image via Tapiture
It was February 14th, 1991, and the Gulf War was in full swing. With the Iraqi Air Force too busy either testing their ejection seats, or crashing into the ground to put up a real fight, it was looking less and less like the brand new F-15E Strike Eagle would get it's first air-air kill. Fortunately, Captain's Tim Bennett and Dan Bakke put a stop to that nonsense and entered the history books at the same time by accomplishing a feat that has yet to be repeated.
They bombed another aircraft in mid-air.
image via F-15Einfo
Bennett and Bakke discussing how the laws of physics can suck a dick.
On this particular Valentine's Day, one American special forces team found itself in a less than ideal position; they were under attack from Iraqi special forces moving in on them via helicopters. Needing assistance, they called for air support. Bennett and Bakke were sent in.
Once they arrived they found the Iraqi choppers emptying troops to capture the American's. Quickly thinking, they decided to drop a bomb on the grounded aircraft.
image via Wikipedia
"This'll do the trick."
They lased the lead helicopter, in the process of dropping off Iraqi troops, and dropped a GBU-10 bomb. However , the helicopter then lifted off and began moving away. Bennett switched over to his air-air missiles while Bakke did his best to keep the laser on the helicopter, now moving over 100 knots.
After thirty seconds of waiting, and with the Iraqi troops continuing to close on the American's Bennett prepared to launch a missile when all of a sudden the sky lit up.The GBU-10 had made its target and literally vaporized it.
image via YouTube
Because overkill is underrated.
Bennett and Bakke had just successfully bombed one moving aircraft from another moving aircraft, a feat now know as "WTF" that has never been achieved since.
With the rest of the helicopters now fearful of unexpected vaporization, they left the area. The American special forces team made it out, and confirmed the kill, while Bennet and Bakke sit today as the only F-15E crew members to successfully down an enemy aircraft.
No comments:
Post a Comment