With the release of Janes F15 and its complex mission editor, it was only a matter of time before some custom missions hit the net. So I downloaded one of the new ones out there and took it for a spin. Here is a debrief on a hair raising mission by Kevin "Viper" Buchanan that increased the pucker factor a few.

Raid on New Kabbash

Take off and formation flight for the first 5 minutes was un-eventful and very routine. Our flight of 4 F15Es were in a tight Vee formation heading to our target at 10,000 feet cruising around 375kts. Our mission was to knock out a suspicious "Oil" refinery in New Kabbash , Iraq. Saddam has once again refused to allow UN inspectors in to inspect the refinery. Satellite imaging revieled heavy truck activity in the area and suspicious oil tanks around the vacinity. So we were here to take it out and show Saddam were serious this time.

At waypoint two I ordered my flight to change into a trail formation and we made our way down into the weeds. Flying at 400kts at 300ft is always a rush and especially when your hands off, allowing the Terrain Following radar to guide your Eagle over the sand. Before "Fence In" I checked my bomb load and programmed the computer to release all 6 MK84's at the same time with a 80ft separation. Set the TEWS for Semi automatic mode so it would jam enemy radar as needed. Even though we had Escort F15s and F4 Wild Weasel's accompaning us I switched off my radar to reduce detection.

Fence In

Around 60 miles from our target things started getting exciting. Crystal Palace (AWACS patrol) called out new airborne threats and a few more threats off to our right but still far enough away not to get too concerned and our Escort flight would take care of them. Gulf flight (Wild Weasels) called out some Mud Spikes just ahead. About the same time my WSO screamed out "Mud Spike" and then a few seconds later Missile launch at 1 o'clock! I immediately took the F15 off autopilot and put the missile abeam us and tried to get as close to the ground as I could.

When it looked like the missile was not going to break lock I pulled hard into it while punching out chaff. The seven-G turn was gut wrenching and we fought to maintain consciousness. Then there was a sudden rock and explosion from the right rear and my Master caution panel lit up like a Christmas tree. We had taken a hit in our right engine, not good. Betty started warning me of a Fire in the right engine as I struggled to gain control.

Not wanting to get another missile up my tailpipe I put us down at 100 feet and then concentrated on the damage. I engaged the right engine fire extinguisher and then spooled down the right engine. This was going to be a tough way to make a bombing run! I thought about jettisoning my A/G ordinance and aborting my attack but then thought of all the people that might be hurt if I didn't hit my target, so I pressed on!

Thirty miles to target I switched on my A/G radar and made a slight turn to the left to start taking patch maps of the target area. After the first patch map I told my flight to engage their primary targets. Their voices responded calmly in perfect training unison, "Two's in Hot" etc… Once we got our final patch map and designated our target I punched in the after burner and headed towards the target area. I was only getting 325 knots out of her with one engine. "Lots of AAA ahead", my WSO called as I switched on the Master Arming switch.

"Ones in Hot", this was gonna be a pucker factor of about 9+. Tracers were arching up all over and around the target! Then Two and Three called out "Bombs gone" and seconds later the flash and explosions as their bombs ripped through their primary targets. Lots of fire and smoke with secondary explosion surrounded the area and I was going to go right through it! Time to release was 25 seconds. I was going to have to rely on my system release clock for pickle since I couldn't see my target. Then everything went black and I released my load of six BLU84's with a thump. The explosion that followed was one of gruesome beauty. I definitely would not want to be on the receiving end of this flight.

I picked up speed since we were now lighter and jinked to the right to get away from the area. A few seconds later I heard the thump, thump, thump of AAA hit our F15 and my WSO yelled to get us out of here. Just my luck I flew right over an AAA trap and the Iraqi's knocked out a few more of my systems. At ten miles out I checked my Master Caution panel and assessed the carnage. So far we had taken hits in our NAV FLIR pod, Left Generator, all our MFD's were not functioning and our right engine was out of commission. Then Four called "Bombs Gone" and immediately after, called Defensive SAM. A few seconds later Four radioed in they had taken severe damage and were punching out. At the same time Three called in their position and requested SAR from the AWAC's.

Forty miles out we had regrouped at 3,000 feet and were heading for home. I had to trim up the rudders to maintain level flight and compensate for our Right engine being disabled. "Thank God we have two engines", I said to my WSO. Then just when I was going to "Knock on wood", Betty called out in calm panic, AMAD (Airframe Mounted Accessory Drive) Fire! This is getting ugly fast! I told my WSO to prepare for the worst and I hit the AMAD Extinguisher switch. As I expected we were dead stick and no power.... I ran through the ejection checklist and hit the silk!

This is just an example of what to look forward to in months to come. Soon I predict a whole slew of missions out on the Internet for all of us to enjoy. You can download "Raid on New Kabbash," the first in a new "Operation Desert Sword" series by clicking HERE. Have fun and Check six. Awol out!