WW3 warbirds - the complete list

1950: June
The fighting begins.

The seeds of the 1950-1991 war go back to the Second Russian Civil War, fought between 1927-1930. To the outside world, the key differences between the sides of Trotsky and Stalin was that whereas Trotsky beleived that the Bolshevik Revolution could only survive by spreading the revolution into the Western industrialised world, Stalin favoured a policy of "socialism in one nation", supported by buffer states as a hedge against invasion. That Trotsky was victorious (with Stalin fleeing to exile in Mexico) immediately made the USSR and Marxism/Leninism a greater danger to the west than if Stalin had won. Thus, although the West was forced to support Trotsky's workers' state during the Second World War in order to defeat Nazi Germany, by mid 1946 many Western nations were placing highly restrictive barriers on trade with the USSR.

Against the usual back drop of border and colonial wars, what is known in the West as World War III, and in the so-called Soviet Bloc as the Great Ideological War, began. It started on June 25 in Korea (the same day that Communist lead general strikes in Britain, France and Italy began), when the Communist North invaded the capitalist South. Later that same day the USSR and the East German government enforced a blockade on air routes sustaining West Berlin (the city's land routes to the West having been blockaded since 1948). In response to Western belligerence over this issue, Red forces were soon advancing and sweeping all before them, the first land battles starting in Europe on the 28th of June. "We have begun the struggle to help in the liberation our worker comrades in the capitalist nations of Europe," said Trotsky in a speech on Moscow Radio.

Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Britain soon fell to a combination of Communist revolt and military defeat. Amid the chaos of general strikes and Troksyists uprising, millions fled ahead of the rapidly advancing Red Army to relative saftey in the USA, Canada and elsewhere.

With the USSR boycotting the United Nations (UN) over the issue of Communist China's membership when the war broke out, the organisation quickly became an anti-Communist grouping of countries. UN membership would be confined to those nations that had declared war against the common enemy. Free governments in exile were encouraged to rebuild their military strength and create new factories to to arm them using UN funding.

Many nations, especially those emerging from colonisation in to the Third World, remained neautral. Some, whilst officially neutral, joined forces with the UN on specific issues and efforts and are known as Allied nations. A number of loose multinational alliances and movements would come and go over the years of WW3.

25/6/50
Supermarine Spitfire F.XIVE (Fujimi), "1015/B" 5 Sqd, Pakistani AF, Peshawar, vs Afghanistan. Silver overall.
Mission: Sqd Ldr Wasim Alam engaged two Afghani Harvards during a CAP (combat air patrol) over disputed border territory, shooting down Harvard "47".

North American Harvard IIB (Revell), "49" 2 Sqd, Royal Afghan AF, Sherpur, Afghanistan, vs Pakistan. Tan/mid-stone upper and lt. blue under surfaces. 4x60lb rockets and 2xtwin .30 cal machine gun pods.
Mission: Whilst on an armed recce of the disputed border area, Harvards "47" and "49" were engaged by two Pakistani Spitfires, ""49" escaping at low level but "47" was shot down with both crew killed.

26/6/50
Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (Matchbox), "166" of Flottille 4F, French Navy, Kien An, French Indo China, vs Viet Minh. Dark sea grey (DSG)upper and neutral grey (NG) under surfaces. Donald duck nose art. 8 x 60lb rockets on WW2 style underwing launch rails.
Mission: Pre-planned strike against Viet Minh camp in northern Tonkin.

Related option: French Air Force Hawker Tempest II, 1950.

1950: July
1/7/50
Grumman TBM-3 Avenger (Hasegawa), "886" VA-805, Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Sydney, Yellow Sea vs North Korea. Type B roundels, DSG upper with NG sides and under surfaces. 8x5inch rockets, open bomb bay with 2x500lb bombs. SEE PHOTOS 1950s
Mission: Flying from HMAS Sydney steaming in the South China Sea, RAN Avengers and Sea Furies joined other UN aircraft in attacking airfields near Pyongyang.

2/7/50
de Havilland Vampire FB.50 (Frog), "16" 1st Esc, 2nd Wing, Belgium AF, Florennes vs USSR. Black green (BG) upper and silver under surfaces. 4x60lb rockets under wing roots and 2 x 500lb bombs on underwing pylons.
Mission: With each Vampire flying several sorties during the day, the pilots of the 1st Esc undertook CAS (close air sipport)and BAI (battlefield area interdiction) missions in support of NATO troops trying to defend a line along the Rhine.

4/7/50
Petlyakov P-10MB Butcher (Dragon Arado Ar234C-3), "Blue 29", Eskadra A, 1st Brigade, Polish Naval Air Arm, Gdynia vs UN. Gull grey upper and side surfaces with light grey under surfaces. Polish national markings below wings and on fin, with Soviet star on sides and upper wings. Wing tip tanks and radar(from Lancaster H2S)under forward fuselage and drop tanks (DTs - from Hawker Hunter) beneath twin engine pods; the radar operator sits in a windowless station behind the main wings, accessed via a ventral entry hatch. One 1,500kg armour-piercing bomb under each wing.
Mission: As the Soviet Baltic fleet breaks out in to the Atlantic, it is supported by Soviet and Polish aircraft in the first major naval battle of the war. This aircraft is one of two Polish Pe-10MBRs credited with placing bombs on the Royal Navy battleship HMS Howe, severely damaging the warship which was subsequently finished off with a torpedo dropped from a Soviet AVMF Pe-10T. The names of the two-man crew are unknown.

4/7/50
Regia I.A.R.82 (Acamedy Bf 109G-14), "Red 28", 1st Fighter Regiment, Albanian People's Army Air Force, Durres vs Greece. Black green and tan upper and side surfaces with neutral grey under surfaces. Centreline drop top, tail, spinner and wheel hubs in red.
Mission: In Red 28 (a Romanian built Bf 109G-14 supplied in 1947), Colonel Amarildo Topalli today encountered a Greek civilian registered Beech 18 flying close to the Albanian coast, the aircraft clearly either on a spying mission or about to drop off subversive elements. Pulling up along side, Colonel Topalli could see uniformed men with cameras in the windows. Cleared to fire, he squickly dispatched the spy plane to the sea, all 5 men on board meeting their deaths. The next day, as Red troops invaded Greece, Albania's Stalinist leaders declared their nation's neutrality in the war that was raging all around them.

4/7/50
Avia S-92R Turbina (Revell Me 262A-1/U3), "White 29", 1 Sqd,Yugoslav AF, Libijana. Lt Grey overall with black green (BG) patches on uppers and sides. Yellow neutrality bands on nose and rear fuselage.
MIssion: With northern Italy exploding into civil war and Soviet forces thundering down from Austria, the government in Belgrade was desperate for intelligence on the goings on just across the border. With few recce aircraft available and only one recce modified Czech Avia built Turbina still airworthy (and that still finished in an experimental winter camoulflage that had been retained for the now aborted summer airshow season), it was the job of Major Nenad Bjekovic to take his jet in to hostile airspace. After having neutrality bands added, the aircraft was deployed from Belgrade to Lubijana to undertake a series of high speed photo flights. Beginning on the 4th and lasting the 19th of July, Bjekovic flew 10 solo "red ink" missions over Italy, this series of sorties going unchallenged and finally coming to an end when an engine fire forced the Turbina to be grounded. Although Bjekovic was rewarded with decorations for his heroism, his story remianed secret until 2002, when a Serbian historian uncovered documents revealing these remarkable missions.

12/7/50
Hispano-Messerschmitt HM-1101A2 (Revell Me-1101), "30 - 8", Esc 30, Spanish Air Force, Zaragosa vs USSR. Armour sand with dark green (DG) suiggles on upper and side surfaces and silver under surfaces. Each wing has 12 x 55mm (R4M) underwing air-air rockets outboard of wing DTs (from MB.339) with 30mm cannon in gonadola (adapted from Bf109)inboard; nose arnament is 4 x .50 cal machine guns.
Mission: At the hands of Major Sergio Sanchez, the Spanish Air Force achieved it's first air-air jet kill today. Flying a Messershmitt designed HM-1101A2 (a version sepcially armed for bomber interception), Major Sanchez shot down a Soviet Kalinin K-18 (Soviet built Arado Ar-555-1) bomber.

16/7/50
S.N.A.S.C.O. NC901Ei (Dragon Ta-152C-1), "24" 16 Sormo, Italian AF, Latina, Italy vs USSR. Lt grey undersurfaces, desert sand and light olive uppers and sides. Centreline 75 gal. DT, 2 x 500ib bombs, 4x5 inch HVAR, 30mm cannon firing through propeller hub and 4 x 20mm Hispano short barrel cannons (2 in wing roots, 2 in fuselage upper deck).
Mission: Armed with this Italian ground attack version of the French post-WW2 produced Ta-152C copy, 16 Stomo deployed from Signella, Sicily, to bases in northern Italy at the outbreak of hostilities (quickly camofouflaging their aircraft on the way). Fighting their way back to Rome, the unit first undertook missions against armed Italian Communists, later encountering their Soviet liberators.
On this day, Capt.Fabio Cannavaro flew several sorties in "24" against Soviet armour and infantry as they encircled Rome. Ordered to fly with a centreline drop tank in case of an urgent need to divert to more distant airfields, this is exactly what happened, as each of the airfields close to Rome were shelled, bombed or captured during the day. By nightfall, Cannavaro was at Lamezia Terme in southern Italy, the remants of his unit by now scattered across central and southern Italy. At dawn today, 16 Stormo had 15 airworthy airframes; this had dwindled to just 7 by night fall.

16-17/7/50
de Havilland Mosquito NF.XIX (Airfix), "4-12" 4 Storm, 9 Gruppo, Italian AF, Lamezia Terme, Italy vs USSR. Ugraded with 4 bladed propellers. 8 red star kill markings. Black under with DSG and BG upper surfaces.
Mission: With the highly sucessful team of Lts. Gianluigi Buffon and Stefano Fiore in the cockpit, "4-12" shot down a Soviet Li-2 transport making a night supply drop to Italian Communists active in central Italy tonight.

1951: November
12/11/51
Vought F4U-5NL Corsair (Italeri), "QE-J" 4 Sqd, RAAF, Kimpo, South Korea. Red "Struth!" nose art, overall black scheme. 6x5inch rockets and 2x100lb incindery bombs underwing, centre drop tank (DT).
Mission: Nocturnal CAS sorties flown in support of Australian and New Zealand troops near Kaesong, North Korea.

OTHER SIDE 1951:
Il-28: Spanish Republican Air Force vs UN (red and yellow roundel in a purple background)

Yak-17: German Red Army Air Force vs UN (East German markings)

Yak-9: Afghan Air Force vs Pakistan

1952: August
15/8/52
Neutral and struggling to deal with passionate ideaologies and a desire to command it's region, Indonesia causes great concern to the West. Through both political and often low intensity military means, Indonesia confronts its neighbours over the coming decade.

Republic F-47D Thunderbolt (Hasegawa), "19" 316 Sqd, Royal Dutch AF, Merauke, Dutch New Guniea, vs Indonesian insurgents. "Jeanie" nose art, NG under with BG and DSG upper surfaces. Centre line DT and 2 x 500lb underwing bombs.
Mission: CAS in support of Dutch troops in contact (TIC) with Indonesian insurgence along the west coast of Dutch New Guinea, near Yapekopra.

OTHER SIDE 1952:
La-9 or -11: Vietnamese Peoples Liberation Air Force (based in China)vs France

1953: March
By 1953, the United Nations (UN) is growing in strength, the policy of arming members nations for direct involvement in the war paying off.

Grumman F9F-2 Panther (Hasegawa), "110-D" 2 Esq, Grupo Aviacao Embarcada, Brazillian AF on Brazillian Navy aircraft carrier Minas Gerais, Sea of Japan vs North Korea and China. Oxford blue overall. 6x5inch rockets.
Mission: BAI sorties flown against enemy troop and armour concentrations near Kosan, North Korea.

1953: April
26/4/53
North American F-86F Sabre (Fujimi), "NZ1098" 14 Sqd, RNZAF, Osan, South Korea, vs North Korea and China. "Teasin Tina" and "Margie" nose art, with yellow fuselage band and large tiger motif. Silver overall. 8 red star kill markings. Underwing DTs. SEE PHOTOS 1950s
Mission: Flying Officer Peter McKenzie shot down a Chinese piloted MiG-15 in "Teasin' Tina" in MiG Allley today.

1953: September
In September, 1953, the Middle East erupts in conflict. In Iraq a military coup ousts the Western backed Royal family, the UN's undermanned and poorly equipped oil protection forces being forced out of the country by the end of the month. Pushing on, Kuwait soon falls to Iraqi troops. Controversially, the Saudi Arabian government refused permission for UN troops based there, or requiring to transit through Saudi Arabia, to intervene in the Iraqi and Kuwaiti crises. Meanwhile in Iran a general strike against UN and British interference in the nation's affairs coincides with a Soviet invasion. Trotsky's Red Army quickly reaches the Gulf, strangling the West's supply of oil from the region.

17/9/53
Victory Aircraft Thunderjet Mk.2NE (Academy F-84E/G), "720", 3 Sqd, Southern Rhodesian Air Force, Tabriz, Iran vs USSR. Silver overall with oxford blue on nose (up to canopy), wing tip tanks and on vertical and horizontal tail surfaces; roundels are of an RAF type with a single verical assegai (spear). Sharks mouth on blue nose, aft of the standard squadren blue nose ring. Two swastikas, a Japanese flag and a red star beneath the canopy and above "Rozzie Deth II" aircraft name, next to a red "Hell's Angels" girlie picture. Clear F-84E type bubble canopy, with F-84G suction doors on fuselage to provide air for Candian Orenda engine. Both wingtip fuel tanks have refueling probes fitted (also a boom recepticle on the port wing).316 gal Saudi made "Bin Laden bomb" (so-called because they were made by the Saudi Arabian based Bin Laden company for the Near East Air Force) napalm tanks on 4 underwing stores pylons with 8 x 5 inch HVAR under each wing. Single RATO rocket under each side of the rear fuselage.
Mission: The personal aircraft of Squadron Leader Ross "Rozzie" Finnis, "720" carries with it many clues to his flying history. Joining the RAF in 1939, Finnis flew P-40s with 112 Sqd in North Africa (shooting down a Bf-110 and He-111) before transferring to the China-India-Burma theatre in 1943, flying Hurricanes and doing an exchange stint with the Flying Tiger's Hell's Angels squadron (shooting down a Ki-84). Demobilised in 1946, Finnis joined the Southern Rhodesian Air Force in 1948, commanding 3 Sqd during he defence of Greece in 1950 whilst flying Meteor F.4s (and shooting down a Bulgarian Il-10). By Septembe 1953, 3 Sqd was re-equipped with the Canadian built Thunderjet Mk.2NE (NE for Near East) and stationed in Iran. Flying against targets in both Iraq and Iran throughout September, today it is the turn of the Red Army to feel the heat from his weapons as they cross the border in north eastern Iran, Finnis becoming an ace as he shoots down an Il-28 boming his airfield on his return from a morning mission against Soviet armour.

23/9/53
North American F-51D Mustang (Italeri), 1 Sqd, Sultan of Oman's AF, Seeb, Oman, vs USSR. Over all silver. 2 x 500lb bombs and 6x5inch rockets. SEE PHOTS 1950s
Mission: Flown by a seconded RAF pilot, Sqd Ldr David Wilcox, this aircraft attacked a Red Army convoy approaching the coastal city of Bandar-e 'Abbas, making several sorties during the day.

1955: November

2/11/55
Avro CF-100 Canuck F.4BM (Hobby Craft), "35" 112 Sqd, RAF, Finner, Ireland, vs Warsaw Pact (WP). NG under and BG with DSG upper surfaces. Sharks mouth nose art. Wing tip 2.75 inch air-to-air rocket pods and 8x.50 cal machine guns in ventral position with 2xAIM-4A SARH guided Falcons on outer underwing pylons and DTs on inner underwind pylons.
Mission: Two Socialist French Tu-16s were shot down over the Atlantic by this aircraft today.

1956: June

16/6/56
Dassualt Ouragan (Heller), "12" BA-9, Portugese AF, Kenitra, Morocco, vs WP. 1 red star kill marking and several mission symbols. Overall silver. 8x5inch rockets, 2 DTs.
Mission: An anti-flak stike logged today support UN bombing of Cadiz, Spain.

de Havilland Canada Sea Hawk FB.60 (Airfix), "22" Flottile 4F, French Navy, aircraft carrier Delacroix, Atlantic, vs WP. 2x500 bombs, 2 DTs. DSG upper and duck egg blue under surfaces.
Misson: During major airstrike on Cadiz, this aircraft bombed and straffed port facilities.

1956: July

13/7/56
Douglas A-1E Skyraider (Revell), "A-UP" 4 Sqd, RAF, Butterworth, Malaysia vs Malayan Communists (Malayan Emergency. "Awesone Annie" nose art. NG under and DSG with BG upper surfaces. Centerline DT, 2x750lb napalm, 6x500 bombs, 4x5inch rockets.
Mission: Working with an RAAF 0-1 FAC, "Awesome Annie" joined with single seat A-1s to attack a Communist camp in the Cameron Highlands, the front passenger seat being filled by a camera man whose film of this attack was subsequently inserted into documentary newsreels and the feature film "Malay marauders".

1956: November

2/11/56
Canadian Electric Canberra B(I)8 (Frog), "3-RW" 1st Esc, Free Belgium AF, Rathcoole, Ireland, vs WP. Mission symbols and "Marlene, Nancy, Marion" nose art. Black under with DSG and BG upper surfaces. Under fuselage 4 x 20mm cannon pack
Mission: A noctural intruder mission made up of 8 Canberras, including this aircraft, attacked a rail yard at Swansea, Peoples' Republic of Britain (PRB).

2/11/56

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF (Hasegawa), red "133", Normandie-Niemen regiment, French Red Army Air Force, Villacoublay, France vs UN. French Red Army AF markings are red stars with white outline and a French blue centre dot. Four white star kill markings. Black under with tan and olvie drab upper surfaces. Arnament of 2 x 23mm and 1 x 37 mm cannon undernose with UB-16-57 pods on inner underwing pylons armed with air-to-air 55mm rockets. Underwing DTs. Radar warning and ECM aerials on tail fin with scabbed on chaff dispensers on fuselage at the base of the tail; the extra weight of such defensive systems (plus a little ballast in the tail) re-aligning the aircraft's CG allow for the rentention of the 37mm cannon usually eplaced by a third 23mm cannon on MiG-17PFs.
Mission: Flown by a French Commuinst pilot known only be his code name "Colonel Marquis", this aircraft was credited on this night with shooting down a USAF RB-47 near Nancy. This mysterious pilot would go on to have 54 confirmed day and night kills before, apparently, losing his life in a mid-air collision with a F-100D in 1959 whilst flying a MiG-19.

1957: Feburary

12/2/57
North American FJ-4C Fury (Revell), "401" 825 Sqd, Royal Canadian Navy, HMCS Magnificeant, North Atlantic vs WP. "Foxy killer" art work, 5 red star kills. Dark gull grey upper and LG under surfaces. Two DTs, 4 x AIM-Bs, air-to-air refueling probe (ARP).
Mission: Under heavy and sustained attack in the North Atlantic whilst protecting a UN convoy to the UK, "Foxy Killer" accounted for three Tu-16s, a Tu-95 and a My-4 during this day, flying several sorties at the hands of two pilots.

1960: May
North American F-100D Super Sabre (Hasegawa), "KT-W" 11 Esc, Free Belgium Air Force, Hacketstown, Ireland vs WP. Sharks teeth and eys nose art, many mission markings, 1 red star kill. BG and DSG upper and silver under surfaces. Two DTs, 4x M177 750lb bombs, ARP.
Mission: Attack against coastal fortifications at Holyhead, PRB.

1960: June

16/6/60
McDonnel RF-101C Voodoo (Hasegawa), "33-TF", 3rd Escadren, 33rd Escadre, Free French Air Force, Decomimannu, Italy vs WP. Silver overall. 6 camera mission symbols. Under fuelage DTs.
Mission: On an eventful photo recce sortie this day that went southern France, "33-TF" was shot at by at least 6 SA-2 SAMs and avoided interception by several MiGs.

1960: November

28/11/60
Dassualt Super Mystere B.2 (Airfix), "26", 201 Sqd, Mexican Air Expeditionary Force, Kenitra, Morooco vs WP. Tan, dark brown (DB) and BG upper and NG under surfaces. Puncho Pistola gung slining chicken nose art with 2 red star kills. 2 x AIM-9Bs and 2 DTs.
Mission: Cpt Valquez shot down a Spainish Republican MiG-19SFs today to bring his tally to 3. He would received credit for 16 kills before his death at the hands of a MiG-21 in 1965.

1960: December
In 1960, Belgium de-colonises the Congo, leaving behind it a mess of rebel forces, both tribal and Marxist. The UN sends in a stabilisation force to ensure security in Central Africa.

Dassault Mystere IVA (Matchbox), "565" Columbian Air Force Expeditionary Force, UN Congo Satbilisation Force, Kinshasa, Congo vs rebel forces. Sharks teeth nose art on white/red/yellow/dark blue bands around intake. BG and DB upper and NG under surfaces. 2 x 500lb bombs and 6 x5 inch rockets underwing.
Mission: Bombing run followed by straffing against a tribal rebel group near the town of Bongo that had ambushed a UN road convoy.

1962: September
India decolonises Purtugese Goa by force and has a breif border war with China.

de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.50 (Modelcraft), "015" 300 Sqd, Indian Navy, INS Vikrant, off Goa, vs Portugal. Overall light sea grey. 4 x 60lb rockets.
Mission: Attacked with rockets and cannon Portugese coastal gun emplacements prior to an amphibious landing by Indian forces.

RELATED OPTIONS: Indian Aif Force Saab/HAL J-29F and/or MiG-17F vs China

OTHER SIDE:
Su-9 Romanian Red AIr Force vs UN.

1963: August

3/8/63
Cessna 0-1D Bird Dog (Airfix), "B" 4 Sqd RAAF, Bandar Sri Aman (Simanggang), Sarawak, Malaysia vs Indonesia (Indonesian Confrontation). Overall OD with white panels above wings and dark blue wheel hubs. Large RAF style high-viz roundels above and below wings with small RAAF kangaroo roundels on fuselage. Large shark's teeth nose art. Twin 2.75 inch smoke marking rockets on each inboard wing pylon.
Mission: During a FAC patrol along the border with Indonesia, insugencies were sighted and a flight of RNZAF (Canadian built)Hunters called in to work the area with napalm, bombs and cannon.

1964: July

16/7/64
Although the USSR formally retreated form Iran in 1960, there continues to be regular fighting along the Iran-Soviet border.

McDonnell Douglas F-101K Voodoo (Revell), "M" 85 Sqd, RAF, Doshan-Tappeh, Iran, vs USSR. "Flying mermaid" nose art on port and large, brown kangaroo on starbaord side. Sand and tan upper and LG under surfaces. 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon in under fuselage weapons bay, under fudelage DTs, 2 x AIM-9B under intakes and 2 x AIM-7D under wings. SEE PHOTOS 1960s
Mission: With RAF pilot Flying Officer Simon Watson at the controls and RAAF exchange Flying Officer Henry Price in the back seat, the "Flying Mermaid" uses a mix of AIM-9 and Vulcan cannon to to shoot down an ELINT An-12 Cub that strys across the border today.

OTHER SIDE 1964:
MiG-21F-13: Italian Red Army Air Force vs UN.

1964: August

2/8/64
On this day, the UN finally makes its long anticipated land invasion of the People's Republic of Britain.

Bell 204 UH-1B Huey (Italeri), "57" 16 Sqd, South African Air Force, South African Navy Helicopter Tender 16, vs WP. Overall olive drab (OD). Rear doors removed. XM3 weapons kit with 48 x 81mm rocket tubes in 24 tube pairs with a fixed forward firing 20mm cannon mounted above the frame each side.
Mission: Throughout the day, the crew of "57" provided CAS to South African and other UN troops during their assault on Aberystwyth, Wales.

1965: August

23/8/65
Convair F-102C Delta Dagger (Hasegawa), "29+01" JG34, Free German Air Force, Donemana, Ireland, UK vs WP. "Olga" name on port intake art with small William Tell graphic alongside, 8 red star kills. BG, DG & DSG upper and LG under surfaces. IR seeker above nose. Two underwing DTs, open missile bay with 4 x AIM-4D and 2 x AIM-4F.
Mission: With Oberst Hans Shmidt at the controls, "Olga" saw action against a Soviet Tu-16 that was on an Elint mission over the North Sea. The intruder was splashed by Shmidt using a AIM-4F. This was the final combat by a NATO assigned F-102 in the North Atlantic or Europe theatres, the type having been phased out of service in favour of more modern types like the F-106 and F-4. The next day, the unit stood down to convert to F-4D.

1965: September

4/9/65
Convair F-106J Delta Dart (Hasegawa), "248", 3 Sqd,Japanese Self Defence Force Air Force, Misawa, Japan vs USSR. 4 red star kill markings under canopy. Overall NG. Underwing DTs, 2 x AIM-7D underwing, plus open missile bay with 2 x AIM-4D and 2 x AIM-26B, muzzle fairing for M61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon on lower port side behind the radome. SEE PHOTOS 1960s (Vulcan not fitted at time of photography)
Misson: Follwing the night shoot down by land based SA-2 SAMs of a USN EP-3B Orion off the Kurile Islands, "248" joined in the RESCAP effort to save the crew. Piloted by Lt. Takako Yoneyama, "248" and another F-10J were engaged by a pair of Su-15s that were attempting to deter the rescue. During the brief fight, Yoneyama claimed the lead Flagon with an AIM-26B shot. This was the aircraft's 5th confirmed kill and this pilot's 2nd. An earlier attempt to destroy the target by firing both AIM-7Ds failed when they both broke lock and went ballistic. The remaining Flagon retreated and the three surviving Orion crew members were rescued; the downed Flagon pilot was not.

1965: October
Pakistan, neutral but Allied since 1962, has several conflicts with neighbouring India over the next few decades over territorial disputes.

23/10/65

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak (Italeri), "834" 19 Sqd, Pakistani Air Force, Chakala, Pakistan vs India. LG under surfaces and DG, BG and tan S-E Asian style uppers.
Two DTs and 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup.
Mission: In the hands of two pilots and flying from dawn to dusk, this aircraft logged 4 CAS/BAI sorties during the day. Mission using Bullpups was targeted against a bridge, this being the day's final sortie. On this mission, "834" and 3 other F-84Fs were jumped by 2 Indian produced MiG-19SF, "834" being the only survivor from the engagement.

RELATED OPTIONS: Indian Air Force MiG-19SF

1966: September

6/9/66

Boeing Vertol HH-47B Chinook (Italeri), 12 Sqd, RNZAF, Udon, Thailand. Yellow "Home James" graphic beneath a picture of a stripping women next to open starboard forward hatch. Tan, DG and BG overall. Rescue hoist above starboard forward hatch and 3x0.50 inch Browning M3 MGs pointing menacingly from open windows, starboard nose mounted extendable air-air refueling probe and search light under nose.
Mission: Called in to action soon after dawn following the loss of a RAAF RB-47H in Laos, the crew of "Home James" headed north. With support from a RNZAF KC-130B and escorted by RAAF A-1s, the chopper "Home James" is directed to the pick up zone despite heavy ground fire. 3 survivors and 2 bodies troops are recovered from the scene by the crew of "Home James".

Douglas A-1D Skyraider (Hobby Craft), "98" 2 sqd, RAAF, Vientiane, Laos vs Vietmanes & Laotion Communists. Tan, DG and BG uppers with LG unders. Centreline DT, with 2x BLU-1 finned napalm, 2x LAU-3 19 round 2.75 inch rocket pods, 2 x 7.62mm mini gun pods, 2x CBU-25 and 2x LAU-68 rocket pods (for 7x2.75 inch white phosphorus target marking rockets)under wing.
Mission: With Flight Lieutenant Willam Robert "Buffalo" Newton at the controls, "98" flew RESCAP support for the mission to rescue survivors from the downed RB-47H. Repeatedly taking on heavy ground fire to clear an area suitable for the attending HH-47B to affect the rescue. His aircraft damaged by small arms fire, he maintained an aggressive vigilance at the scene until the rescue operation was complete. Only after landing was it learnt that Newton had been severely wounded in his right leg during the battle, his aircraft running off the runway on landing as he collapsed from blood loss. For this, Newton was awarded a DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross). Note tha the squadren was using reclaimed former Royal Australian Navy A-1Ds as the RAAF was no longer able to replace Skyraider attrition with more recent models.

1967: March
13/3/67

Lockheed F-104G Starfighter (Hasegawa), "23" 1 Sqd, SAAF, Rimmi-Miramore, Italy vs WP. "Miss Behavin'" nose art, bomb mission symbols, unit badge. DSG & BG upper and NG unders. ALQ-87 ECM pod on centreline, 2 x Mk83 Snakeye AND 2 X AIM-9D under wing, wing tip fuel tanks, plus ARP.
Mission: F-104G "23", flown by Squadren Leader Hansy Pattel, joined 3 other SAAF Starfighters to make a low altitude attack on a Triple A site near Vienna, Austria. The site was successfully pu out of action, but at the cost of one South African pilot who was shot down by an AA-2 missile fired by a Soviet MiG-21. The mission was associated with an airbourne assult planned for later that day, but the assault was scrubbed when 2 of the 4 US Army Ch-47C Chinooks taking part collided shortly after take off, killing several troops including the assault team commander. This was 1 Sqd's, and the SAAF's, last combat mission with the Starfighter before converting to the F-4E.

1967: April
23/4/67
Egypt and others support a rebel force based in Dhofa, Oman, fighting for control of the strategicaly positioned country. This fighting will continue from the late 1950s to the early '80s. With the US Army denied access to Oman by the Sultan, several OV-10 Mohawks and their crews are transfered to the USAF. Air Force Hohawks are permitted by the Sultan to operate over rebel infiltration routes.

Grumman OV-10B Hohawk (Hasegawa), 363 Tactical Recon. Sqd, USAF, Thumrayt, Oman vs South Yemen & Omani rebels. "Beach buggy" nose art. Experimental overall sand/mid stone/DB wrap around camo. Underwing DTs and underslung SLAR pod.
Mission: Whilst udertaking a recce mission along the border with South Yemen, the crew of "Beach Buggy" (Cpt. Carl Graham and Lt. Steve Aldrin) reported that they were under fire from probable SA-7 Grail IR-guided SAMs. Although the SAMs were sucessfully avoided, this was just one of many engagements reported in the area that day, leading to a cross border strike by Omani Hunters and Iranian F-4Ds the next day.

1967: June
9/6/67

Having previously worked on it's "export" aircraft in India, Saab moves to Israel in the early 60s.

Saab/IAI 35 Dragon (Revell), "287" 200 Sqd, Israel Self Defence Force Air Force, Hazor, Israel, vs Egypt/Jordan/
Syria. Armor sand, medium green and tan uppers with LG unders. Under fuselage DTs and 2 x AIM-9B underwing. SEE PHOTOS 1960s.
Mission: The co-called "War of attristion" started today and lasted until 1973, when open warfare between Israel and it's Arab neighbours again broke out. Flying "287", Colonel Yitzak Levi was credited with the destruction of a Syrian (Egyptian built) Mirage IIIESY over the Golan Heights today.

1968: April
24/4/68

During the course of the war, many target areas were attacked and fought over dozens of of times. The Romanian city of Constanta was one such little known but frequently visited target. On the Black Sea and with major road, rail and port facilities, the city was a heavilly defended Warsaw Pact held logistics centre in 1968. Amid the rubble from previous attacks, the Reds moved and housed men, machines, food, fuel, munitions and other war material vital to their operations in the Balkans.

McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II (Fujimi), "53-06", 53 Stormo, 21 Gruppo, Italian Air Force, Grosetto, Italy, vs WP. BG, LO and tan S-E Asian style uppers and LG unders. Many bomb mission symbols. LORAN towel rack. 2 x SUU-30 munitions dispenders on 2 x Triple Ejector Racks (TERs)on inner wing pylons, DTs on outers, ALQ-101 (shallow) on port front Sparrow recess, 2 x AIM-7E at rear, with centreline Multiple Ejector Rack (MER) carrying 6 x 500lb Mk82. SEE PHOTOS 1960s & 70s
Mission: After a 3 month truce associated with the ongoing Geneva Peace Talks, the fighting started again today. On an pre-dawn LORAN mission and bombing through cloud, F-4D 53-06 served as a lead ship for other F-4Ds during an attack on port facilities in Constanta as part of a series of UN strike package hitting the city today. On egress from the target area, the attack formation was engaged by several Romanian and Soviet MiG-21s, Major Costantino Alberti (pilot)and Leutenant Marcello Pizzo (Weapsons Systems Operator) in "53-06" being credited with the destruction of a Soviet MiG-21PF. Two Sparrows were fired, the second one hitting the Fishbed of Yuri Balenco, who ejected with minor injuries.

Douglas EB-66E Destroyer (Italeri), "X" ??? Sqd, RAF, Akrotiri, Cyprus vs WP. "Huff" fuselage art, camel mission markings. NG & BG upper and LG unders.
Mission: Operating as an EW platform, "Huff" supported the UN strike package attacking Constanta in Romania during the afternoon.

1968: May
17/5/68

From the late 1960s, South Africa became increasingly involved with fighting in it's own region, against nationalist insurgencies in South Africa itself and in South West Africa (Namibia) - occupied by South Africa - and with helping the white minority government in Rhodesia and the Portugese colonists in Angola and Mozambique fight their own wars against black nationalist forces. These were essentially counter-insurgency "low intesity conflict" or "bush wars" at the time.

North American AT-28D Nomad (Heller), "4215" 8 sqd, SAAF, Windhoek, South-West Africa vs SWAPO. DG and tan uppers with LG unders. 2 x .50 cal gun pods and 2 x 7 round 2.75 inch rocket pods.
Mission: On this day, "4215" flew several sorties in the hands of several aircrew during an assault on Windhoek by SWAPO. The attack started in the early hours of the morning and lasted until late afternoon, SAAF aircraft such as this Nomad flying hundreds of CAS missions. Although SWAPO was defeated in a military sense, the attack was politically and psychologically significant, forcing the South Africans to withdraw many of their assets from assignments in Europe and the Middle East to meet the growing threats closer to home.

OTHER SIDE: 1968
Su-7BMK, German Red Army Air Force vs UN.

1970: April

16/4/70

In April, 1970, South Vitenam and its UN allies crossed the borders of Cambodia and Loas in a major effort to attack Viet Minh santcuaries and supply lines. This operation, called Half Back Flanker, was just the start of a much larger campaign that would culimnate in Operation Full Forward, the invasion of North Vietnam. This would in turn result in a full scale Chinese invasion of IndoChina, driving the UN out of the region and back to a defence line along the Thai border (Chinese progagandists called this Opertion Full Back).

Lockheed OT-33A Silver Star (Hasgawa), 426 Sqd, RAAF, Da Nang, Sth Vietnam vs Vietnamese Communists. "Miss fire" and "Norma" nose art. Tan, BG & light olve (LO) uppers and LG unders. No internal guns for this fast FAC. 2x LAU-68 rocket pods.
Mission: Flying a mormning FAC mission, the crew of this aircraft (Flying Officer Greg Hogg and Pilot Officer Ian Bolte) suported Australian and New Zealand forces as the pushed across the border into Laos near the DMZ that seperated North and South Vietnam. During their sortie, the pair co-ordinted a series of air strikes against North Vietnamese positions that threatened the airmoble operation.

Martin B-57G Canberra (Italeri), 17 Sqd, RNZAF, Udon, Thailand vs Vietnamese, Cambodian & Loation Communists. Overall black. "Moon maid" nose art. 4 x KMU-338 500lb Paveway I laser guided boms under wing and ALQ-87 ECM pod.
Mission: During the first night of Full Forward, Flight Lieutenant Harold Short and Flying Officer Henry Smith flew "Moon Maid" on an interdiction mission over Laos, working with an RNZAF AC-130H and RAAF F-4E Pave Phantoms to strike at North Vietnamese traffic moving along trails towards the invading Allied troops. North of Ban Dakchoun, Short and Smith were attacked by a several SA-3 SAMs, but managed to avoiding the missiles. Sveral tanks were destroyed during the sortie.

17/4/70

Hughes OH-6A Cayuse (Italeri), "17" Loatiion Army, Attapu, Laos vs Pathet Lao & Viet Minh. Overall OD. One forward firing M60 machine gun mounted on each side of fuselage. All doors removed.
Mission: After avoiding contact with all sides during the first day of Full Forward, the Loation Army undertook a series of engagements againt North Vietnamese forces near Attapu in Southern Loas. This Cayuse was involved in flying armed FAC missions throughout the day in the hands of Major Thonglith Abhay.

Bell 206A OH-58A Kiowa (Italeri), South Vietnamese Army, Chu Pha, South Vietnam. Overall OD. Forward doors removed and side armour installed on pilot and observer seats. Port mounted axial firing 7.62 mm Minigun.
Mission: Flown by Seargent Ly Dinh Cam, this Kiowa was used throughout the day in support of South Vietnamese operations across the la Krang Po river into Cambodia. During his third sortie of the day, the Seargent was engaged by a neutral Cambodian Air Force MiG-17F flying an what was later called an "airspace sovereignty" flight. No hits on the Kiowa were made. Three months later, the Seargent again became famous by being the last of many to land a Khelicopter on the decks of the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne as Saigon fell to Communist troops; his passengers were 8 women and children.

1973: October
In 1973, after a series of skirmishes over the preceeding years (known as the "War of atrrition"), Israel's Arab neighbours strike back. In a ferocious 23 day war, the Arabs are pushed back in the Sinai Peninsual to the UN controlled Suez Canal Zone.

15/10/73

Saab/IAI 37 Slammer (Matchbox), "87", 101 Sqd, Israel Self Defence Force Air Fource, Hazor, Israel, vs Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Sand, tan and BG upper with LG unders. ALQ-101 (deep) ECM pod and AIM-9E on pylons either side of centreline DT, with 2x AGM-62A Walleye underwing.
Mission: Flown by Major Schlomo Rabin, "87" is a prototype Slammer brought in to active service by the pressing needs of the current total war with Israel's Arab foes. The mission, to drop Walleyes on an office block at Egypt's Helwan aircraft factory, is sucessful but proves controversial when several Turkish, French and Italian aircraft engineers are casaulties, their offices having been specificly targetted. Of the six Slammers carrying Walleyes involved in the raid, all but "103" return safely. Major Rabin is credited with the destruction of an Egyptian Mirage IIIEE2 during the egress.
Related option: .
RELATED OPTIONS: Algerian Air Force HF-24E, Libyan AIr Force Fiat G.91R vs Israel.

1975: April

17/10/75

Canadian/British Aircraft Company Bucaaner S.2e (Airfix), "65+59", MFG 1, Free German Navy, Kinloss, UK vs WP. OD & DSG uppers with dark ghost grey (DGG) unders. Mission markings. Nose mounted ARP, bulged bomb bay fuel tank, 2x AJ.168 Martel on outer wing pylons, DT on right inner and a data link pod on left inner. TRAM turret undernose just behind radome with FLIR, LLLTV and laser designater.
Mission: Kapitanleutnant Erich Hess (pilot) and Kapitanleutnant Wilhelm Vonnegut flying "65+59" this day over the North Atlantic near Norway attack the Soviet Navy's 'KRESTA I' class RKR (Rocket Cruiser) Vitse Admiral Drozd and sink it with both Martels during a major air-sea battle.

OTHER SIDE:
Su-15 Flagon F, Polish Air Force vs UN, Mig-21bis Norwegian Socialist Republic Air Force vs UN.

1977: August
Bangladesh, born out of the 1971 Indian-Pakistani war, continues to struggle against domestic guerilla forces over the next decade.

23/7/77

Hawker Canada Hunter T.80 (Matchbox), "708" 2 Sqd, Bangladesh Air Wing, Dakka, Bangladesh vs rebels. Overall BG and DSG. DTs on inner wing pylons and 2 x Matra 155 rocket pods on outer pylons.
Mission: As part of low intensity conflict againt armed northern rebels, this aircraft is used against a rebel base north of Sylhet. Flown by Colonel Shafiuddin Rajshahi and leading two other Hunters (these three representing all the Hunter force available for sevrice on the day), the aircraft rocketed and straffed the target for several minutes.

OTHER SIDE: 1977
Mig-25 German Red Army Air Force vs UN.
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1979: March

From early 1975 to late 1989, Chad was in the grips of a civil war that was fuelled by Libyan, Sudanese and other foreign support for several guerilla armies. Shifting loyalties in this many sided conflict made it difficult for the UN to pick winners or good-guys. Indeed, with the USA reluctant to authorise a UN involvement in what it saw as a "minor European colonial war by proxy" (to quote one US Secretary of State, Dennis Nailor), it was left to the pro-Western African Defence and Progress Organisation (ADPrO) to join the fight. With the help of non-African ADPrO members such as France, Spain and Canada, the work of this always under funded force began in 1978 was finally completed in 1989 when a peace agreement with Libya and Sudan was signed and the forces of those nations departed Chad. This effort was not helped, however, by the attitude of the French, who continually made arms sales to Libya, the French observing that such sales were necessary due to the fact UN contracts produced little or no profit. (Anyway, neighbouring Algeria always supplied Libya with arms through the back door with arms that it couldn't procure itself directly.) So, with the French supplying both the ADPrO forces and Libya and the Italians supplying both Sudan and Libya, it is a neat earner (with commodity and resource deals often bartered for arms, although the oil-rich Libyans often paid cash). Although a residual counter-insurgency effort continued for many more years, it could be dealth with by the Chad military (ironically, now Libyan backed) and mercenary personnel.

25/3/79
On this day, ADPrO forces went on the first of many major offensives against Libyan targets on northenn Chad. With Libyan and Sudanese forces fighting each other in the East, the UN mounted a heavy attack on the Libyan logistical effort, striking at airfields and transport hubs. Combined operations using air power, paratroops, heli-bourne assualt troops and special forces set back the Libyan war effort but could not be sustained. Six months later, the ground captured in this operation was being fought over again with the ADPrO forces on the defensive after the Sudanese and Libyans, and the local forces they each backed, had joined forces. A note about this particualr offensive is that, although air-air refueling assets were plentiful for the small stike force on day 1, the decision by ADPrO commanders to insist on heavy offensive weapon loads in place of external fuel has always been controversial; 2 aircraft (a Helwan 79 and an F-4G)crashed having run dry for various reasons.

Helwan 79E Escorpion (Kfir C-2) (Hasegawa), "63" Esc 464, Ala 46, Spanish Air Force vs Libya, N'Djamena,Chad. Lightning throwing scorpion nose art with Legionnaires type head gear. LG under with counter shaded NG and DGG upper surfaces. Laser rangerfinder and marked target seeker under nose. ARP, centreline DT, AS.30L on left underwing pylon and Martel ARM under right wing, plus 2x AIM-9J on outers.
Mission: Flown by Colonel Jos� Paco, "63" is used to attack air defence sites near Zouar in Chad. Flying in a strike package that includes 4 Escorpions (2 single seaters and 2 Pave Spike equipped two-seaters), 2 Spanish F-4Gs, 4 French A-4FFs and 4 Canadian CF-4Es, they hit several radar sites (with Martel ARM fired by the Escorpions and Martel ARMs and Shrikes from the F-4Gs) and a C3I bunker (with the AS.30L). One aircraft is lost after it's refuleing probe is damaged, crashing before returning to N'Djamena, the pilot ejecting and being rescued the next day. Meanwhile, the Canadian CF-4Es providing fighter sweep and escort account for 2 Libyan (Turkish built) MiG-21bis interceptors.

McDonnell Douglas A-4FF Skyhawk (Fujimi), "12-YE", EC 1/12, French Air Force, Daka, Senegal vs Libya. Can-can girlie nose art. NG under surfaces, with light olive, DSG and European One green on uppers. Camel hump, black painted Agave radar nose and two internal 30mm DEFA cannon. ARP, centreline DT, 2 x Durandal on horizontal ejector racks on each inner wing pylon, Phimat pod on right outer and Barracuda ECM pod on left outer.
Mission: Making the long journey from Dakar with the aid of refuelling and navigational support from two Canadian CC-135Rs, four inappropriately camouflaged A-4FFs attack the Libyan held airfield at Zouar, Chad. Two are equipped with Durandal to break up the paved runway, the other two carrying Beluga CBUs to hit aircraft parked in the open. A Hip and a Hind are reported as destroyed and two Mig-23s and with a further Hip damaged. The runway is hit successfully and cut in two places. One of the Skyhawks is damaged by a SAM and diverts to Dirkou in Niger. Additional support for the attack is provide by Spanish Escorpians (SEAD and C3I bunker buster) and F-4Gs (SEAD), Canadian F-4Es (top cover) and a Canadian CEC-135R and CE-2C Hawkeye.
Note: The A-4FF aircraft were normally based at Kinshasa, Congo (Zaire), but because the unit normally responsible for Northern African operations was currently withdrawn from combat status due to re-equipment with Jaguars, EC1/12 had to spread itself thin and deploy a detachment to Dakar.

Aermachhi MB.326LS (Supermodel), "731" Sudanese Air Force vs Libya, Al Junayah, Sudan. LG under surfaces with sand, mid-stone and OD uppers. 2 underwing DTs and 2 x Matra 155 rocket pods. SEE PHOTOS 1970s
Mission: After deploying forward from Khartoum to refuel at Al Junayah, Major Omar Khalid flies a solo in a two plane attack mission to Abeche in Chad, which has just been occupied by the Libyan Army. Their target is the town�s police station, where the Libyans are believed to be holding a Sudanese Army Colonel involved in intelligence operations; the idea being either to kill the Colonel before too much information was tortured out of him, or to provide a distraction to allow his escape. The attack is accurate, leaving the police station in flames. Much to the surprise of the Sudanese, the Colonel re-appears a week later, having evaded his would-be Libyan captors.

Helwan HA-220G Aozou (HA-200 Seata)(MPM), 23rd (Brotherhood) Squadron, Libyan Arab Republic Air Force, Bardai, Aozou Strip, northen Chad. Light blue undersurfaces, with armour sand, chocolate and light earth uppers and sides. Libyan green roundels. 2 x UB-16-57 rocket pods on inner under wing pylons and 2 x 20mm Hispano cannon in gondolas underwing. Streamlined flare dispenser scabbed on undersides ahead of wings. Note that the nose guns have been deleted, to allow some space for deployment equipment, a must when frequently deploying to remote and frequently bare facilitis.
Mission: With Libyan intelligence accurately predicting the ADPrO offensive, aircraft were disperse away from the main airfield at Zouar. This saw four Helwan HA-220Gs (a COIN modified, Egyptian built, Spanish/German designed HA-200 Seata, locally known as Aozou and featuring Marbore VI engines, self-sealing tanks, armour and extra navigation euqipment)located out to Bardai to provide counter-insurgency and CAS work. With Bardai overlooked in the ADPrO offensive, these aircraft were thus on call when a Libyan infanty platoon encountered Nigerian special forces on the main road leading from Libya to Zouar. Taking off at 16.30 hrs, pilot Captain Muhamed Latiff (a Pakistani) and navigator/FAC Captain Al-Saad Omar (a Libyan) were joined by another HA-220G and engaged the Nigerians, who were holed up in a strong defensive position. Making several rocket and straffing runs, they quelled the return fire and made it possible for the infantry to capture the Nigerian position. During the engagement, flares and manouvering successfully saw one Nigerian Redeye SAM launch evaded.

26/3/79
Cessna A-37C Dragonfly (Academy A-37B), "240", Ethiopian Imperial Air Force, Kora Toro, Chad vs Libya. Camouflage grey undersurfaces with pale stone, mid-stone and desert sand upper and side surfaces. Single AGM-65B Maverick on each inner underwing pylon, DT on inner middle and Mk.20 Rockeye CBU on outer middle pylons. AIM-9E on outer right and AN/ASQ-173 LST/SCAM on outer left pylon. ALE-39 dispensers beneath fuselage.
Mission: Ably supported by Kenyan KC-30H tankers and French Foreign Legion OV-10DF+s, 8 Ethiopian A-37B "Piglets" (so-called because they were armed like a "baby Warthog") provided CAS/BAI services to ADPrO forces launching an assult on the Libyan occupied town of Faya-Largeau. This particular aircraft, piloted by Lt. Ismael Abubaker, was credited with the destruction of a Libyan tank and several trucks when he and another A-37C were directed against a Libyan column approaching Faya-Largeau from the north, forcing these re-enforcements to retreat. Although the town was taken by ADPrO, it was re-captured by the Libyans a several months later.

RELATED OPTION: Chad Army Bell 212 UH-1N, Libyan Seatta (on the work bench, now)

1979: September
Late 1979 is not a good time for the West. In August, Iran falls to a popular Islamic fundamentalist regime, September, the leftist Sandinista's take power in Nicaragua and then in December the USSR takes control of Afghanistan and Vietnam invades Cambodia.

3/8/79

As the Samoza regime in Nicaragua faulters, international assistance from the Rio Pact nations props up the governemnt for its final months.

Northrop F-5E TigerII (Italeri), "432" 5 Sqd, Columbian Air Force, Manugua, Nicaragua vs Sandanistas. Two bomb mission symbols. DGG overall, counter shaded on uppers with light ghost grey (LGG). ARP, centreline DT, AIM-9J on wing tips.
Mission: With a Sandanista column on Managua's outskirts, the rebels fly two captured Cessna O-2As over the capital. One is shot down by Columbian F-5E, "432" flown by Captain Ricki Fernandez, who dispatches the small piston engined aircraft with 20mm fire during a low altitude chase over Manugua.
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1979 December: OTHER SIDE:
Vietnamese Peoples Liberation Air Force MiG-23 vs Cambodia.

1980: January

21/1/80

LTV A-7N Corsair II (Hasegawa), "493", 349 Sqd, Royal Netheralnds Air Force, Marham, UK, vs WP. European One style camo with wrap around DSG, DG and Euopean One dark green. Equipped with both USN type retractable ARP and USAF type boom recepticle, plus Pave Penny laser marked target sensor under intake. AIM-9L on fuselage pylons, DTs on inner wing, 2 x GBU-10 Pavway II 2,000lb laser guided Mk 84s, ALQ-131 ECM pod on right and AGM-45 Shrike on left outer pylons.
Mission: Colonel Franciscus Horst flies "493" on a nocturnal mission to attack SAM sites in Soviet occupied Poland. Flying in suppoort of an UN stike package with USAF F-4Gs and operating with Pave Tack carrying OF-4Es of the Dutch 323 Squadron, the night ops modified A-7Ns of 349 Squadren provide DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defences)services to back up the SEAD (Supression of Enemy Air Defences) of the F-4Gs. With many Warsaw Pact SAMs in Poland operating from hundreds of hardened and semi-hardened sites, the big GBU-10s are proving useful for the DEAD mission. Tonight, Colonel Hort delivers his Paveways into a concrete bunker serving to co-ordinate a group of SA-6 sites near Poznah.

1980: Feburay
Sepecat Jaguar International SD (Hasegawa), 128, 725 Sqd, Free Danish Air Force, Chambery, France, vs WP. Overall NG. 2 x Magic AAMs on overwing pylons, centreline DT, inner wing pylons with MERs, each with 2XBLG 400 400kg LGBs, right outer with Phimat chaff pod and left outer with Barax ECM pod. 2 x ALE-39 counter measure dispensors under rear fuselage.
Related option: French Jaguar version with BAe recce pod Chadian Air Force, vs Libya, 1979.

23/5/1982

AugustaWestland Tonal (Italeri A129A based)HMA.2, �06� 385 Sqd, Royal Navy, HMAS Ocean, South Atlantic. Augusta A129A Mangusta airframe with AH-64 Apache General Electric T700 engine nacelles including Black Hole IR suppression. Apache stub wings with AAM rails at each tip, mast-mounted sea surveillance and targeting radar from AH-64D and Apache TADS in place of Mangusta M65 TOW turret. Ventral 30mm Chain gun under fuselage, 1 x AIM-9M on each wingtip, 1 x Sea Skua anti-shipping missile under each outer wing pylon with inner left 2 x AGM-114B Hellfire on modified quad mount with EFT attached to lower mountings and inner right, 1 x AGM-45F Maverick. M130 dispensers mounted on rear fuselage with ALQ-114 IR jammer between engine nacelles. Enlarged main wheels. Overall flat gull grey with two yellow (shared) ship silhouettes on left beneath canopy .
Mission: With pilot Lt Cmdr Earnest Jones and weapons operator Lt Martin Taylor flying, Tonal 06 patrols with Tonal 08 into the northern end of Falkland Sound. Their nocturnal mission is to interdict Argentine maritime vessels transiting through the Sound on their way to and from Port Howard and Port San Carlos. Backed by Sea Tomcats FRS.1As providing fighter cover and a Sea Viking AEW.2, they identify three of ships dashing towards Port San Carlos. Closing in, the crew of 06 prepares to launch a Maverick at the patrol ship "Rio Iguaza" when the fighter controllers on the Sea Viking calls out a warning of two approaching Argentine Navy Sea Harier FGA.81s from Stanley Airfield. Leaving the air defence task to the Tomcats, the Tonals continue their attack, the Maverick striking the "Rio Iguaza" and leaving it burning. Next, the crew of Tonal 08 sends a Sea Skua and a Maverick in to transport vessel "Rio Carcarana". 06 follows this with a Hellfire in to the trawler "Narwal", hitting ammunition and sinking the vessel within minutes. Determined to make sure the ship is sunk, 08 rakes the "Rio Carcarana" with 30mm fire around the waterline before both helicopters retreat for the long journey back to HMS Ocean. The end result: both the "Rio Carcarana" and "Narwal" are sunk, with the "Rio Iguaza" badly damaged and beached, never to sail again, with one of the two Argentine Sea Harriers destroyed by the crew of Tomcat FRS.1A �200� (the other making an emergency landing in a field for some ground loitering).

Coming soon: details of Tomcat FRS.1A "200"

1982: June
In response to growing Palestinian and Lebanese guerilla activities, Isreal invades Lebanon, confronting Syria in the process. The Syrian Alpha Jets were Lebanese aircraft seized by the Syrians soon after their arrival in early 1981, this action following a coup attempt by Lebanese Army and Air Force leaders against the Syrian backed government.

Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet A (Fujimi), Syrian Air Force, Homs, Syria vs Isael. Wrap around sand, dark tan and BG. Centreline 30mm DEFA gun pod, 4 x Mk.82SE on under wing pylons.
With Isreali and forces moving through Southern Lebanon, Major Farouk al-Sharaa leads an extremely low level flight with two other Alpha Jets against an Isreali Army column near Marjayoun. A pair of Turkish built MiFG-21MFs are assigned to fly escort. Soon, Isreali F-15As are on their case, taking out the MiGs and picking off the Alpha Jets, leaving Major al-Sharaa to go it alone. Hugging the terrain, he zips over the column of trucks and half tracks, dropping his bombs and turning up the Beka'a Valley to land at an emergency roadside airstrip established by the Syrians. At dawn the next day,Major al-Sharaa flew the aircraft to an airfield in northern Syria, again at low level, without any harrassment from the Isrealis.

RELATED OPTIONS: Turkish Army Mi-24 vs Israel.

1982: December
Ever since Vietnam's December 1979 invasion of Cambodia, the UN backed forces of ASEAN and ANZUS have maintained an economic blockade on Cambodia and Vietnam and a no-fly zone over Cambodia. Now, three years in to their effort, and with the anti-Vietnamese coalition on the brink on major defeats, the UN authorises a massive escalation in air strikes.

Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard (Academy Minicraft), "01" 16th Attack Sqd, Phillipino Air Force, ???, Thailand, vs Vietnam and (puppet) Cambodian government. Medium blue grey (MBG) upper and NG lower surfaces. DT on right inner and AM.39 Exocet on left inner, Magic on outers.

1982: December
McDonald Douglas OA-4M Skyhawk (Fujimi), "A10-106" 2 Sqd, RAAF, Korat, Thialand, vs Vietnam and (puppet) Cambodian government. "Razorback" name on nose gear door. "Shark grey" camo of LSG under surfaces with sides and upper surfaces darkening to DSG via dark gull grey. Black 'roo national markings. Centreline DT, Pave Spike TV and laser designator pod on inner right and AN/AAS-38A Flir pod on inner left, with LAU-10 Zuni 4x5inch rocket pods on outers.

1983: January
General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon (Hasegawa), "82-041", 84 Sqd, RAAF, Korat, Thailand vs Vietnam and (puppet) Cambodian government. Girlie nose art with mission taly board and "Batchelor son" legend behind intake. LSG under with LSG and NG counter shaded on upper surfaces. black 'roo national markings. Rapport II ECM fairing on tail. DTs centreline and under inner wings, F-16 style TERs with 2 x GBU-12 Paveway IIs on centre wing pylons and AIM-9L on wing tips.

1984: March
Following the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan becomes the major base for anti-Soviet rebel forces. The resulting tension leads to several Pakistani air strikes against Soviet targets in Afghanistan throughout the 1980s.

Dassault Mirage F.1EP3(Hasegawa), "41", 17 Sqd, Pakistani Air Force, Sargodha, Pakistan vs USSR and Afghanistan. Overall tan, dark broan and grass green. Laser marked target seeker and laser rangefinder under nose. ARP, 2 x BL755 on centreline, DTs on inner wing pylons with ALE-40 counter measure dispensers on pylons, AGM-45 Shrike on outer right with ALQ-119 on outer left pylon and AIM-9P3 on wing tips.

1984: May
Following Tito's death in 1979, neutral Yugoslavis starts to slowly break up. As civil war breaks out with, the UN, concerned about Soviet penetration of Yuguslav territory and air space, announces a no fly zone over parts of Yugoslavia. Both Yuogoslav and Soviet aircraft are engaged.

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (Hasegawa), "4-11", 4 Stormo, 9 Gruppo, Italian Air Force, Rimmi-Miramare, Italy vs WP and Yugoslavia. Low-viz shark eating Mig-23 art ahead of left intake and 2 red star kill below canopy. NG under and medium grey upper surfaces. Centreline and inner wing pylon DTs, Aspide AAM on right fuselage stations, Atlis II laser designater pod on left fuselage staions, BLG-1000 LGBs on outer underwing pylons, AIM-9M on wing tip stations.

Grumman A-6E Intruder (Fujimi), "158796", 340 Mira, Greek Air Force, Andravidha, Greece vs Yugoslavia. Bomb symbol mission markings. LSG under surfaces with NG uppers. ARP, TRAM turret. Centreline DT, 2 x GBU.16 Mk83 Paveway II laser guided bombs on inners plus MERs on outers each with 3 x Mk83 LDGP bombs and 1 x AIM-9M on F-16 style outer Sidewinder pylon outboard under each wing.

Panavia Tornado IDS(C) (Hasegawa), "188702", 410 Sqd, Canadian Forces, Cottesmore, UK vs WP. Green "Norma Sue" nose art and black bomb mission symbols plus low-viz grey national markings and low viz 410 Sqd cougar emblem. Wrap around variation of F-111 pattern camo with light olive, DSG and European One green. Laser marked raget seeker and laser range finder fairing on right under forward fuselage with FLIR fairing on left; left 27mm cannon removed. Under fuselage DT and AXQ-14 data link pod, 2 x GBU.15 EO-guided Mk84 2,000lb bomb on inner wing pylons with Skyshadow ECM on left and BOZ-100 chaff dispenser on rigt outer pylons.

OTHER SIDE:
Federal Yugoslav AIr Force MiG-27 Flogger D vs UN, Croats, Bosnians etc.

1985: September
General Dynamics F-16A ASF (Air Superiority Fighter) Fighting Falcon (Hasegawa), "658", 312 Sqd, Free Slovak Air Force, Istrana, Italy vs WP. 8 red star kill markings under canopy with "low-viz" black outlined William Tell aces symbol and a Tiger Squadron emblem on the tail. LSG under with gunship grey and NG and Gunship Grey uppers. ASF variant features IRST fairing on left ahead of canopy and low-level TV camera fairing on right ahead of canopy and AIM-7 compatability. Centre line ALQ-131, DTs on inner under wing pylons, 2 x AIM-7M on center pylons, 4 x AIM-9M on outer under wing and wing tip stations.

1987: September
On the 12 September, 1987, Iraq launches a massive offensive against Iran as part of it's long running war with the Islamic fundamentalist nation. Aides by the West, Iraqi forces make deep penetrations in to Iran. In response, Iran, wanting desperately to force an end to the war, escalates its attacks on shipping in the Gulf, thereby precipitating combat with UN forces in the region as they try to protect oil convoys from Iraq and Gulf Co-Operation Council nations.

13/9/87
Northrop F-5F Tiger II (Testors), 27 Sqd, Iraqi Air Force, Kirkuk, vs Iran. Dark brown, tan and DG upper and LG under surfaces. ALE-38 dispensors under lower fuselage. Centreline DT, Belouga on inner pylons, 2xBLU-1 napalm on outers and 2x AIM-9J on wing tips.
Mission: This aircraft is involved in an unsually well documented cpmbat sortie today. At the controls is Colonel Sharar Haydar Mohammed, with documentary director/camera man Hashim Hassan in the rear seat filming the action. To add further images are the gun camera film and a video camera capturing the vision through the HUD. Part of a strike force of 6 ex-Saudi Tiger IIs, their target is dug in Iranian armour east of Bakhtaren in Iran. During the spectacular low altitude attack no Tiger IIs are lost, but Colonel Mohammed is engaged by Iranian F-1s and manages to shoot one down with a Sidewinder; his wingman also bags a kill in similar fashion. With all this captured on film, the sortie becoes a highlight of Hassan's next feature length propaganda movie, Tigers over the Tigris, which also makes Colomel Mohammed a star.

On this night, Iranian, U.S. and U.K. units clashed over the Gulf. The incident began as a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter patrol consisting of 2 AH-1Ws and a UH-1N+ reported taking fire from an Iranian oil platform suspected of involvement in attacks on shipping. The Americans returned fire, sending Hellfires, 70mm rockets and 20mm rounds into the structure, destroying it. The fact that this was in recognised Iranian waters appeared to pass the Americans by, who immediately began attacking other Iranian sea surface targets as they converged on the area to render assistance to the platform. In response, the Iranians launched several air attacks on UN shipping, using F-4Es and their missile armed F-1s. This in turn, this brought about British involvement, as their ships and F-15Cs in the area joined the mutual air defence effort. By day break, both sides had retreated and set about about recovering their dead and wounded.

Bell 412 UH-1N+ Griffon (Italeri), "113" HML/A-367, USMC, aboard USS Guam, The Gulf vs Iran. "Defender of freedom" nose art. NG overall. Inverted TADS optical & IR sensor/laser designator on roof top, AAN-16 FLIR under nose, open rear doors with pintel mounted .50 Cal machine guns, ALE-40 chaff/flare dispensors on tail boom and ALQ-144 IR jammer above engine. SEE PHOTOS 1980s
Mission:Part of the helicopter combat team that sparked the incident, "113" was tasked with provided FAC, targeting, immediate air defence and light fire support against the oil platform. The names of the crew have not been released.

Mitsubishi/Iranian Aircraft Industries F-1 (Hasegawa), 16 Sqd, Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, Lali, Iran vs US Navy. Tan, sand and medium green upper and LG under surfaces. Centreline DT, ASM-1 on left and ASM-2 on right inner wing pylons with PL-7 AAMs (Chinese Magic copies) on wing tips.
Mission: One of "around 30" (DoD estimate) locally produced F-1s in service with the Iranian Republic Islamic Air Force at the time, this aircraft was one of two tasked to hit U.S. Navy vessels in the Gulf near Bahrain. Escorted by F-4Es, both F-1s fired both of their missiles (acquired from Japan via Pakistan) at long range, hitting the frigates USS Palua and the USS Madden, sinking the latter. Although one of the F-1s was subsequently shot down, this aircaft, piloted by Lt. Ali Daei survived.

McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle F.3 (Fujimi), "DO - 888", 43 Sqd, RAF, Al Dhafra, Sharjah vs Iran. Overall NG with DGG counter shaded on upper surfaces. "RAF Desert Eagles" emblem on vertical stabilizers, low-viz national markings and pink Spitfire art behind left intake. F-14 style Northrop TCS (TV Camera System)under the nose. Centreline DT, 4 x Active Skyflash AAMs on fuselage stations with 4 x AIM-9M on under wing stations; AAS-38A FLIR mounted beneath left pylon.
Piloted by Sqd Ldr Alex Ramon, this aircraft was one of a pair of RAF Eagle F.3s patrolling over the Gulf that intercepted an Iranian strike package. Flying against 4 F-4Es and 2 F-1s, Ramon shot down 2 Phantom IIs whilst his wingman, F/O Dean Newman, shot down a single F-1 .

1988: July

In 1996, the break-up of Yuogoslavia was formaliased by a UN backed peace agreement. This allowed for a cease fire and a means to determine borders. As part of the agreement, all sides were allowed to re-equip thier armed forces within the constrainst of a conventional arms control treaty. In terms of airpower, this permitted subsonic combat aircraft to be operated only, with the UN chiefly responsible for air defence over the break away states, plus Albania. However, ceasefire violations rose sharply during the first half of 1988 along with a growing conflict in Serb controlled Kosovo, leading to a determination by the UN to deal once and for all with what they saw as Serb aggression. In July, 1988, the U.N. was able to launch a sucessful offensive against the Soviet backed Serb forces. By cobbling together a colition of previously warring nationalities, they were able to take advantage of their air superiority in the region and retake ground that had long been fought over. By the end of September, they had forced Belgrade to surrender as U.N. ground troops probed at the city's suburbs.
15/7/ 1988

As a result of the devastation wrought by the earlier Balkan war, the Yugoslav Air Force and much of the industry that supported it was left in tatters. With few flyable and salvageable aircraft and smashed factories, they had to import new equipment that met with the new arms control limitations. With UN type aircraft unavailable and deep concerns about the suitability of the local Orao design, the Turkish built multi-role Su-39S (Savasci = Fighter) Frogfoot came to be the combat vehicle of choice. Of the 27 delivered before July 1988, 2 were converted to test a locally produced all-weather fire control system, based around the Re�no Korito (River Bed) FLIR/EO turret. The system had been tested on the Oroa before the nation�s break up. The first Frogfoot converted was Black 43, which featured a non-standard nose mounting without the more aerodynamic fairing installed on the second test vehicle, Black 45.
Su-39YNN (Yugoslav Noc Atak = Night Attack) (Zvenda), Black 42, 3 Sqd Yugoslav Air Force, Cacak, Yugoslavia vs UN forces. Small red star Yugoslav AF roundels. Flying witch on broom stick each side of nose. Black undersurfaces with upper and side surfaces black green, light olive, tan and uniform green. Locally developed Re�no Korito (River Bed) FLIR/laser turret mounted on nose with Kopyo-25 (Spear) radar on centre line. Tandem paired ASO-2 dispensers above rear of engine nacelles and UV-26 dispensers in vertical tail fairing ahead of L-166S Sukhogruz (General cargo vessel) active IR jammer. Large intake under the rear of each engine nacelle for improved IR exhaust cooling. One 30mm twin cannon in under fuselage fairing. Underwing, from outside inwards: 2 x R-73 (AA-11 Archer) AAMs, 1 x R-27R (AA-10 Alamo A) left and 1 x R-27T (AA-10 Alamo B) right, 2 x EFT, 2 x L-57-16 rocket pods, 1 x 8 pack of 9M120 Vikhr (Viking) laser guide missiles left, 1 x Danube ECM pod right.
Mission: Removed from their test duties and transferred to 3 Sqd the day before the UN offensive, Black 43 and 45 were deployed to Cacak to be ready for combat operations. The next night, though, only Black 43 was combat ready when Capt Milovan Djoric was ordered to escort a pair of An-32s to Pale, in the serb held Republika Srpska and back. This was part of a major operation to rescue Bosnian-Serb leaders from their capital before it was cut off and overrun by the UN. Flying low to avoid or reduce the chances of detection, Djoric reached Pale with little trouble only to find the airfield under attack from Egyptian Special Forces. Working with a ground based FAC and using cannon fire, rockets and firing Vikhr missiles, Djoric gave cover while the transport set down and were loaded with VIPs. One of the transports has hit badly and had to be abandoned, but the other took off and reached safety with the Bosnian-Serb President on board. Meanwhile, Djoric was engaged by a pair of Italian Squall F.1s (combat capable BAe EAP �iterim� fighters) which fired three Active Skyflash AAMs and a AIM-9M at him, causing some damage to his mount. In return, the Serbian pilot fired a R-27T and both R-77s and dispensed plenty of chaff and flares. Diverting to a small airstrip at Bajina Basta just across the border in Serbia, Djoric landed his damaged Frogfoot and was later awarded several decorations for his actions.

26/7/88
MB.339KB (Supermodel) "29", Bonian Presidency Air Force, Zagreb, Croatia, vs Serbian forces. Light sea grey undersurfaces, on vertical tail and half-way up fuselage sides with flat gull grey on uppersurfaces and half-way down fuselage sides. Undernose LRMTS fairing with NF-5A style chaff/flare dispensors on rear fuselage and large tip tanks. AIM-9Ms AAMs on outer, RBL.755 CBUs on middle and Mk.82s on inner underwing pylons.
Mission: Flown by Capt. Jovo Radovic, this was one of 2 MB.339KBs to attack a Bosnian-Serb militia artillery site near Dojob, Bosnia. Flying with the support of an Egyptian FAC in a TIALD equipped Jaguar, the two MB.339KBs were credited with the destruction of two artillery pieces and several trucks.
RELATED OPTIONS: Austrian HARM equipped AMX, Slovenian Hawk 100.

1989: March: A MONTH IN AFRICA

With Zaire (freshly renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the death of it's long time leader) under attack from all sides in a civil war that has taken on international dimensions, a U.N. task force is fighting to regain territory and to stablise the nation with a new, U.N. backed leadership. However, significant regional forces are in opposition, with the Southern African Community (SAC) nations (Angola, Anzania, Bostwana, Mozambique, Namimbia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) resisting the UN and attempting to place their own preferred leader in to power.

15/3/89
North American Aviation/Bombardier COV-10M Bronco (Hasegawa OV-10A kit), "1903697", Canadian Armed Forces, 104 Sqd, Kananga, DRC. NG undersurfaces, with European One green, dark sea grey and flat gull grey uppers and sides. LANTIRN attack and nav pods under fuselage, with AGM-114C Hellfire on single round launcher on left outer sponsons pylon and 7 round CRV-7 rocket launcher on outer right. Pave Penny LST on A-10 stle mounting on right forward fuselage and air refueling probe on left. AIM-92 A Stinger POST single round launchers on stub pylons attached to outside of each underwing station, with a DT on each pylon and an ALE-40 dispenser scabbed on to the inner on the pylon. ALQ-144 IRCM above rear fuselage and RWHRS fairings on fuselage nose and at rear top of each vertical tail. ALE-40 flush mounted also in each boom.
Mission: This aircraft and its crew is responsible for assisting in the defence of a Canadian fire base under sustained attack from Angolan forces during the night. Piloted by Major Steven Greig and with Capt. Luke Turkle as FAC, they call in other U.N. assets including a Cuban AC-130H to deal with the Angolans. Flying for over 4 hours, and with a refueling from an Cuban KC-130H, they help to force the attacker to retreat, themselves being credited with the destruction of a tank using their Hellfire.

EMBRAER EMB-312FFL Tucano (Premier), "24", "Easy money", 3rd Esq, French Foreign Legion Air Corps, Lisala, DRC. NG undersurfaces with black, black green, chocolate brown and light olive on upper and side surfaces. Chaff/falre dispenser beneath central fuselage, ahead of ALQ-144 IRCM and MAWS fairing beneath rear. 2x .50cal MG pod on inner and 18x58mm Matra 155 RP on outer pylons.
MIssion: On the same day, in the north of the country, the French Foreign Legion is tasked with maintaining control over river traffic along the Congo. Flying solo, American pilot George Adams (a Ret. USAF Capt.) and in company with another EMB-312FFL (flown by a South African) engage a barge that has fired on a DRC Army patrol boat, sinking the vessel. During the engage, two IR-guided SAMs are fired, both being evaded.

Denel Kori A.1ZI (Yumu Soko G-4 Super Galeb) "11888", 8 Sqd, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Gerwu, Zimbabwe. Chocolate and BG upper and side surfaces, LG underneath. Aden 25 mm cannon pod (from BAe Hawk) on centerline, aft of small LMTS fairing. DTs on inner underwing pylons with Denel 250kg retarded bombs (Mk82 Snakeye look-a-likes) on outers, with PL-7 AAMs on wingtip launchers. Chaff/flare dispensers scabbed on to lower rear fuselage. Nose refueling probe (from A-37B). Single seat cockpit, with rear seat area covered for extra avionics space.
Mission: Developed from the Joint Anzanian-Yugoslav G-4 Super Galeb/Kori, the single seat Kori A.1 was a standard attack aircraft of the SAC nations by the late 1980s. Escorted by Zambian Denel Cheetah C fighters and refueled by Anzanian Chinese built An-12 tankers, 12 Zimbabwian Kori A.1ZIs attack the UN airfield at Kamina, destroying a fuel storage area and causing damage several aircraft, including a Cuban AC-130H. None of the attackers were damaged. The pilot of "11888" on this day was Capt. Vincent Pamire.

BR>Also this week in Africa, an Army coup in the nation of Somalia sees the destruction of the last vestiages of quasi-civilian rule and a collapse into anarchy.

Hughes 500MD-TOW Defender (Italeri), "214", Somali Army, Mogadishu, Somalia Army vs Somali government. OD overall. 2x twin TOW launchers.
Mission: Colonel Mohammed Ali Mahdi of the Somali Army was at the controls of "214" alongside TOW operator Major Abd-i-rashid Ali Shermarke on a mission to eliminate the leaders of Somalia. Targeting a building in Mogadishu where a cabinet meeting was being held by the ruling joint military-civilian government, Major Shermarke fired 2 TOWs into the room where the meeting was being held and one TOW each into the adjoining rooms. A second Defender followed up the attack with Minigun and rocket fire before a special operations team loyal to the General Mohammed Ibrahim Egal stormed the building. By the time the operation was over the entire cabinet was dead. Hours later Egal appointed himself President. In the weeks that followed, the north of the country declared independence and Egal set about ruthlessly establishing his rule in the south against a backdrop of growing clan violence. When, in mid-June, Egal is himself assinated, the Somali Army breaks up into openly warring factions.

1990: December
In late November, 1990, UN forces led by NATO invade Soviet occupied southern Norway, following the Soviet invasion of neutral Sweden, leading to a new ground war front. By the end of December, the battle front will broadened to include Sweden and Finland as the Soviet domination of the region falters.

10/12/90
Bell 406 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior (Italeri), "913" 655 Sqd, British Army, Finse, Norway vs USSR and Socialist Republic of Norway. BG overall, small type B roundel. ALQ-144 IR jamer above tail boom, 2 x AGM-114A Hellfire on right ordnance pylons with 1 x M260 7 round 2.75 inch rocket pod on left.
Mission: Major Tim Boyden (FAC) and Captain Will Donald (pilot)conduct a night armed recconnaissance in 913 and encouter a large armoured Soviet force heading south from Andalsnes. Hampered by low cloud and falling snow, and dodging the attentions of SAMs and Ka-50 Hokums, Boyden and Donald manage to call in a series of helicopter and fixed winged air strikes against the advancing enemy before leaving the scene to refuel. Twice they return to the fray, identifying and marking targets in conditions now worsened by fires and smoke. For their efforts, they are mentioned in dispatches.

Fairchild A-10D Thunderbolt II (Hasegawa), "06" VMA-531, USMC, Stravanger, Norway vs USSR and Socialist Republic of Norway. "Speedwell" nose art, 1991 Gulf War A-10 style kill list beneath canopy. Wrap around NG, DSG and LG. Terrain avoidance radar in front of right landing gear nacelle, ARP to right of cockpit with boom receptical ahead of canopy. AN/AAS-38B NITEHawk FLIR and laser designator pod on inner left under wing pylon, 2 x AGM-65D IR guided Mavericks on right mid and 2 x AGM-65E laser guide Mavericks on left mid under wing pylons, ALQ-184 ECM pod on outer right and 2 x AIM-9M on twin mountings with on outer left pylon.
Mission: Capt. Simon P. "Speedwell" Weller is one of those who render fire power support to Boyden and Donald's efforts to stop the Soviet advance tonight. Flying under their minimum safety limits, Weller and wingman Capt. James "Jimbo" Rutter manage to repeatly engage Soviet armour under the guidance of the British Army rotary FAC team. Weller manages to fire 3 AGM-65s (2 D and 1 E model) and several round of 30mm shells, being credited with destroying 2 tanks and an APC, before being forced to break off due to poor visibility. Several small arms rounds are later found to have hit is A-10D. During the engagement, Rutter is killed when a SAM hits his aircraft at low level and he augurs in to a hill. Rutter is credited with destroying 1 tank.

OTHER SIDE: L-29ZA of the Swedish Socialist Republic Air Force vs Swedish patriots/UN, Su-24 Fencer Polish Air Force vs UN.

1990: December
As the USSR teeters on the brink of internal dissolution and surrender, Finland, under pressure to allow greater Soviet military access to its territory and airspace, renounces the terms of its economic and military agreements with Soviet Union. Effectively but not formally this amounts to a declaring war on its larger neighbour. The December War lasts less than three weeks.

14/12/90
Mikoyan Guverich MiG-29 Flcrum A (Hasegawa), "MG-130", HavLv 31, Kuopio-Rissala, Finland vs USSR. LSG under with LSG and light ghost grey counter shaded on upper surfaces. Pouncing feline unit emblem on vertical stabilisors. 2 x white star (US), 1 x RAF type B roundel and 2 x red star (USSR) kill markings. 2 x AA-10 AAMs (one IR, one SARH) on inner wing pylons, 4 x AA-8 IR guided AAMs on outer wing pylons.
Mission: This is the personal aircraft of Colonel Jari Litmanen, the squadren leader of HavLv 31. The first 3 kill markings on this aircraft are those earned during his time as volunteer with USSR's Frontal Aviation, flying MiG-21Bis aircraft during the late 1970s. They represent a USAF A-7D, a USAF F-16A and an RAF Jaguar GR.1. The two red star kills are from the first night of the December War, 13/12/90, when Litmanen claimed two Soviet aircraft, an IL-76 and a MiG-29 Fulcrum C. On this, the next day, he would be credited with a further two victories, destroying an Su-24 Fencer and another Fulcrum C during Soviet attacks on the air base.

1990-91: December - January
As the USSR disintegrates, Soviet troops under commanders wanted by the UN for war crimes seek refuge in neutral Turkey, Syria and in North Korea. Whole divisons move, vowing to fight on. Those in Turkey and Syria effectively hold their host nations to ransom as the UN demands their disarnament and surrender; in return, they threaten an assualt on Israel with weapons of mass destruction. Similarly in North Korea, the Soviets are less beligerant, but the North Koreans refuse to hand them over to the UN. With a deadline set for 15 January, 1991, the last acts of WW3 are set to play out.

17/1/910
Grumman A-6E Intruder (Hasegawa), "106 - E", RAAF, Misawa, Japan vs USSR. LSG under and NG upper surfaces. Black 'roo national markings and "Daphne" art behind left intake. ARP, centre line DT, 1 x AGM-119A Penguin on left inner pylon with AGM-123A Skipper II rocket assisted GBU-16 Paveway II on right inner and 2 x AGM-84C Harpoon on outers.
Mission: On the fisrt night of the campaign against North Korea, this aircarft (crewed by pilot Flt Lt Ray Munro and WSO Flt Lt Mike Martin) engage two North Korean destroyers in the Sea of Japan, destroying both.
Related options: Japanese F-16D FAC?

McDonnell Douglas (R)F-4E Phantom II (Fujimi), Iraqi Air Force, H-2, Iraq vs Syria. Overall NG. F-4E with centreline PHARPS (TARPS derived PHanton Airborn Recconnaisance Pod), 2 x AIM-7E on rear fuselage stations, BOZ-100 chaff pod on right inner wing and 2 x AGM-122B ARMs on right inner station, with ALE-39 dispensers scabbed on each inner wing pylon and DT on outer pylons.
Mission: After the first night's attacks, this aircraft is dispatched to provide imagery along the Syrian-Iraqi border. After dodging several SAMs, imagery is returned confirming the success of several overnight air attackes on Syrian border positions.

McDonnell Douglas F-15E Eagle (Hasegawa), "186" 322 Sqd, Royal Dutch Air Force, Al Kharj Air Base, Saudi Arabia vs Turkey. Overall gunship grey. Garfield "Flying standard" nose art on left and Snoopy riding a bomb on right. 322 Sqd Eagle badge on vertical stabilizers. Underwing DTs, 1 x AIM-9M on inner rail and 1 x AIM-120A AMRAAM on outer rail on each wing pylon, LANTIRN navigation and targeting pods plus JP233 on centre line.
Mission: The main runway at the Turkish airbase of Malatya/Erha� is the target of Capt Berthold Timmers and WSO Capt Petrus Timmins in F-15E "186" on the first night of the campaign against Turkey and Syria. Flying low over the airbase, they are engaged by a fierce air defence effort that destoys 3 other UN aircraft (another JP-233 equipped Dutch F-15E, a USAF F-19A Tornado on a SEAD/DEAD sortie, and an escorting RAF Eagle F.2B)over the next few minutes, but remarkably Timmers and Timmins complete their mission successfully and without a scratch.

In a side line to the operations in Kuwait and Syria, Greece and the Greek Cypriot government launches an attack on the Turkish half of Cyprus. With Turkey in a vulnerable position as the U.N. goes after the Soviet troops harboured there, the Turkish Cypriots are defeated and forced off the island, being airlifted and shipped by Greek forces to an area of Turkey temporarilly occupied by the Greek Army especially for the purposes of landing the refugees. The operation started on the 20th of January and is complete by February 7th.

27/1/90
Bell 209 AH-1W Super Cobra (Testors), "34501", Greek Marines, Rizokarpaso, Cyprus vs Turkish Army. DG, dark brown and light brown wrap around camo. A-10A 1991 Gulf War style kill list (tanks, trucks, APCs etc) behind canopy. 8 x AGM-114A Hellfire anti-tankmissiles, 2 x M261 19 round 2.75 inch rocket pods and nose mounted M197 20mm cannon.
Mission: In Cyprus since in the 23rd January launch of the campaign, this helicopter has been operated with considerable sucess from both ship and land bases by its crew of Capt. Vasilios Dimitriadis (pilot) and Lt. Yiannis Kalitzakis (gunner). On this day, they sortied against Turkish armour at Rizokarpaso, one of the last Turkish Army strongholds on the island, destroying 3 tanks, 3 APCs, a radar and several trucks.

25/2/91
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet (Hasegawa), "531" 331 Sqd, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Elefs�s Air Base, Greece vs Turkish and disident Soviet units. A-10A Gulf War style kill list of ground targets and 1 red star kill. DTs on inner wing pylons, 1 x AGM-65G-2 on outer left, 1 x CPU.123 UK 1,000lb Paveway II laser guided bomb on right outer, HER with 2 x CBU.59 Rockeye on centreline, 1 x Active Skyflash on right fuselage station with TIALD pod on left. AIM-132A ASRAAMs on wintips.
Mission: On a nocturnal interdiction flight working a kill box in eastern Turkey, pilot Maj Kennett Aanonsen WSO Lt Magnus Bersvendsen engange a Turkish Army (locally built) Mi-8 helicoper flying at low altitude. After damaging it with an ASRAAM round and forcing it to land, they finish it off with their 1,000 lb Paveway. This is the last "air to air kill" recorded of WW3 and comes just 2 days prior to the end of all related hostilities.

28/2/91
Grumman EA-6B Prowler (Fujimi), "03" 835 Sqd, Royal Navy, HMS Nelson, The Gulf vs Turkey and dissident Soviet units. Bathing woman with beach ball nose art on right, Sea witch/Debbie on left with camel mission symbols. LSG under surfaces, NG around cockpit but mostly LGG on upper surfaces. Centre line DT, 2 x ALARM on inner wind pylons and standard Prowler ECM pods on outers. SEE PHOTOS 1980s