Desert storm Iraqi Air Force Losses (Claimed vs Actual )

[oldiaf]

The 3 downed on Jan 26 or the 2 downed on Jan 28/29 were BN ?
Squadron 73 was operating BN or ML ?
MiG-23 squadrons were only 63 and 73 ?

[tomcooper]

Pilots belong to 47Sq but they flew from Almrsnh airfield 22Km Northwest H3 where the F-7B was operated there...

...sigh... (indeed: :faceslap:)

For most of their 'career' in Iraq, F-7Bs served as advanced trainers - either at Tikrit or at H-2.

Nobody really liked them. F-7Bs were generally of such poor quality, so trouble-prone, and so poorly armed, the IrAF even left Soviets overhaul six old MiG-21Fs (Fs!!! - admittedly, all were brought to F-13 standard before delivery to Iraq, back in 1966) because these were more reliable but F-7Bs.

But you want to dream about No. 47 Squadron - probably the proudest (and most successful) IrAF MiG-21-unit of the 1980s (and the first one to equip its MiG-21bis' with Matra R.550 Magic Mk.1 AAMs) - fly F-7Bs in 1991...?

such as Major. Ali Hussein Fadel and Capt. Mohammed Saleem from 89Sq air defence but flew two Mirage F1EQ4s to 79Sq Ground attack Squadron and same case with Capt. Saad Nehme F.lieutenant. Hussein Abdul Sattar

...what do you actually want to say here?

BTW, No. 79 Squadron was an interceptor unit. It was established as an interceptor unit in 1981, and didn't fly a single ground attack sortie until February 1984. Reason: Mirage F.1EQ/EQ-2 (original version acquired by Iraq in period 1979-1982) was a pure interceptor with minimal air-to-ground capability - and No. 79 Squadron was equipped with this variant.

The unit received a - secondary - ground attack role only in 1984, when deployed to attack IRGC troops that were advancing through Howeizeh Marshes using (Saudi-supplied) Mk.84 bombs equipped with (South-African-made) Jupiter fuzes.

It was latter units that received different other roles, because they were equipped with Mirage F.1EQ-4s (multi-role), EQ-5s (anti-ship) and EQ-6s (multi-role, with anti-ship capability included, but foremost 'important' for compatibility with Super 530D MRAAM).

Arguably, No. 79 was partially re-equipped with few examples of latter variants, i.e. with few Mirage F.1EQ/EQ-2s upgraded to EQ-6 standard during repairs and overhauls in France (1988-1990). But, air defence remained its primary role in 1991 too.

All of this should be something a 'former Iraqi Mirage pilot' should know by his heart...

[tomcooper]

I also have aquestion regarding the first day : What was the thinking of the Iraqi AF by sending old MiG-21s against modern US aircrafts ?!!

There were still about 60 MiG-21s in service with four squadrons as of 1991.

What the IrAF thought about them? They were obsolete, sure, and most were worn out too (nearing the stage at which they would require complete overhaul to remain in service; MiG-21 simply has a very limited 'shelf life'), but they were dependable, simple to maintain and operate, beloved and highly popular too. And, due to the simplicity of their avionics, they could scramble at a very short note (faster than Mirage F.1, for example.

So, they remained in service: not as 'first line of defence', but still in service, and as such they were used when there was that one opportunity.

In comparison: F-7B was never used in combat.

[tomcooper]

The 3 downed on Jan 26 or the 2 downed on Jan 28/29 were BN ?
Squadron 73 was operating BN or ML ?
MiG-23 squadrons were only 63 and 73 ?

There was only one MiG-23BN unit: No. 49 Squadron (this unit had a reputation of something like 'punishment legion', i.e. was mainly staffed by pilots of suspected loyalty).

MiG-23MLs were flown by three units (No. 73 was the first, followed by No. 63 and No. 93).

The other two MiG-23-units were No. 39 Squadron (re-equipped with MiG-29s in 1988-1990 period) and No. 59 Squadron (which served as OCU and was equipped with a mix of MiG-23MS, MiG-23MFs, and MiG-23UBs).

[oldiaf]

The 3 downed on Jan 26 or the 2 downed on Jan 28/29 were BN ?
Squadron 73 was operating BN or ML ?
MiG-23 squadrons were only 63 and 73 ?

There was only one MiG-23BN unit: No. 49 Squadron (this unit had a reputation of something like 'punishment legion', i.e. was mainly staffed by pilots of suspected loyalty).

MiG-23MLs were flown by three units (No. 73 was the first, followed by No. 63 and No. 93).

The other two MiG-23-units were No. 39 Squadron (re-equipped with MiG-29s in 1988-1990 period) and No. 59 Squadron (which served as OCU and was equipped with a mix of MiG-23MS, MiG-23MFs, and MiG-23UBs).

Total MiG-23s was 53 at 91 in all these 5 squadrons or exluding BN ?
How many BN at 1991 ?
2002 plot to kill Saddam was real ? Squadron 49 ? Who was the pilot ? And how he knew about that Saddam was at tharthar lake palace ?

[oldiaf]

On Feb 7 :
Rick Parson downed Su-7 with his F-15 from 58/33 using AIM-7 while his wingman Anthony Murphy downed 2 Su-22 also using AIM-7s ... These 3 SUs were flying to Iran.
Also on the same day : Randy May flying also F-15 from 22/36 downed a Mi-24 using AIM-7

[oldiaf]

Feb 11 1991
2 F-15 from 525/36 flown by Steve Dingee and Mark Mckenzie shut downed 2 Mi-8 helicopters using AIM-7

[tomcooper]

Total MiG-23s was 53 at 91 in all these 5 squadrons or exluding BN ?

53 - excluding BNs. No clue how many of latter were still around.

2002 plot to kill Saddam was real ? Squadron 49 ? Who was the pilot ? And how he knew about that Saddam was at tharthar lake palace ?

Really, no idea.

I only recall there was a coup attempt, nothing else.

On Feb 7 :
Rick Parson downed Su-7...

Last Su-7s were withdrawn from service in the early 1980s. The last operational examples served with...I think it was No. 8 Squadron at the start of the war with Iran. That unit was an OCU for Su-22-squadrons.

In 1981 or 1982, Egyptians dumped about 30+ of their remaining Su-7BMKs in Iraq, but these were all badly worn out and used as decoys only.

Overall, IrAF was never very pleased about the Su-7: it might have ordered as many as 100, back in the late 1960s, but collected less than 40. It was happy to replace it with Su-20s and then Su-22 at the first opportunity.

[oldiaf]

Feb 14 1991
The famous GBU-10 Kill .. An F-15E from 335/4 Crew Bennet / Bakke downed an Iraqi helicopter with LGB , F-15E locked it while it was on the ground , but the Helicopter took-off but the LBG hit it nontheless ... The accident witnessed by SOF team on the ground

[oldiaf]

Feb 15 1991
Todd Sheehy flying A-10A from 511 TFS / 10 TFW downed a helicopter Mi-8 using GAU-8 30 mm gun

[nikolaos]

Excellent thread.
Will the presentation of Iraqi sorties by day be continued?

[mixelflick]

Feb 15 1991
Todd Sheehy flying A-10A from 511 TFS / 10 TFW downed a helicopter Mi-8 using GAU-8 30 mm gun

God, now THIS would have been something to see! Maybe even worse than an A-10 using a GAU-8 to take out... a Taliban motorcyclist! You absolutely have to see this, to believe it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX3eEGtFzXs

[oldiaf]

Excellent thread.
Will the presentation of Iraqi sorties by day be continued?

Yes ... As far I have of Informations

[oldiaf]

After establishing the north and south No fly zones ... The Iraqi AF didn't recognize these zones and begin penetrating both zones ... So on March 20 1991 ... Su-22 penetrated the northern no fly zone ... An a F-15C on CAP from 22 TFS/33 TFW Pilot John Doneski used AIM-9M to shoot it down ...

[oldiaf]

2 days later on March 22 another Su-22 penetrated the northern zone this one was downed by F-15C Thomas Dietz using a sidewinder .. A trainer aircraft PC-9 was accompanying the Su-22 ... Its pilot after realizing he was cornered by 2 F-15C ejected by himself !! The kill was awarded to Bob Hehemann ... Both Dietz and Hehemann were from 53 TFS / 36 TFW