Hard to believe, but it's been 20 years since Gulf War 1 (today).

 

I was days away from starting flight school in Pensacola when I watched the TV that first night.
It is amazing how time flies when you're having fun
Well....here to the next 20!

USMCFLYR

 

Wow! Hard to believe is right...I was airborne from Diego Garcia. Sure brings back the memories...and reminds me I'm an old fart!

 

Care to share the story(ies)?

 

20th anniversary of the first flight that I logged combat time on. I actually had an SA-2 launch indication on the flight. Never saw it, and doubt it came off the rails. Actually, that was one of the less exciting portions of the 6 hour flight.

 

I was in Al Dhafra UAE. Didn't have any duty on the first day of the war. Went down to the runway to watch the launches and count airplanes on the recovery.

I vividly remember waiting in the Command Post (standing room only) for the first inflight report. It was from "Deci" (Mark Decesari...forgive the spelling),"Zero losses, target obliterated." and the place erupted with cheers. We really expected a much bigger fight on that day than we got.

Ran out to the end of the runway to watch everone come up initial. The only sign of combat was no bombs on the returning jets and one airplane with jettisoned tanks. The jettisoned tanks turned out to be the result of a switch error while trying to get rid of a hung bomb.

Deci has since passed away. He was an true fighter pilot. There was a reason he was leading on day one.

Two days later I had my first combat sortie against Talil...but that's another post.

 

Ha Ha, they were still working on that runway when I got there in '05. Nice shooting (dropping?).

 

Yeah, no kidding. Saw first hand some of your guys work, 16 years later.

Keep the stories rolling.

 

Agreed! Some really nice hits at Al Asad too

USMCFLYR

 

back then we were hauling AMRAAM's in the back of our DC3 for Raytheon,old girl still earning her keep, 20 years....