From 102038Z Apr 88, I gather that (a), the Intel bubba's don't want to
compromise sources and (b), they're goal is to characterize the
aggressiveness of the combatants--not report news.

a) That's right. All paragraphs including any kind of indication about
sources are deleted.

b) Could be - at least in that one case. I used it, however, rather for an
example of usual style in USN reports.

As to the "ridiculous" statement, the key word that you quoted from the
message was: "DETECTED." The SPEAR document apparently contains very
little interpretation and analysis.

Well, I guess this is a matter of standpoind. IMHO, there are still enough
guesses in the Speartip I mentioned above.

You state that the Iraqi pilot and the Iranian ace had a fight that
occurred
"in full view" of Navy surface ships. What does that mean? Were USN
crews
witnesses to the fight? If so, why did the Iraqi pilot spend so many days
in his raft?

Yep; the USN witnessed the fight. Unclear is only if they actually saw it or
tracked it on their radars. AFAIK, they did not notice ejection. Two days
later the pilot was found deeper inside the Hormuz Straits by other group of
USN vessels.

On the 18 March 1988 battle, you again use the phrase "in full view"
again.
Why would you think that they would see 5 AIM-54's? Why would you believe
"rumors" over the SPEAR message? Why do you suggest some sort of
conspiracy?

First I have to correct myself he the correct date of this battle is
March 19th, 1988.

From what I've learned so far on this and the previous two days there was a
small SAG centered around USS Guam (LPH-9) in the area between Khark Island
and Bahrain. What I'm sure of is that crews of these ships have withnessed
the Iraqi three-wave strike against Khark, flown in the early morning,
morning and afternoon of 18 March 1988, then after the success of the first
Iraqi strike specific skipper of one of USN warships declared the Iraqi
attack for, "deplorable by nature", and subsequently the whole SAG turned
around. When the next Iraqi wave (flown around 09:00hr AM local time)
appeared the IRIAF interceptors were airborne and the USN warships
recorded - I don't know yet by which means (if I would know this I would not
need any documents from ONI) - firings of five AIM-54s.

Now, it's not so that I'm "believing rumours over SPEAR message": I haven't
got any corresponding documents released.

My remark was in regards to the NAVOPINTCEN SUITLAND MD message 102038Z Apr
88 which is NOT mentioning this battle from 18 March 1988, even if it
mentions a number of other, smaller engagements. If you don't mind me
repeating the content of paragraph 5:

THE IRANIAN AIR FORCE WENT FOR OVER A YEAR FROM OCT 86 TO NOV 87 WITH OUT A
DETECTED AIR-AIR MISSILE FIRING. SUDDENLY IN NOVEMBER 87 F-4'S FROM BUSHEHR
ENGAGED IRAQI AIRCRAFT NORTH OF BANDAR KHOMEYNI WITH MULTIPLE AAM'S. IN
EARLY FEB 88 AN IRIAF F-14 APPARENTLY DOWNED AN F-1 SE OF FARSI ISLAND AND
ANOTHER F-14 FIRED AT TWO TARGETS 3 HOURS LATER. SINCE THEN BOTH F-4 AND
F-14 AIRCRAFT HAVE SHOWN AN INCREASED AGGRESSIVENESS AND WILLINGNESS TO
EMPLOY AAMS. MOST RECENTLY IN MID-MARCH AN F-14 DOWNED AN F-1 DURING AN
ATTACK ON KHARG ISLAND IN AND AN F-14 MAY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE A C-601
LAUCNHED FROM A H-6D. A BANDAR ABBAS F-4 POSSIBLY LAUNCHED AN AAM AGAINST
TWO F-1'S RTB AFTER A RAID ON LAVAN ISLAND IN EARLY APRIL.

As you can see, they mention a number of different engagements. The problem
is, however, they don't mention a number of other engagements.

For example, the only day in "early Feb 88" on which F-14s engaged Mirage
F.1s in two different engagements over the Persian Gulf was 9th of February.
That, however, is not a date I'd describe as "early February".

Besides, why is this report not mentioning air battles that occurred over
the Gulf on 2nd and 5th February? IMHO, this would really be "early Feb
88"...This is simply making me unsure if March 19th can be considered as
"mid-March".

If yes, there is no claim for downing of any IrAF Mirage F.1EQ known in
IRIAF on this date (not only in their F-14-, but also in F-4- or F-5
communities). One was shot down by Tomcats on 18th March (there are photos
of wreckage, name of captured IrAF pilot and corresponding narrative from
IRIAF pilot), but that was over central Iran, not over Khark. During the
strike on 19th March the IrAF Mirage units are not known to have suffered
any losses.

Re. "conspiracy": I wouldn't say there is a consipiracy. I'd only say that I
simply can't understand why should State Dept. keep USN documents back. Can
you say what could be a reason?

--
************************************************** ***********************
Tom Cooper
Freelance aviation journalist

Author:
- Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...hp/title=S7875

- Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...hp/title=S6550

- Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/titl...hp/title=S6585

- African MiGs
http://www.acig.org/afmig/

- Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988
http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php
************************************************** ***********************