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They have flown MiG-23's recently(at least they did lastSept

Posted by Richard Allnutt on Thu Apr 03, 2003 08:31:54 PM

In reply top Re: Air Field Strikes posted by Mike Henniger on Thu Apr 03, 2003 07:53:46 AM

Check out the Air Force Monthly magazine on the news stand now. In the "Write-off" section is an interesting bit on a MiG-23 incident last september. Apparently a group of them were taking off on a bombing exercise in central Iraq, when one of them broke away from the formation and tried to attack a presidential palace that the pilot supposedly knew Saddam Hussein was occupying. The aircraft didn't get to drop its weapon though, as it was shot down before it could. The pilot made the unfortunate decision to bale out. He was caught, and personally "interrogated" by Saddam himself, before being burnt alive in front of his fellow airmen to teach them a lesson.

I didn't see this report anywhere else in the news, but it does prove that they have been flying combat aircraft there recently. I would imagine that they are still capable of mounting a significant number of aircraft, but it would be a suicide mission for the pilots without a doubt, especially without any C-cubed.

That being said though, I somehow doubt that any of the older MiGs or hunters were in any way operational, but were merely airfield decoys. In a war though, especially one like this, I can't imagine you can afford to take chances on them not being operable in some fashion. Oh well, hope our boys and girls come home safe, and soon.

R.

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