Day 22: 7 Feb 1991

07 February 1991 (Thursday): DAY 22

GENERAL:

v Cheney enroute to Gulf, declares ground war date is still open

v Battleship Wisconsin takes over from the Missouri and fires its guns in anger

for the first time since 1953

v US targets Bagdad-Amman Highway

v Commander of the French Land Forces in the Persian Gulf becomes ill and is

replaced by Gen Bernard Janvier

v The RAF rushed GEC-Ferranti Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator

(TIALD) Pods to go after bridges, command centers, and fixed installations with

LGB's. Bucanneer Aircraft are also being considered with Pave Spike.

v Two members of an IRA Hit Squad launched a mortar attack on 10 Downing

Street while a meeting of the War Cabinet was being held. The Van-launched

mortar rounds hit in the adjacent garden. No one was hurt, but it was close.

Could Sadam have engerized the IRA?

v Iraq begins the destruction of Kuwaiti Oil Fields

v 12 hours of allied bombing in Bagdad. The Wisconsin fires 11 x 16" rounds.

The NGF Mission was scheduled to provide cover for a Marine Reconnaissance Team

probing the Kuwaiti defenses. The Missouri fired its guns on the 4th. Baker proposes

a MidEast Bank for re-construction.

v Israeli Commando's attack PLO targets in Lebanon

AIR WAR:

v 12 hours of continuous raids on Bagdad

v UK/US announce that 31 of 38 bridges that lead to the KTO are destroyed

v The Al-Jomhouriya Bridge over the Tigris is knocked out by F/A-18's and

F-15E's in subsequent attacks, then finished off by F-117's

v Central Communications Center in Bagdad destroyed

v 06 x Iraqi Air Force Aircraft make it to Iran, 02 x more crash from fuel

starvation

v A-6E's destroy an Iraqi Patrol Boat in the Northern Gulf

v Kuwaiti AF F-1 Mirages make their first bombing missions against Iraq

v British Buccaneer with Pave Spike and GR-1's take out three bridges

F-117 HIGHLIGHTS (07Feb/Day 22):

v Day 22/Wave Three: 6 x F-117's from the 416th TFS

4 x F-117's from the 415th TFS

- takeoff during the p.m. of Day 22/7th to hit targets on Day 22/7th

- Scored 15 hits with 20 PGM attempts (75%)

- Bagdad Nuclear Reactor (Research facility at Osirik)

- Habbaniyah Airfield

- Biological warfare research center at Taji

- Bagdad Petrolium refinery

- Ammunition Storage Bunkers at Latifiya

v Day 23/Wave One: 6 x F-117's from the 416th TFS

6 x F-117's from the 415th TFS

- takeoff before sunset on Day 22/7th to hit targets on Day 23/8th

- Communication Sites at Ar Ramadi, Sawaij Ad Dacha, & Al Kuwayt

- Scored 18 direct hits with 20 PGM attempts (90%)

- The Balad Air Defense Operations Center

- The Presidential Command, Control, and Communications Bunker (C3I)

- Iraqi Air Force Air Defense Headquarters

- Ministry of Industry in Bagdad

- Integrated Air Operations Center and GCI Radar Facility at Karbala

- Salmon Pak Troposcatter Station

v Day 22/Wave Two: 6 x F-117's from the 416th TFS

6 x F-117's from the 415th TFS

- takeoff before sunset on Day 20/5th to hit targets on Day 21/6th

- Scored 22 hits with 25 PGM attempts (88%)

- Chemical Warfare Production facility and bunkers at Samarra

- Capt Scott Stimpert (416th TFS) delivered the 1000 th bomb

over the Samarra Chemical Weapons Bunkers (dropped both bombs)

KILLS:

v A section of 2 x F-15C's led by the 33rd TFW's Commander, Col Rick Parsons,

was on a BARCAP mission to intercept and down escaping to Iran. A situation

developed that enabled them to intercept and destroy at least three escaping SU-7/17

Fitters with a possible fourth. There were also rumors that escorting MiG-23

Floggers may also have been downed or at least involved in the engagement.

- The CENTCOM Awards message originally referenced (2) Kills each for

Col Parson's and Capt Anthony Murphy, but Parson's F-15 on return to

Eglin AFB had only one Kill credit with his name.

- "Air Forces Monthly", Aug 91, pg 60, says that 4, not 3, Su-22's were downed

- 1 x Su-7/17/22 Fitter downed by 1 x F-15C, 33rd TFW/58th TFS

... Col Rick N. Parsons (080-34-4409)

... 84-0124

... (1) AIM-7 HIT and KILL

... Tail-On Day Shot

... aircraft 85102 assigned to Col Rick Parsons had credit with his

name on return to Eglin AFB

... Kill verified by CENTCOM and Officially awarded by TAC

- 1 x Su-7/17/22 Fitter downed by 1 x F-15C, 33rd TFW, same pilot

... Col Rick N. Parsons

... 84-0124

... 1 x AIM-7 HIT and KILL (not verified)

... Tail-On Day Shot

- 1 x Su-7/17/22 Fitter downed by 1 x F-15C, 33rd TFW/58th TFS

... Capt Anthony R. "ET" Murphy

... 1 x AIM-7 HIT and KILL

... 85-0104

... Tail-On Day Shot

... Kill verified by CENTCOM and Officially awarded by TAC

-1 x Su-7/17/22 Fitter downed by 1 x F-15C, 33rd TFW/58th TFS

... Capt Anthony R. "ET" Murphy (29)

... 700 hrs in the F-15, 280 combat hours in 50 combat missions

... "big glob" of targets, sorted and shot with Col Parsons

... jettisoned tanks and closed inside of 10 nm, targets heading for Iran

... 1 x AIM-9 HIT and KILL

... Aircraft 85-0104 with an engagement time logged at 12:00 noon

... Tail-On Day Shots, TO(D)

... Kill verified by CENTCOM and Officially awarded by TAC

-1 x Unknown Attack Helicopter downed by an F-15C, 26th TFW/525th TFS

... Maj Randy W. "Rotor" May

... "Killer 03", Number three in a fourship

... assigned to the 7440th TFW(p) from the 22nd TFS at Bitburg

... got 50 combat hous in 12 missions with 2500 hours total time

... 2 x AIM-7's fired (outside of 10 nm) HIT and KILL (both fuzed)

... Tail-On Day Shot, TO(D)

... Kill verified by CENTCOM and Officially awarded by TAC

- at least (5) additional Iraqi aircraft are reported to have crashed attempting

forced landings on roads, at least one pilot ejected

LOSSES:

v 1 x F/A-18 lost over the Gulf after returning from a KTO bomb mission

- pilot is MIA, and eventually considered KIA

- mechanical problems suspected

v 1 x AH-1J lost to non-combat reasons, 2nd ACR

v 1 x UH-1H lost to non-combat reasons, 2nd ACR

v 1 x UK GR-1 Tornado from No. 27 Squadron

- based at Muharraq Air Base, Bahrain

- ZD717

- mission to suppress AAA fire around Al Alili Airfield, West of Basra

... 4 x 1000 Lbs LGB's for Buccaneer Laser Work with Pave Spike

... 2 x AIM-9L's

... Skyshadow ECM Pod

... Boz Pod with Flares & Radar Decoys

- FltLt Robbie Stewart, pilot that was captured, Navigator KIA

... 1800 takeoff

... VC-10 (101 Squadron) refueling prior to entry point

... 540 kts at 200 ft low level auto-terrain following (ATF)

- Aircraft downed in Baklawiya, 12 miles west of Fallouja

- became the 6th and final combat loss for UK GR-1's

- from Roland SAM

... 10 miles from target pilot heard & saw RHAW warning head-on

... evasive turn made, Roland hit aircraft, crew ejected by Nav

... navigator incapacitated on ejection and is still missing

- Pilot (Stewart) landed near the fence of the airfield he was

attacking, in a ditch and was unconscience for over 10 hours

... his right leg was crushed

... he drew attention to himself and sought medical aid from the

Iraqi's, was captured and repatriated by the UN after the War

SCUDS:

v Iraq threatened to use its Al Abbas against Israel

v (1) SCUD destroyed by Patriot going to Riyadh and (1) launcher destroyed

in Western Iraq

Gulf War 1991 Chronology

Day 22: 7 Feb 1991