Luftwaffe 14th Fighter Squadron
Kwang-Ju airbase Korea
12 December, 2004
With the United States fully engaged in Iraq, the North Korean leadership decided to accelerate it Nuclear weapons program against the will of the United Nations and particularly South Korea and Japan. Continued lobbying by the South Koreans resulted in numerous resolutions condemning the actions of the North. However, the threat of action by the UN has proven to be nothing more than a threat and with China’s threatened VETO of any resolution for action, North Korean was emboldened to continue it program.
Without warning the North tested it latest missile the No-dong III which flew over the Japanese Island and landed in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This test causes great concern for all nations within range, including the United States where parts of Alaska and Hawaii would fall under the range of the North Korean Missile, and increased pressure was placed on the UN to act…while the UN continued to debate, European nations took the first proactive measures, buy starting to rotate air assets into the theater. These assets included of air power from the German Luftwaffe, the Royal Air Force, the French Air Force, the French Navy, the Spanish, Belgians, Swedes, and a small air contingent of American Marine AV8Bs flying from an amphibious carrier off the eastern sea coast. This was soon followed by a naval blockade by the American Navy. This further isolated an already isolated nation.
Interpreting these movements as an “imminent threat” the north mobilized its forces in preparation for the invasion of the south. Before the UN Security Counsel Park, Hei Jun called the movement by NATO a gathering threat that must be responded to in an aggressive and unambiguous manner “for the security of the North Korean people” five minutes after the delivery of this speech North Korean forces streamed south of the 38th parallel driving the South Korean Army south several miles. With the fall of Seoul in just a matter of hours the North had seized the initiative and the South Korean Army had fallen back into secondary defensive position. Bolstered by the NATO air forces gathered on the peninsula the Republic of Korea (ROK) army was able to hold position while consolidating for an offensive. The promise of US and NATO ground forces buoyed their confidence but as of yet these forces had not arrived. While the North Korean drive stalled, the south launched a massive counter strike with the aim of retaking Seoul. NATO air would play a significant role in this action.
Day three, the North Korean offensive has stalled and the South has launched a counter offensive across all areas of the front. In support of this action we have been task to strike deep behind enemy lines to disrupt the enemy’s ability to conduct air operations in support of their defensive and offensive operations. The strike will be on the airbase at Suwon, home base for a squadron of MIG21s and SU7s. In addition to damaging the enemies ability to operate effectively we hope to deal a significant blow to the enemy morale.
I will lead a flight of four Luftwaffe Euro fighter EF 2000 aircraft. This conflict represents the first combat that this type has seen. From our previous type (the Tornado) this platform is a considerable upgrade in all areas and thus far the plane has exceeded all expectations. Our flight will be the pointed end of the spear on this mission as we will execute the ground strike. However, we will not be alone for this mission. The Belgian Air Force will supply a flight of four F16Cs to provide protection from enemy land based air defenses. They will be designated as Cobra2, and another four airplanes (Talon11 - 14) from our Swiss colleagues will fly high cover and keep the enemy MIGS off our asses. For this mission we are Charger1 through Charger4. Even with the aforementioned insurance I deviate from our standard load-out and add a pair of High-speed Anti Radiation Missiles (HARM) to give the flight a little added protection.
0745, “Charger1 you are cleared for takeoff, runway 27 right, winds out of the north at 7 knots, it is 14 degrees, contact eyeball1 once clear of Kwang-Ju airbase, good luck sir.” I nudge the throttles forward just a bit bringing my EF to a slow roll onto the active runway. Aligning myself up with the center-line I scan my gauges one final time before departure. My engine hums beneath me as I look over to my right and see the others in my flight, “beautiful looking airplanes but brutal in their task” I think as I admire the lines of the Euro-fighter and take in the deadly cargo of bombs and missiles hanging beneath each plane. Returning to the job at hand I slowly advance the throttle to full military power and then further still into full after burner. My plane lurches forward initially but soon smoothes out as it accelerates down the runway. The thrust is tremendous. My head pushed firmly into the headrest, I accelerate down the runway passing through 150 knots in a matter of a few seconds. 160…170, I rotate the nose skyward. My bird gently lifts off the runway and I establish a 5 degree climb out. Pulling out of burner, I rotate the undercarriage into the stowed position and initiate a left hand turn onto a course of 045 degrees towards the second steer-point. I listen as the rest of my flight breaks ground and turns to join me. I reach the rally point several minutes ahead of schedule so I turn into a circular pattern around the second steer-point to allow my wing dogs to catch up. This only takes one complete circle and the rest of my flight has joined. “Charger1 arrow formation, close in” I command as I break the circle and head north for enemy territory.
Together we head north at angels 25. Off to our left about 1 mile behind I can see another flight of four EFs. This should be Talon1, our escort for the day. As we approach the third steer-point I reach out for all elements of our package to check in. “Charger1, package check”. Talon1 in position, Cobra2 in position” is the response from the other elements. Off to our high left is our escort and slightly below and behind them is our SEAD escort. Things are looking good, time to do some business. I flick up my master arm switch and go into air-to-air mode, my radar scanning for contacts 40 miles out. I have some intermittent contacts out at 40 miles, about 20 miles before our IP. I attempt to gain a lock so I can attempt to identify but I cannot hold a lock long enough to determine the type of airplane. Since we should have nothing operating in that area, I assume them to be enemy. Talon1 must have made the same assumption as they sprint forward in an aggressive manner, two high and two low. On our common frequency I listen as the battle unfolds. It seems the contacts are a pair of enemy MIG29s, a formidable opponent. I listen and watch as Talon1 separates the pair and launching AMRAAMs into their formation from 20 miles out. Another flight of EFs from our squadron also engaged the enemy formation.
Miles ahead I can see a fireball and debris falling to ground. This is followed shortly thereafter by another fireball, I listen as Talon rejoins as a formation and heads for the target area to begin their sweep.
We are still some miles out from the IP but should be coming under the SAM umbrella of the target defenses. The Belgians set up their attack.
“HARM, HARM, HARM, HARM” missile trails arch high into the morning sky as a salvo of deadly Anti Radiation missiles streaks towards their targets. By this point we are approaching the IP. I punch up my HARM Targeting System (HTS) and scan all the radar emitters out near the target…”damn, lots of radars out there” I think as I lock onto an 2 symbol on my HTS. “Attack my target” I give the command to my number three and four. Quickly I lock onto a search radar (S symbol) and give the command “attack targets” to my number two. The site is well within range so I squeeze the pickle to release my first HARM. The flash from the ignition of the missile illuminates my cockpit momentarily. Watching my HTS, I notice several of the radar emitting targets cease to emit, I pick a remaining target and release my final missile. As it streaks off towards its intended target, I turn my attention to our main purpose for being this far north. I can see smoke billowing from several spots near the target area and secondary explosions touching off. It seems our SEAD mission has achieved the desired result, lots of carnage below and very little tracking of our strike package.
“Charger close up trail formation” I flick my laser on and start to slew around the target area using the mini-mouse under my left thumb. Once cued into the airfield that is our target I magnify the view to ensure a good look. Rolling the seeker head under my thumb, I lock onto a large hanger, I can see people scurrying about trying to ready airplanes for takeoff. "too late for them" I think as I issue the attack command. “Charger1 weapons free” I release the strike package to attack at will. There is some anti-aircraft fire but not accurate so I take no evasive action. I line my aiming cue with my flight path and level off at 12000 feet flying directly towards the targeted building. My range line drops as I close on the target. I depress the trigger and hold it down as the range continues to close. “thump...thump”, two thousand pounds of high explosive falls away from my jet. I fly for a few more seconds before I start to jinx a bit and pump chaff out of my back end. I strain my under the weight of six Gs, looking back to pick up my bombs gliding into side of the building. BooooooM!, the walls of the hanger blow outward and a huge fireball erupts as my impact. Suddenly several other explosions rock the airfield, the facilities on the base are a complete wreck. We have done a good job for the cause this morning so I call for the flight to reform.
All members check in. The SEAD and Escort has already started back toward base and I turn south calling for the rest of the boys to fall in.
Although we did significant damage to the target we did not neutralize the runways. As we sprint away from the target several MIG21 get up and begin to pursue. No worries I think as they are too far behind and not really a threat as we will drag them south into the teeth of our air defenses...so I think. For whatever reason Charger13 breaks away and charges into the nest of Fishbeds. By the time I realize that he is not in formation he is up to his neck in trouble. Quickly I bend the formation around and head back to assist "Charger13 position" ...Before the response I spot the flares dumping from the aft of his airplane. "damn" I say in my mask as I switch over to Air Combat Mode (ACM) Charger83 is engaged with four chasing one with three chasing him. I lock up the trail and give the order "attack target" I then plug in burner and dive into the soup.
Charger83 finally launches on the enemy plane that he is chasing. I watch from up above as the heater tracks true and smacks the MIG mid-ship. The MIG belches and then disintegrates into four large pieces.
I find myself head to head with one of the MIGs with the rate of closure very high I fire off a missile hoping for a lucky shot...no such luck as my shot goes astray. "Damn" I think as we flash by. Not all the planes have separated into individual one on one dog fights. My opponent and I enter into a two circle fight but with the nimbleness of my clean EF against the upgraded Fishbed it is a quick fight. I quickly transition aft on the MIG and pull him around into my HUD. My missile growl grows louder and soon is a hungry whine eager to reach out and eat the MIG. Not wanted to spend too much time on the deck involved with the enemy, I pickle off the missile which flies a direct course up the tail pipe of the enemy. My missile send the enemy plane tumbling end over end into the side of a hill. Pulling up I climb out and again point south. My head swivels both left and right and I do a couple of quick clearing turns to make sure no one has latched onto me while I was pre-occupied with my dogfight. "Charger81, close in lets get home".
Charger82 does not respond to my call to rejoin. Not sure what happened to him but we returned to base as a threesome...
Kwang-ju is especially busy this afternoon as we return to controlled airspace we are ordered to "orbit for spacing". For just a second I consider calling for a straight in approach to avoid flying in circles for some minutes. Of course this would mean claiming some emergency...last time I used fuel. "Well, what the hell" I think as I initiate a 5 mile wide turn and wait our turn into the traffic pattern. Once we are vectored in we fly as instructed and gently touch down one behind the other.
You can see the results of the mission from the above debrief above.
Puma -