F-4E at Incirlik during Desert Storm

[Rob van Riel]

I've found several references to an F-4E unit deployed at Incirlik
during DS, but I can't seem to find what they were doing there. All
other Phantoms were either taking snapshots or scrapping SAM sites,
but that's a job for RF-4C or F-4G types, not the E model. Does anyone
here know what they were doing?

Thanks

Rob

[Andre van der Hoek]

"Rob van Riel" > wrote in message
om...

> I've found several references to an F-4E unit deployed at Incirlik
> during DS, but I can't seem to find what they were doing there. All
> other Phantoms were either taking snapshots or scrapping SAM sites,
> but that's a job for RF-4C or F-4G types, not the E model. Does anyone
> here know what they were doing?

Rob,

these were F-4E's from the 3rd TFW, specialised in Pave Tack / GBU-15
operations. AFAUK, none were used operationally.

HTH,

Andre

[MM]

Rob,

According to a nice article in a past Smoke Trails article, six F-4E's
from the 3rd TFS/3rd TFW were deployed to Incirlik, but only four made
it to Incerlik on 2/20/91 (71-1086, 72-1407, 73-1198/9). The unit's
AVQ-26 Pave Tack pods were stuck in a transport at Hickam AFB, and did
not arrive in time for combat use.

The unit's first combat action occured on 2/22/91, when they flew AAA
suppressions missions for F-16's against Al Mosul, Iraq, with similiar
combat missions on 2/26 and 2/27.

Ordnance configurations were the same for all combat missions, all
aircraft:

- a single CBU-87/D on each of the inboard pylons, suspended from
'special weapon' adapter.

- AIM-9 missle rails were in place, but no Sidewinder missles were
carried

- AIM-7F's in the two rear Sparrow wells.

- deep ALQ-131(V)-14 in left front Sparrow well, right front well
unused.

- Two 370 gallon wing tanks, and F-15 style 600 gallon centerline tank.

A Pave Tack laser designation mission was set for 2/28/91, but was
canceled due to the cease fire. The aircraft were loaded, but did not
fly, with:

- Paveway GBU-10's mounted directly to the each inboard pylon

- AVQ-26 Pave Tack on centerline, replacing 600 gallon tank.


All aircraft were ARN-101/TISEO equipped.

The aircraft left Turkey on 3/19/91, and went directly to AMARC.

Hope that helps.

MM



In article >, Rob van
Riel > wrote:

> I've found several references to an F-4E unit deployed at Incirlik
> during DS, but I can't seem to find what they were doing there. All
> other Phantoms were either taking snapshots or scrapping SAM sites,
> but that's a job for RF-4C or F-4G types, not the E model. Does anyone
> here know what they were doing?
>
> Thanks
>
> Rob

[Ron]

I had no idea we had any F-4Es there taking part in DS. I did hear about some
F-4G strikes towards the end, when there werent any SEAD targets for them, and
they started to use them on strike missions, I believe using AGM-65s.


Ron
Pilot/Wildland Firefighter

[Thrill]

In article >,
Ron > wrote:
>I had no idea we had any F-4Es there taking part in DS. I did hear about some
>F-4G strikes towards the end, when there werent any SEAD targets for them, and
>they started to use them on strike missions, I believe using AGM-65s.
>
>
>Ron
>Pilot/Wildland Firefighter

The Incirlik F-4Gs started carrying AGM-65G Mavericks the last couple of weeks
of active shooting. They were not tasked as direct strike missions, but still
performed the SEAD mission first with a single HARM (plus the HARMs their
F-16C wingmen had) and would then shoot the Maverick on a carefully-studied
target after the main strike package was headed outbound.

Billy

[Rob van Riel]

MM > wrote in message >...
> << loads of useful info >>
> Hope that helps.

Thanks. That was exactly the sort of information I was looking for.

Rob