass product; it's not "true" glass like in your home windows). I think the flat plane glass is probably the same stuff as the round bubble glass but just thicker. Possibly more heat resistant, too. A lot of planes designed in the 1950s and 1960s had that flat plane glass feature. A-6, F-4, Tornado, the Lighting I believe, and probably MiGs, too (Mig-21/-23/-25/-27) as well as Sukhois of the era (I don't know those numbers don't ask me! LOL).

[@blueduster74]

I was a AWS in HS-14 flying missions out of Bahrain. This pretty much summed up every rescue mission. It was a cluster every time.

[@jamescatrett2608]

Great "What Really happen" story to this incident. For NAVAIR operators (in this story F-14B GRU-7A ejection seat equipped flyers), how was the use of the AN/URT-33 (ejection seat, seat kit beacon) handled in combat / high treat missions? Normal operations had it activating during ejection, broadcasting on "Guard" 243.0 MHZ (un-cryptic). Were they secured and activated manually post ejection (if needed) or removed from the seat pan? Another Great Presentation.

[@dananichols1816]

James, I can offer you this background on 'non-ejection' sequences for beacons, although I'm pretty sure the fighter crew had them somewhere in their harnesses too, as once they separated from the seat, everything was hanging on the risers and within reach. Hope to hear details from the huge wealth of combat experience vets who know what worked -- desert flats, versus the Alaska terrain that my wing's crews operated in normally. For the bailout (non-ejection) BA-18/-22 chutes: the AN/URT-33 beacons had a either/or "continuous" or "timed" mode selector, on the bottom -- you couldn't get to it while the rig was packed -- we normally set them 'continuous,' unless directed toward hostile environment ops. The beacon pocket sits high in the pack interior, and an activation plug (simply interrupts the "cocked," pre-armed & set signal circuit) lanyard is looped to the chute's folded/stowed risers. As the chute opens/deploys, the risers snap taught and the lanyard yanks the plug out... ELT "yelp" signal begins. Also, re the hostile area choices of an active signal (not encrypted on the ELTs), there was a pull tab on the side of the chute pack, integral to that plug-activation lanyard loop, that simply loosened the loop and prevented it from yanking the plug out during riser extension -- you intentionally did NOT to have an automatic beacon, then once on the deck and out of your harness, you pulled the beacon and could yank the plug and turn it on/off. The aerial antenna (one for the URT-33, and two for the later AN/URT-44, 406MHz beacon) ran from the top of the stowed beacon and up a narrow sleeve through the folded riser -- when the riser snapped taught, the tip of the antenna peeked out of the top, near the suspension line connectors... best, possible chance for a clean signal, as you came down. You wanted as much of it up high and clear, especially if you went into the drink. Unless you were left hanging high up somewhere, by your harness, you'd want to quick-release/un-ass yourself from being dragged or drowned. Non-ejection flotation was/still is the unwieldy, old LPU-10/P pair of under-arm cells, with a cumbersome, pain-in-the-ass wrap-around harness which interferes with a lot of your other flight suit/armor/mission-wear gear. Fighter/ ejection seat flotation rigs are a variety of "horse collar" LPUs, integral to your harness, which snaps into the seat-installed chute risers. (Our PJs use "PECI" flotation cells -- beer can size, clip-on cells with sturdy, yank-down activation lanyards, which you can move and adjust to fit whatever other gear your wearing...I really wished we could have gone to those --for everybody.) Our manual bailout chutes had standard (cam-over snaps and ring-pull) riser/canopy releases -- leaving you wearing just the harness and pack, containing your beacon, small pocket survival kit, MD-1 (ten minutes) O2 cylinder, Scot aneroid auto ripcord release system (14,000' release, plus-or-minus 1,000'), and your PLD (personnel lowering device) 150' nylon webbing line -- which was s-folded into a large pad/pocket, between you and the chute pack (kinda heavy & bulky) and could be removed for theater ops in areas without significant high terrain... like the desert. The canopies in aircrew egress rigs are almost all the classic, 28' C-9 multi-colored canopy, of which there are a ton of modifications for specific desires. Most fighter/ejection seat rigs have SEAWARS (sea water-activated release system) riser/canopy releases, which disconnect you upon immersion -- keeping you from being immediately dragged under by a windblown canopy... and buddy, you get yanked under fast, being dragged backwards by that big kite. I cannot recall if there is a similar system to activate the horse collar LPUs, especially if you're badly injured or unconscious. I know of an F-15 pilot who ejected at very high speed; I believe that hellish opening slipstream even shredded his mouth, so he could not later orally inflate part of his one-man raft (the main cell is CO2, but the tent-like spray shield and floor are oral). One of my (ex-fighter world) buddies knew him, and the gent later gave very credible been-there lectures. We began installing the (UHF) AN/URT-44 406MHz beacons in our (176WG Alaska ANG) chutes around 2012. As much as I was really glad and expecting greater reliability for aircrew survival -- especially in our high latitude/terrain daily ops world, where the older -33 beacon's signal was really degraded & the -44 beacon's pin-point GPS was acquired damn fast & accurately -- I watched a long, cascading shitshow of premature, rush-to-comply, often contradictory command guidance directives over fielding & installing these new beacons. The 'real world' failure events -- and too goddamn quick (AF) blame pointed at maintainers -- started coming fast and frequently. Wonderful, life-saving potential aside, it needed serious shake-down, but they flooded us way before they were proven. I really hope that the beacons have since evolved and work well. I had about 130 of them to install and maintain, and the Achilles Heel, weak components and unending battery & antenna failures had us in the middle of serious, up-chain complaints with the vendors. I loved the SARSAT/COSPAS immediate access database of who owned each beacon (especially a yelping one)... but my cold war upbringing and prior mil years still has me tight-jawed over sharing part of our E&E asset reliability/visibility with the Russians -- COSPAS is the Cyrillic half of the worldwide SARSAT thing. At Elmendorf AFB, the Rescue Coordination Center called the active duty aircrew flight equipment shop (2016) and advised that a beacon was active near them. A civilian supervisor sarcastically called me (inference being that it was the "dickhead air guard people") and claimed it "had to be one" of ours. I opened up the SARSAT site -- he had not -- and there was the active duty shop's chute number, yelping away for all to see... right next to the monthly report of how many OTHER false alarms they had been sustaining all along. I was, and still am, damn proud of my shop's good housekeeping history of having had only ONE inadvertent beacon in our history with the -44s.

[@nickpallitto1578]

Excellent explanation on the situation, no room for misunderstanding.