(Cockpit Recordings) F-16 gets hit by SAM..Pilot Ejects! (goosebumps guaranteed)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 พ.ค. 2024
- #Desertstorm #gulfwar #missiles #F16
On February 17th, 1991, Captain Scott "Spike" Thomas, with the 17th TFS, 363rd TFW, temporarily based at King Khalid Military City, was flying a night interdiction mission in his F-16C with the codename of "Benji 53". As the package was coming off of station (egress), his F-16 experience engine problems. Early reports suggested he had been hit by a Surface to Air Missile (SAM), but that has not been confirmed.
Thomas's wingman, 1st Lt Eric "Neck" Dodson, came to his aid and helped him nurse his plane closer to the Iraq-Saudi Arabia-Kuwait border, nearly 60 miles south of their position. Dodson assumed control of most radio communications between AWACs (call sign "Bulldog"), leaving Thomas free to fly his injured plane. Captain Thomas was attempting to make an emergency landing at Hafr Al-batin Air Base (at approximate co-ordinates 27°54′03″N, 045°31′41″E)
With less than 40 miles to go to the border, and his plane leaking what appeared to be fuel, Thomas and his wingman realize his F-16 beginning to develop a catastrophic engine fire. With a valiant effort to get as close as he could, Thomas finally decides to eject over enemy territory.
His radio contact was spotty once he was on the ground, but Search and Rescue helicopters (a package of 2 UH-60 Blackhawks and 1 MH-53J Pave Low, along with F-15E's providing Close Air Support), located his position roughly 2 hours later. The F-15E's were called in to engage an approaching Iraqi truck with cluster bombs during the extraction.
During debrief, it was realized that an SA-7 Surface to Air Missile (SAM) had been shot at the rescue helicopter in which Thomas was riding, but the missile was out of range and landed short. It was also learned that Thomas had less than 1 hour of freedom, as there were Iraqi troops within 2 miles of him in 2 different directions.
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Air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net
The positions of the aircraft may not be 100% accurate. Only involved aircraft are shown. Animations are based on air traffic control communications and data from flight tracking services.
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Great video. Would like to see where the enemy lines were, airbase he was trying to get to, etc.
Thank you sir. Well noted
They're over the Iraqi deserts just 60km NW of the Kuwait border, about 200km north of the Saudi airbase Hafar Al Batin (where they were heading). Bagdad is 450km NW, but they're probably well within 100km of air defenses to the north.
Why show him in an F-15? The other plan Benji31 looks like an F-35.
A phenomenal look into what the training these pilots go through enables them to do when there’s a problem!
Coordinated brilliance!
I’ll post a picture for you right now in my Community section. I have an overlay that covers this area.
you can tell the wingman SOLID, really spoke up for the younger guy when he couldnt.
Agree 👍
Forward to 1:45 in this video to hear another pilot, who was up there that night, describe how GREAT this guy was that night:
th-cam.com/video/pI3SyP4kX68/w-d-xo.html
No Top Gun BS, just sober professionalism. Very nice
Sir yes sir!
This is called teamwork.
I salute Spike, my former commander. Never has there been a better pilot, or commander. Cheers for the rescue team.
Brave man
@@Flight_Follower5 by 5 on that remark, Sir & God bless our brave servicemen & women 🇺🇸 ❤
Any word on if Spike is still with us, and, if so, what he's up to these days?
@@michelm.6033 Oh, come on... Nothing wrong with sharing his tax ID #, and maybe some private banking info! (kidding!)
Thanks for the follow-up.
Thank you for your service. 🇺🇸
Just listening to the conversation between these pilots makes the hair stand on my arms. These men are so intelligent and courageous and deserve respect. You can hear and feel the brotherhood going on.
35 years ago. It isnt the same now
That is what all of us call "THE RIGHT STUFF!" I salute them all. Retired Navy 1964-95. OLD but still kickin.
Trying to find folks that knew sr. Rear Chief Remington . I'd like to find stories for his grandson .
God bless you, Sir
Were you on the USS Reeves by any chance? And USS Kitty Hawk before that?
Thanks for your service
Massive respect,sir
I could feel the tension. Great to know the pilot was rescued. Awesome wrk by the wingman who showed true leadership.
His wingman was brave
“Bummer dudes”
I felt that
😂🤣
what does it mean?
How incredibly calm they are in such a tense moment ! These guys are proper
1:27 gave me the goosebumps
that tiny little bit of hope he clings onto knowing theres a chance
and immediately relays that to his wingman whos totally and 100% confidently alongside him both physically and now mentally
Wherever your at is where I’m at. Within reason, I’ll always give you a reality check if you need it & im not a “yes” man but usually your pretty much on the same page & then that type of instant, 100% confident physically & now mentally Ik where your at & am w you & ik you’d do the same for me.
Sorry to go off topic but It’s extremely rare to have that kind of relationship & its one of the best feelings on earth when you have it. Life has since happened for me & I miss that kind of brotherhood, now I’ve only got a few bestfriends who we’re still like that but not as on the same page anymore since we’re not together 24/7 anymore but still brothers.
Thoroughly in awe of these heroes. My heart rate is so high. God bless all of you, young and old. All my love and respect. 🫡 ❤
🫡
One of the best videos on YT right here. I got to live the dream and was fortunate enough to never be tested like this but man, do I miss that life when I see this stuff.
Spike was always a stud. Football player at the Academy. Cover of Sports Illustrated. I think he was actually draft by the NFL. Cool under pressure. I think there’s a picture of him with President Bush. Rumor is that he told him something like, “ we both have one more takeoff than landing, Mr President”
Nice! The true meaning of “no man left behind”. Nice call on mentioning the choppers. Great call on not sqwacking emergency. God bless all those who serve.
so cringe when people say "god bless" this and "god bless” that.
@@guaporeturns9472God Bless you.
@@guaporeturns9472 sounds like you have a personal quarrel with God. May God bless you with eyes to see and a warmer open heart. May God bless all of those who serve!
@@jsh4401 God is a manmade pacifier , nothing more. No quarrel to be had.
And I feel so sad for the kids that join the military with the most honorable intentions and end up doing the bidding of our dirty , corrupt country in far away lands.
@@guaporeturns9472 Still, may God bless those who serve and have already served.
He was not hit by a SAM, he was having engine problems (he was getting good RPM from his engine but it just wasn't putting out thrust like it should, and it only got worse). This incident is well-published, I read an account of US Navy, USAF, and RAF ejections. There's also a published magazine article on what happened.
Thank you for your service and I'm so proud you made it home.... My dad was flying out of KKMC at the same time... Combat scouts
Incredible professionalism in the face of disaster. We are so proud of our military and your courage. All I can say is, Thank you !
One thing that respect about the American military is they look after their own, what ever the cost, a solid brotherhood. I live in near a small military town in Canada , and love to chat with the American soldiers when they are in town. They even let my young nephew hop inside their hummer for a pic as I was about to snap pic another soldier said hold on a sec , reached over and put a bit of camo face paint on his cheeks then I took the picture. He was pumped for weeks after and fought to keep the camo on his face for as long as his mom would let him haha 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 ❤️
Best! Thanks for sharing
Exactly. "You want a chopper?" 👉 he gets a chopper
Damn that 6mins of full attention and concentration. Thank you for your service!
Thank you for your service
Wow. Intense. Thank you so much for everyone's service to our nation !!
Well trained professionals, glad they're on my side!
That's some scary stuff. I was amazed they mobilized helicopters to come get him so quickly.
Active warzone, they would have likely been sitting on alert waiting for something like this.
Im amazed they where not already in the air and the wingman had to request it.
Ops staff was sleeping
@@scp8412 HUA
really? I'm surprised it took them so long. "Do you want helicopters?" "What do you mean do I want helicopters? YES"
God bless each and every hero that was truly heart pounding stuff right there!!! The calm & professionalism in their voices blew my mind, all he wanted to know was when the fire started so he could bail, an the wingman...jus solid all the way around!!!
Wow, absolutely heroic. Just..wow.👍
🇺🇸 ❤ God bless our brave servicemen and women and thank Q for your service we are forever in your debt.❤ 🇺🇸
Thank you for your service!! Glad to see no one was harmed.
What an AWESOME wingman, keeping a step ahead and staying.
Wow. That was tense.
Thanks. Good to know u liked it
Makes me want to watch TopGun again ….. Never leave your wingman Mavrick
Brilliant togetherness and team work.
Our military has the best trained pilots in the world.
Flying the best aircraft in the world.
Wow. Hopefully you made it home safe buddy. God Bless!!!!
I hope pilot was ok! Shows us how dangerous it can be I salute all service members! Thank you!
"Are yoy gonna need a chopper?"
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? THAT WAS ALL HEARD. WTH MAKES THEM THINK IT WASNT NEEDED ALREADY!!??
Totally, unacceptable for ops to not react on their own.
Yeah I know, also there was a question "are you solo"... like... they are on the frequency, who the F do they think is falling back to take a look at his engine? Terrible situational awareness.
Well done - sobering to realize this was just one single incident on one single mission . . . and they flew thousands and thousands of sorties! Talk about grace under pressure!
You guys are amazing, and that is something that I would almost never say.
I was at Hafr Al Batin in Feb 91 in that area.
I can't believe that, while in a marginal thrust situation, Benji 53 was recommended to extend flaps for increased lift! Yes, flaps will improve lift but the cost is increased drag and the plane will not go further, it will go less far. I doubt there's any airplane that will go farther with flaps down vs flaps up.
My thoughts exactly! Flaps add lift & drag, reduce range.
I was thinking why not gain altitude while you had the engines running to get more potential energy to go further...but not sure if he had the thrust to climb or if that puts you in harms way with SAMs. I guess we need expert mil pilots to comment, as I'm just a PPL / ULM
“bummer dude”
There's no finer definition of an American fighter pilot for a wing Man than this Gentleman!!!
UKN1 is actually BENJI 51 and the wingman of BENJI 53 is BENJI 54, not BENJI 31. They're a flight of four, BENJI 51 through 54. The very first radio call by UKN1 is actually BENJI 51 calling BENJI 53 ("BENJI 3, 1 Victor"). At 03:39, BENJI 51 is calling BENJI 54 ("BENJI 4, 1").
Thank you sir. Really appreciated
Good stuff guys, nice work.
Glad you enjoyed it
Outstanding! ❤
Glad you like it!
cool video ty for sharing
Thanks for watching!
These guys are next level!! Great teamwork!!
We agree!
I worked on these planes and with these pilot at Shaw just prior to this deployment
Good to know sir. Good part is the pilot was rescued
I remember this. We were at KKMC at the time.
I was with 3RD BDE 3RD INF DIV which replaced 1ST BDE 1ST ARMOR DIV. We were in FAA Garcia not far from Hafar Albatin and Wadi Albatin when this happened. I remember hearing the ALO talk about it in the TOC. After all these years of now have a Callsign to go with the story.
4:04 yea... no, thanks.
Why do they not want to do that?
@@RussellTurman Because they would show up on the enemy's radar. They were flying over enemy territory (Iraq). Now, one could make the assumption that they (Iraq) wouldn't respond to the emergency by providing them with a safe runway to land but rather with a ground to air missile straight to their face.
Wingman kept him chilled great job
Amazing video... our very best right here.
Thank you, sir. Glad u liked it
.. intense...it's what wingmen do...these jocks are tight, band of brothers .. stay till you get'm out 💖
Professionalism in action. Nice job from both pilots.
OMGsh, my heart about beat out of my chest. Be Blessed my friends
Thanks for sharing, did Thomas get a red barreled MBII?
The rescue chopper boys are all living heros aforce trains at kalispel mountain and is the best of the best that go on for air and sea cimbat survival and rescue well done boyz
BEN 31 amazing composure, situational awareness, and leadership
Thank you to the brave who fight for us everyday.
Imagine havin a bro like that
U don’t need anything if u have a bro like this 😇
Remarkable jet, engine was on fire fuel leaking everywhere and yet it stayed together long enough to let the pilot eject safely.
Reminds me of the last 20 minutes of the film "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" where William Holden says "yea, I'll make it" (the boarder)
“I’m with you all the way.” Wow
Thanks
WOW - Scary stuff...
Kudos to Benji is a damn good wingman. Benji and Homer both stayed calm even though the pucker factor was pegged at 11. God bless these guys.
2 hours to rescue him is longer than I was expecting.
That was intense.
Frickin STUDS
I’m filing a guaranteed goosebumps claim and I want my money back. No goosebumps for me 😂. In all seriousness, good video!
Glad to know u loved it 😊
Thank You for your story. Cheers Warriors! USN8300 30 and Out.
dont they have PTT? or is it full duplex all the time?
4:18 whenever benji referred to bulldog if calling out an emergency was a good idea, considering they were in enemy territory (that’s all I can think of), that must have been such a surreal moment. You know you’re not going to make it to the border and you are overhead enemy troops and if you call mayday or emergency then that will alert the enemy to scramble their resources to try and kill the “invAder”. That must have been such a scary and unreal moment that he had to of been going through. Wondered how or where he hid or what tactics he used to stay hidden while he awaited transport. I am seriously just picturing a “Behind Enemy Lines” situation that probably happened to Ben 53(Homer) 3:28 and then when Ben 31 said that the area was clear with threats. Did he mean that if their man was captured that they are clear with what is going to happen? I can’t imagine what he was experiencing.
Harrowing and Impressive.
Very interesting video. What surprised me tho, is that the pilot dropped the flaps for more lift. In the planes I flew however (and the theory I've learned) the best glide distance is always achieved with a clean configuration (flaps 0°). It might be different for warplanes as their wings are designed for supersonic speeds and dont glide well at subsonic.
Interesting!
It wasn't the glide that was the issue, it was the fire?
@@jacob1029 Yeah but the secondary issue was to make it across the border of enemy territory?
That is what TEAMWORK is. More people need to learn how to work as a team.
Cool courage❤
4:18 whenever benji referred to bulldog if calling out an emergency was a good idea, considering they were in enemy territory (that’s all I can think of), that must have been such a surreal moment. You know you’re not going to make it to the border and you are overhead enemy troops and if you call mayday or emergency then that will alert the enemy to scramble their resources to try and kill this “invAder”
beautiful
Thank you! 😊
Always Loyal, Always Faithful!😎
Yeah 👍
I guess that blows my flat tire last week on the highway right out of proportion....
Our Service Members are all fucking amazing! Awesome to learn everyone was ok.
I'm retired USAF AMEN SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏💯💯🌵🤠
Even though the outcome was known was anybody else willing him to get over the boarder???? Goosebumps indeed
Both dudes were classmates of mine at USAFA and Thomas was a teammate as well. First rate both of them. Really cool picture in Air Force magazine of George Bush with his arms around the shoulders of both aviators.
Bad ass wingman
Loved this guy. He is awesome 🫡
Ben 31 is working this situation hard, doing a great job.
So nice these guys sound like the people i play games with xD
I got hit with AA in Afghanistan and a missle took out one of my engines. The other was smoking. My wings looked like Swiss cheese. My wingman ejected. Somehow I made it home on a prayer. I was praying God don’t let me eject and I’ll give you all the credit. Jesus is Lord my friends.
Amazing testimony!
Jesus is Lord of all!
Source: Trust me bro.
Liar
somebody said...."liar"
“Ask God to move a mountain into the sea, and if you believe it, it will happen” - Yeshua
All in a days work for our military 🙌
Yeah 👍
God bless the military!!!!
God bless
wow...thats something that he will never forget, amazing stuff, amazing how those radios are so clear and highly trained guys, thank God he made it safely..Hollywood Movie, based on similar events.Benji jumps into enemy territory, captured and tortured, escapes and kills enemy president who is an expert hand to hand combat, on his way out of enemy territory he is rescued by American helicopters, only to find out they are a rogue unit of a Commander who wants to overthrow the American government..Benji 2 coming soon
how did this guy not realize he got hit by a surface to air missile? you would think he would notice. but he just noticed his airsped decreasing...
He said “bummer” 🤣 love military guys gotta be humorous lol
At first I thought the pilot's breathing sounded shallow and labored but it never changed intensity or cadence all the way to the eject.
I am unaware of any airbase at Hafir Al Batin. Fairly sure they are referring to the airfield 2 miles east at Al Quesuma where I was at with my army aviation battalion
This was 91, you were serving at the time?
@@jessicaregina1956 yes. I do remember an F-16 having to divert there once the two are close together with nothing but desert out there so they just probably assume it’s part of that town.
Solid piece of airman ship and great Ground to air communication!!!..Team work!!🙏
Yes indeed!
Yes indeed!
Tho not alone.
Also really alone.
All at the same time.
God bless the pilot n god bless the usa.
I didn’t know Live ATC was around back in 1991.
Its uploaded on their website
Audio source is liveatc
I'm guessing his titanium balls were not helping to stay up.
Agreed 👍
Goosebumps confirmed
100% 😎
“Doug, i I’m not gonna make it…
CHAPPY!!!!”
Intense.