Charlie: "Yes, I know the finger, Goose."

[IMG] online photo storage[/IMG]

Overflight of USN vessels operating in international waters by Russian aircraft is nothing new. The proximity of this particular flyover is closer than typically seen but not unexpected IMHO. That said, we've had Russian Bears fly through the Case I pattern over the carrier at 500' AGL so nothing should really be surprising. At the end of the day what is going to be done about it...not much I'm guessing. Should there be something done...what are we going to do, shoot down a Russian SU-24?

I did a fly-over for a Tiger cruise of the USS Iwo Jima one time.
My direction from both my squadron commander and the ship's captain (friends) was to NOT hit the ship and *TRY* not to break anything.

I'd not done a lot of work with USN vessels at the time, so I took another USN IP with me who would keep me in check.

As far as overflight of other countries military vessels; I'd agree with BDGERJMN and say that is closer than usually seen, but I'd not call it a 'strafing run', I'd call it a 'buzzing' or 'thumping' and I'm sure there was probably some choice Russian curse words being shouted at the moment that interesting picture was being taken. I know I would have been yelling a few expletives myself

I was aware of the Bear overflight of the Reagan in Oct. last year but this particular pass seemed truly exceptional to me.

I don't know how more "provocative" it can get other than to do this fully armed and switching missile lock on and off.


Well, it's a thought, anyway.


What would be considered a 'strafing run'? Honest question.

I was actually referring to a different event with a carrier, but you name the carrier operating in the 7th Fleet AOR and its happened with Bears. Everyone seems to think we should have done something about it, and while I agree to some extent that there are things we could have done without shooting it down or shooting at it, that is not the policy we live and operate under(like it or not).

Please don't get me wrong. I agree with you in the sense that "what can you really do about it?" without further escalating the issue. Nothing, really. I understand that. And I'm not worked up over this overflight, although I do believe and have stated that I feel it was very provocative, unnecessary and dangerous. Really, I'm just curious to know where the thin line is.

They don't seem to bother the Turks anymore.

Could have locked on with the ship's Phalanx or other defensive system, he'd see that in the cockpit, message sent, message received...

I'd recommend having a predator holding on the downwind side of the boat at 50' but a midair would not be cost effective for us.

Ding ding, we have a winner! Valid! I'm simply saying that isn't this administration's policy and before I get mod'd out for talking politics I'll leave it at that, but I agree with you 100%. Either way, the USS Donald Cook's airspace isn't US airspace so its a bit of an apples/orange discussion in that regard.