Hello everyone, can any of you give me any information on the F/A-18C, that was said to have been shot down by an Iraqi Mig-25PD. I was talking to a friend and he said he had read the story, but didnt remember where. Any information or web information will be appreciated. Thanks, Herbie
this is true. only iraqi air to air kill in the gulf war. I read it in one of my books. I’ll see if I can dig it out for you…
i know we lost one due to an sam missile hit but i never heard of one being shot down by the iraqies. it was lt mike speicher aircraft and i knew him he was a great piolt and a good friend.but never heard of one being shot down by anothet fighter. if you need more info on this go over to the aircraft resource center they should be able tohlep you out on this matter.
The F-18C shot down was shot down on 17 Jan 91 on the first strike of the Iragi war. It was from VFA-83 onboard the USS Saratoga (CAG-17). The pilot was LCDR Michael Scott Speicher (Spike) and was never found. He was shoot down on his way out of Bagdad after a strike. I can’t remember what side number he was flying but VFA-83 had the 300 series modex’s.
The first word that was put out was that he was hit by a SAM and his whole nose was blown off but when I was talking to my pilots that were on that first strike they told me that it was indeed a MIG that got him and the SAM story was a smoke screen because the DON didn’t want anyone know that we lost one in a air to air engagement.
Reddog, VF-103 Sluggers 1990 to 1993.
Herbie,
As previously mentioned in other replies one F/A-18C Hornet was shot down by an Iraqi Air Force MiG-25 on January 16, 1991. The pilot invloved was then LCDR Michael Scott “Spike” Speicher, now Captain Speicher (has been promoted when his status was changed by the by the SECDEF to MIA 1/10/2001). Initially Coalition forces reported to the media that Capt. Speicher was shot down by a SAM as that this was the “only” way a coalition aircraft could have been lost as the allies thought they controlled the skies. In reality Capt Speicher was part of a strike package that launched of USS Saratoga in the Red Sea. Speicher’s Hornet was Sunliner 403 part of VFA-81 “Sunliners” and not VFA-83 as stated in a previous reply. Speicher’s aircraft was armed with two AGM-88 Harm missiles and he was flying as an element in a SEAD package. While inbound of “indian territory” USAF AWACS starting giving warnings of MiG-25s that had launched out of Al-Taqqudum AB. The package visually acquired the Foxbats due to it being night time and the plume from the MiG-25s are easy to see. The MiGs reportdly flew right thru the package causing the A-6E from VA-75 to take some evasive action to avoid a collision. The pilot of the MiG that got into a firing postion to shoot down Capt. Spiecher origin has come to question. It has been disussed that the pilot possibly might have been a Soviet pilot if not an Iraqi Air Force pilot. Read the book No One Left Behind by Amy Waters, she opened the case to resume the search for Capt. Speicher and alot of information in this book will shock on what our government new about this incident. Hope this helps!
AO1 (AW) Troy Quigley USNR
VFA-201 “Hunters”
I was on the Ranger and we lost an A-6 w/ the crew KIA that night.[:(] Hand Salute…to.
Eddie
Thanks everyone for the replys. I guess it seemed hard to belive at first that one of our pilots, flying a Hornet could be shot down by “inferior” Iraqi pilots. Of course that is not true, but I wonder if he actually had time attempt any evasive manouvers? Possibly releasing chaffs, or some type of counter-measures. I will definately look for the book “No one left behind”. Thanks again, Herbie
AO1,
Thanks for correcting me, it was VFA-81. VFA-83 got the MIG kills a few days later, got my squadrons mixed up, that’s what happens when you get old.
Reddog
There’s another book also; Wings Of Fury by Robert Wilcox that talks about that night.
There’s a really detailed article on it at this address. And yes, LCDR Speicher was with VFA-81, not 83.
Cobrahistorian thank you for the great read.
Good Lord! That’s a very touching, but disturbing, article.
Thanks for the link.
Regards,
Cobrahistorian, thanks for the additional read on the shoot down of that Hornet. All you guys have given me more info than I thought I would get in such a quick time frame. I plan on reading all the info I can get. Thanks, Herbie
are there any decal sets (1/32 or 1/48) for Speicher’s aircraft?
I’ve got the Academy F-18C, what mods are necessary to make Scott S’s plane?
AO1,
Are you a SELRES or a TAR? I’d like to get back in, but I don’t know who’s keeping their doors open long enough for that to happen. If you’ve got the time drop me an email
Thanks,