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The First Gulf War started 32 years ago on January 17, 1991. After the Belgian and Italian fleets, Levent Başara continues his series of articles with the memories of Semih Taş, who served in the 111th Fleet of the Turkish Air Force with the rank of First Lieutenant in those years. Retired Air Pilot Major Semih Taş talks about how they were waiting for orders to strike Al-Qayyarah Air Base, located south of Mosul.
Can we go back to the days before the Gulf War started? How was your day at Filo? Have there been any unusual circumstances?
I joined the 111th Fleet on January 2, 1990. I was at the rank of lieutenant. Previously, I had completed the Combat Readiness Training with the F-5s at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya, and when the F-4E aircraft type that I would serve in the draw came out, I completed the F-4E Full Combat Readiness Training in the 131st Fleet. .
Then I was assigned to the 111th Fleet and in August I became a First Lieutenant.
That year, in the autumn before the Gulf War, NATO's Display Determination'90 exercise was held in Eskişehir. For this exercise, F-14 and F-18s from the fleets of the US Navy on the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga were transferred to Eskişehir.
In the exercise, we created attack packages and conducted joint flights with both the F-18 and F-14s and the F-104s departing from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir.
Electronic Warfare support was provided to us by the EA-6Bs that took off from the USS Saratoga. Our air protection was with the F-14s and the F-4Es of the 112th Fleet.
We were creating the attack packages together with the F/A-18s. Some squadrons were also flying in the red role (Enemy). There were Dutch or Belgian F-16s deployed to Balıkesir Square. They were also trying to prevent us.
We also made field attacks with the F-18s. For example, we attacked Merzifon Square. I remember well that we flew to Balikesir. We also attacked somewhere in the south. We have always tried to make offensive packages. I think it was all in preparation for the Gulf War of 1991.
How many days did this exercise last?
It took 10 days. As it was a NATO exercise, the plans were coming with an air mission order. In other words, the NATO headquarters in Izmir is from the 6th ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force). At that time, the CAOC (Combined Air Operation Center) in Eskişehir had not been established yet.
The 6th ATAF broadcasts "Frag Order", that is, "Fragment Order" in such exercises, and the flights to be made the next day would be clear in this way. What would happen in the Frag Order, the flight mission order? Description of general intelligence, mission code (for example Delta 502), arms that will perform the mission (such as 2xF-16, 2xF-18, 2xF-4), total attack package, who will fly with what, etc. In this way, the task of each arm would be clear.
Missions would come from NATO
Were the assignments coming directly from NATO headquarters?
Yes, it came directly from NATO. We were learning which mission would be flown that day, with the order of the message received the previous evening. All air elements participating in the exercise were informed in this way. Similarly, in NATO inspections, which we call TACEVAL (Tactical Evaluation), the task would come the previous evening.
Everyone was waiting for that order to come to the Combat Operations Center. The incoming message was distributed to the squadrons, and each squadron would have its own mission removed from there. In fact, in that Frag Order, information such as who to fly with, how many planes would take off, which ammunition would be loaded were written in the attack package.
It would take quite a while to decipher that message to identify the offensive package. After that, plans were made for how many planes would be needed to carry out the mission the next day. The Mission Commander would coordinate the work. Mission Commander would give information to the fleets that would participate in that attack package by phone. This is how it was done in NATO exercises.
111th Fleet arrives in Malatya
How did you prepare when Iraq invaded Kuwait? What happened?
We were transferred to the 7th Main Jet Base Command in Malatya-Erhaç with 16 F-4Es.
When did this transfer happen? Because after Iraq invaded Kuwait, negotiations were held at the United Nations, and the USA made a decision to intervene. These were things that took time.
Yes that's true. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the exact date of transfer (1). I think we moved to Malatya before the war started. Because Turkey had declared that it would take part in the created power.
Let me give a little detail for those who are curious; Our planes were 1977 model F-4Es, which we call SEA (South East Asia-South East Asia) camouflage painted in three colors (light brown, light green and dark green) and entered the inventory with the Peace Diamond-2 (PD-2) project. Our Fleet Commander, the late Kur. Yb. Muhittin Taylak, our Operations Officer is the late Kur. Maj. It was Baynur Pekar.
Where did the 112th Fleet, the other fleet of the base, move to?
The 112th Fleet remained in Eskişehir because we were still defending against threats from the West.
What was your plan if we went to war with Iraq then? Would you go to Malatya again?
I don't know about the operational plans or what we will do in a possible Iraq War. I was new to the fleet at the time. It had been 1 year since I joined. I came in January 1990, the Gulf War started in January 1991. That's why I wasn't very familiar with the operation plans.
That's why I'm asking. Normally, a preparation is made against neighboring countries. Did you also have a target file against Iraq?
It was against Greece. Our target was in the west, as our fleet was subordinate to the 1st Tactical Air Force Command. It certainly exists against the east, because the plans for a possible operation to the east have been studied and prepared long ago. However, it was not possible for a low-ranking pilot like me to know this at that time.
Where did you settle when you went to Malatya? As far as we know, the base was quite crowded.
We were deployed to the building of the 173rd Squadron. The 173rd Squadron also started using the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) building. Their presence was less than ours. At that time, the 173rd Squadron (Called “Şahin”) was the air defense squadron. The 171st Squadron was the fighter-bomber, and the 172nd Squadron was the anti-prey squadron.
The aircraft of the 171st and 172nd Squadrons were also in SEA camouflage. But the camouflage painted (dark gray, light green and dark green) planes we call Euro-1 or Lizard were probably in the 173rd Fleet. Because those planes started arriving in 1985 or 1986.
The 173rd Squadron was on air defense watch (QRA watch) with 4 AIM-7 Sparrow and 4 AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles loaded on their F-4Es. They have always had this task. The fleets in the east had not yet been modernized with the F-16. Every air defense mission was carried out by Malatya's Phantoms in the East and Eskişehir's Phantoms in the West. Until F-16s came to the fleets in the west, every air defense mission was only in Eskişehir.
After the arrival of the F-16s, they started to keep this watch. The 173rd Squadron also performed protection duties for the E-3 AWACS aircraft flying in the region. In fact, on the first of these flights, they scared us a lot.
Could you tell?
It was the beginning of the Gulf War. We were staying in the guesthouse inside the base. There were no flights at night. But one night, I think it was 00:30, I woke up to the sound of a plane. The guesthouse was very close to the runway. I thought there was an air attack on the square. I jumped out of bed and started counting to myself when the bomb would explode. Because the sound of airplanes comes first, then the sound of bombs. It turned out that since that night, the 173rd Squadron was assigned the task of protecting the E-3 AWACS aircraft. They took off for that mission. I was pretty scared because we didn't know about it.
Since the guesthouse is in the base, you couldn't sleep much then.
We were sleep deprived when the 173rd Squadron was on AWACS protection duties at night, but we are already at war. There is nothing to do. For example, during TACEVAL inspections, we couldn't go home, we slept in the fleet. Because the mission order was coming late. We were preparing mission profiles, drawing maps, doing leader briefings. We were not going home, we were sleeping on the seats in the casino.
Couldn't they put you in lodgings?
The lodgings were 45 km away, we could not come from there in an emergency. Later, we went and stayed at the Officer's Club, but at first we had to stay in the base. We didn't like this very much. There was no proper food, no social activity. We just watched TV and slept on bunk beds.
Before sunrise, we would get up and go to the fleet, start the planes and stand by. This situation continued until it was free to leave the city. We started to go to the city with shuttles. We were eating at the Officer's Club, socializing a bit. Then we were back again. Our condition was still good. For example, the fleet that was transferred to Batman suffered a lot.
Where were 171 and 172 Fleets when you went to Malatya? Had they been to any square?
No, they were there. They served in their own fleet buildings. In fact, one plane of the 171st Fleet crashed while we were there. While we were there, the German Alpha Jet fleet arrived. An Italian RF-104G reconnaissance fleet was deployed (2).
Have you ever seen them?
No, we didn't see it. They stayed in their own buildings or tents. I don't remember how many planes they came. I don't think it's much though.
They were nicknamed the "Rotten Force". “Is this the aid that NATO has sent?” comments were made.
In other words, only close air support can be made with the Alpha Jet. It doesn't even have radar. I think they sent those planes just for the sake of sending them. The RF-104G makes good tactical reconnaissance. It comes at a very high speed and takes pictures from a low altitude, but the F-104G's capabilities were limited. The Italians had Tornado planes, and they were already transferred elsewhere. They sent RF-104s to Malatya. Actually, they are the F-104G we know. They carried a reconnaissance pod under them.
Can you tell us a little bit about your experiences since the first day of your transfer?
As soon as we left, they loaded 6 Durandal (3) runway destruction bombs and 3 fuel tanks on our 16 planes. This fuel and ammunition configuration was barely enough for target range. The target assigned to us was Iraq's Al-Qayyarah Square. It was a square a little south of Mosul and Kirkuk. It was always clear how many numbers we would fly and what we would do. We drew our target maps, we made our offensive preparations. A briefing was given on what to do in case of an ejection after being hit.
Every morning at 04:30, before sunrise, we went to the fleet, started the planes and did the gun checks.
What does gun control mean?
We were running the plane and giving electricity. We were setting the Master Arm switch to “ARM” and selecting Durandal bombs. As long as the "ARM" light was on, the bombs were ready to fire. If the light did not come on, the technical maintenance team intervened immediately. If it was okay, we would put the planes in Q state (4) and return to the squadron. We were waiting in the fleet until evening with our G-Suites on us. When the order to take off came, we would immediately go and start the planes, go to the target area from the previously briefed route, drop our bombs and come.
Turgut Özal was the President at that time. He said that in the Gulf crisis, Turkey should definitely participate in the attacks to be made from the north. That was the political view at that time. Maybe he was right at that time, I don't know, but if we had gone to war, we would definitely have lost. I don't know what would happen next. As a result, our goal was clear. If the order to get up had come, we would have gone and hit that square.
Can we get some more information about the Durandal bomb?
Durandal was a bomb dropped from 300 feet. After being thrown, a parachute opens behind the bomb, that parachute makes the bomb upright, and after bringing it, the parachute leaves. The rocket engine of the bomb was ignited and the bomb was entering the runway with high speed and energy. Since it was a tail plug, it exploded after a while and opened a crater. Thus making the runway unusable.
The calculation for this was as follows: According to intelligence information, the take-off and landing distances of the planes that would take off from the area to be hit were checked. It was calculated that when the runway was divided into equal parts, it would be closed for takeoff and landing. A standard NATO runway is 10,000 feet long. In order to divide it into 3 equal parts, it is necessary to cover it from 2 places. It is necessary to throw 6 bombs on the runway at an angle of 45 degrees. Considering that the 1st and 6th bombs will hit the outside of the track, the 2-3-4-5 bombs will open a crater on the track. We were training and shooting according to this calculation.
How many runways did the Iraqi square have that you would have struck at that time?
I remember it had two parallel runways.
Well, 16 planes is not too much for this attack, isn't it?
No, because it was calculated accordingly. The fleet had no other target. Attacking with 16 planes loaded with 6 Durandals meant securing the job.
Would everyone fly in a two-ship formation?
No, we were going to go in four separate arms. Everyone had a departure time. We would take off at different times. So 16 planes would not go together. Maybe they planned it that way, taking the losses into account. If 8 planes can't hit the target, it's like 8 other planes will hit it.
What were the threats against you in the square that you were going to strike?
The threats that would most affect us were the ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” (5) and MIM-23 “Hawk” (6) anti-aircraft systems. Therefore, we had to fly to the target at an altitude below 50 feet.
Who would silence the Shilka and Hawk batteries that were threatening you? Would anyone enter the area before you?
Maybe. I am not sure. But I will never forget that ZSU-23-4. Since I am also a modeler, I even bought a plastic model of Shilka later. The Hawk was also a very effective weapon. It was really our nightmare. Both Shilka and Hawk had us thinking seriously. We were joking amongst ourselves: "If you don't fly low, you'll eat Hawk in your ass." Although we were a hunting-bomber squadron, we were doing all our training at low altitudes. Flying 50 feet high was not a problem for us.
Weren't there any other SAM systems in the area? So there were only those two to guard that square?
Did not have. What interested us the most was the location of the ZSU-23-4 stationed inside the square. Imagine you are going to shoot Al-Qayyarah Square, but the exact location of that Shilka is not clear. It could be in the south, it could be in the north. Or somewhere outside the square. It tries to influence the incoming aircraft from a low altitude, it can move very easily. It was a tracked vehicle after all. So it was mobile.
Who gave you the intelligence about the existence of these anti-aircraft threats?
Since the operation was not a national but a joint NATO operation, all the information came from NATO. All targets were set by coalition forces. If you were going to join the operation from the north, your targets were according to him. We followed this plan. The order to attack was a national decision. Neither the Italians nor the Germans attacked from the north. Belgian Mirages stationed in Diyarbakir, too. None of them participated in the operation, but everyone stood ready.
But they are all given a mission, right? For example, I suppose the German Alpha Jets also had a specific target?
Maybe. I have no information about these issues, because we were always ready in the fleet in the form of sunrise-sunset, so we did not go and pay attention to what other fleets were doing and what their targets were. We did not look at what the 171st and 172nd Squadrons were busy with. We didn't get a chance to chat with them. So we didn't actually see anyone there. We were always ready. This situation changed as the number of aircraft kept ready decreased from 16 to 12, and then to 6 aircraft.
What type of planes were on the Iraqi square that you were going to strike? Mig-21s or Mig-23s?
I don't remember at all.
I think Saddam had smuggled them to Iran.
It's possible. We were only given the task of hitting the runways. Of course, since I am very new to the fleet, I did not look at the tactical side of the event. I focused more on things like how to get there, how to best hit my target, how to get back, what to do if I jump. So I thought about the task assigned to me. As the ranks progress, as you become a column leader, that is, start doing something about the campaign, you start to look through the bigger window.
By the way, did you follow the war on TV?
Yes, we were watching until the evening. We couldn't go to the city because 16 planes were constantly on standby. We slept in the base guesthouse, got up early in the morning, went to the planes, went back to the fleet after checking the guns, and the G-Suites were waiting on us until the evening.
How did you talk to your families?
Back then there were prepaid phones. We were looking for our families with them. I was not married.
How long did the standby process take?
I don't remember it, but we always waited for 16 planes during the busiest period. Then, when it became clear that there would be no operation from the north, the situation gradually relaxed. When the number of aircraft on standby was reduced, we started to conduct training flights with the remaining aircraft. These were air-ground attack training flights. In our own fleet, we used to go to the shooting range with two arms and shoot. We even changed our shooting tactics afterwards.
Now let's come to the most crucial issue: What would you do if that Shilka shot one of you down? What were your escape methods? What would happen in case of a shoot down?
Regarding this, they gathered the pilots of all the fleets present in the great hall inside the base. When F-16s began to enter the TurAF inventory, there was a Captain named Ali, who was an F-16 instructor pilot in the US Air Force, who taught the teacher pilots how to refuel from tanker aircraft in the air. Here he briefed us a little bit in Turkish and a little bit in English. The Americans were doing the search-and-rescue and combat search-and-rescue missions. He told us how we would escape when we ejected, and how the incoming forces would intervene.
Let's say that you ejected out of a plane. Every day has a code. For example, if that day is September 3, it has a letter code. If you jumped on September 3, let's say the letter code of that day is A, you draw an A on the first day in contrast to the ground. If the ground is dark, you are doing an A with light colored stones. You also have to be constantly on the move, and you have to run away without being seen by anyone. They see that letter A from satellite or various reconnaissance systems. Every day you change the direction of A. If you are in the same place, you change its direction, if you are in a different place, you draw an A in a different direction. That way they think you're still alive.
There were also procedures to be applied mutually with the team that came to rescue you. The rescue helicopter could come day or night. When the helicopter arrives, you never go to hug them or do anything. You kneel, put your hands on your head and wait. They get off the helicopter and take perimeter security, they catch you as if you are a real prisoner and take you into the helicopter. They make sure of your identity that there is no ambush for the incoming team. By the way, just as we saw in the Vietnam War, they first ensure the security of the airspace. The helicopter comes later.
Another method was air capture with the C-130. They told us: “We will throw you a kit from the C-130. You will wear the kit. Then when you give the signal, you will inflate that balloon. When the balloon is inflated, you will turn on the strobe lights on it and leave the balloon. You will wait without raising your head. You won't be looking to see if the plane is coming. After that, the C-130 will come and catch you in the air. At first you will be knocked off the ground at a really high speed. You will not panic. Then in the air they will pull you into the plane.
Did you have a gun with you?
We were taking our own principal weapon with us. Apart from that, we were removing all kinds of squadron signs, ranks, etc.. We were doing things like that.
After a while, you said that you changed tactics in the training on the shooting range?
Yes, our shooting tactics have been changed. Normally, we were doing shooting training in a way to drop general purpose bombs from 3,000 feet with a 30-degree dive. However, after the experiences gained in the Gulf War, we started training to drop bombs from a very high altitude, from 10-15 thousand feet. At first, dropping bombs from 15,000 feet seemed very strange. We could hardly see the target. We were correcting where the bomb fell.
Didn't you have a hard time with this new shooting tactic?
Of course we had a hard time at first. His profile was different. We were coming to the target from a high altitude. It was very comfortable actually. We didn't come with Pop-Up (7) like the other one. We would come from high altitude with a straight flight, see the target circle in the shooting range, drop the bomb at 15-20 thousand feet and rise again. Thus, the anti-aircraft systems we call Triple-A (8), which are effective at low altitudes, were not targeted. We were able to drop the bombs easily, but since the 25-lb training bombs were so light, they were affected by the wind when they were dropped from such a high altitude. This is the purpose of training with a light bomb. Real bombs have a much better hit accuracy than training munitions.
How long did you stay in Malatya after completing your high altitude shooting training?
We probably stayed for 2.5 months. We were there until the end of the Gulf War. Then we returned to Eskişehir. There was even a ceremony for our return from the transfer. We came in double arms and pulled “Peel-Off” and got off. We lined up our planes in what we call the "Phantom Pool" in Eskişehir. Everyone stood in front of their plane. They also brought planes from other squadrons. The base commander gave a complete response to the force commander: “The Gulf War is over”. Commander of the 113th Fleet Lieutenant Colonel Ahmet Ata made a speech. It was a beautiful ceremony. We have some great photos taken from the tower.
Downed F-4E aircraft
You mentioned that an F-4 crashed while you were there.
Yes, it happened while we were there. As I said, after a while, we reduced the activity of keeping watch with bomb-laden planes and started training flights. On one of those flights, the square was filled with fog. What we call a walking fog.
The 171st Squadron Commander was also in the air at the time. Before that, an F-4 formation noticed the walking fog and came down the square from the opposite direction of landing. After they landed, they were stuck in fog halfway down the runway. The 171st Fleet Commander was descending to runway 0-3 with GCA (Ground Control Approach).
The plane hit the ground 1 mile before the runway because it descended too low. As soon as it hit, the seat of the SSO (Weapon System Officer) sitting in the rear cockpit was thrown off by the impact. The squadron commander, sitting in the front cockpit, is stuck inside the plane. According to our squadron friends who were running to the crash site, the pilot's feet were out and there was no front of the plane.
Both pilots survived this accident, but there was a big problem in the waist areas. SSO could not fly again due to low back pain. The fleet commander continued to fly after a while and left the air force as a Staff Colonel and joined Turkish Airlines.
Now on to the famous Scud missile alert.
One day, a yellow alert was issued during the daytime. Sirens started to sound. We went to the cantine inside the base for lunch. We immediately returned to our fleet. At that time, the fleet commander was trying to send every pilot he could hold to the planes.
Since we were in the parking lot of the 173rd Fleet, we were very close to the runway. He was yelling, "You go to the plane over there, you to the one here, come on!"
Were you wearing a G-suit?
Did not have. It doesn't matter anyway. The aim was to air the planes as soon as possible and not to leave any planes on the ground. It was necessary to grab our helmet from the equipment room and run to the planes immediately.
Our planes were in the aircraft pool of the 173rd Fleet, right at the beginning of the 2-1 runway in Malatya. We had planes out in the open. S
According to the vertical dispersal plan, which we call battery dispersal, the aircraft that were not in the hangar had to be flown and sent to the regions opposite the attack until the enemy attack package reached the square. The aim was to disperse and wait for the attack to pass. The important thing was to save the planes in the open, on the ground.
Is a yellow alert immediately given when enemy planes or missiles take off?
Subject to. Now the Scud missile or ballistic missiles like that go up first. It is unclear where they were thrown. After reaching a certain altitude, they move to the horizontal position and turn to the direction they will go. That's when their goals become more or less clear.
When a Scud missile goes up, all squares under its influence are given a yellow alert. Yellow alert means go to bunkers or remove if there are planes in the open. As such, the squadron commander quickly directed what he had captured to the planes. Running the plane started the engine. The caretakers were already there. The planes immediately took off from the runway. In fact, what happened was a complete mess.
This is valid for the planes in the open, not the ones in the hangar?
Yes, because it was assumed that when you close the hangar door, no bombs will be planted there. It was thought that a general purpose bomb would be thrown in the field attack. It was calculated that the general purpose bomb would not have an effect, as there was steel mesh protection inside the hangars.
I couldn't fly that day. I entered the shelter. After a while, it became clear that a false alarm had been issued. After a short pause in the bunker, we came back to the fleet. The departing planes also returned to base. But there was an atmosphere of complete panic. Some even took off from the emergency runway instead of the normal runway. I think they were F-104s, or Alpha Jets.
As I understand it, you never had a flight in the Gulf War.
I didn't have a combat flight. None of us did.
Have you done air refueling training?
Then we did. Until then, we could not refuel in the air. We were not trained for this. After the end of the Gulf War, American teachers gave us air refueling training from American tankers.
You may remember that after the end of the Gulf War, an operation called "Provide Comfort" started in Northern Iraq. The Americans were constantly helping the Peshmerga, whom Saddam pushed to the north and left them in a difficult situation. We were getting the intelligence that these aids were going to the PKK, but we could not do anything.
After the Gulf War, we took part in the Provide Comfort operation for reconnaissance from the north by landing at Adana-İncirlik Square, but we never crossed into Northern Iraq. At that time, we were given air resupply training from American tankers. That's all I remember about the Gulf War.
Descriptions:
(1) In the photographs taken after deployment, it is seen that 07.01.1991 and 21.03.1991 were written on the air vent of an F-4E. These dates are very likely to show the dates of transfer and return. The Gulf War began on January 17, 1991, with an aerial bombardment to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
(2) On the transfer of the Italian F-104 fleet, see Article titled “Italian F-104s in Malatya”. https://tolgaozbek.com/hobi/dunya-havacilik-tarihi/italyan-f-104leri-malatyada/
(3) 450 lb runway destruction grenade produced by the French company Matra.
(4) To set the aircraft's navigation system (INS - Inertial Navigation System) to be ready quickly.
(5) Russian-made, self-propelled, 4-barrel anti-aircraft with radar.
(6) US-made medium altitude surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile system.
(7) Pop-Up: It is the technique of dropping bombs by coming to the target at a low altitude, climbing at a certain distance with a sudden rise, and diving into the target when it reaches a certain altitude.
(8) AAA: Anti-Aircraft Artillery – Anti-Aircraft Cannon.
* Kartal Erdöl: Kartal Erdöl actually witnessed a history while taking the plane photos written with chalk on it. He was a 16-year-old, very interested in aviation. He was the son of the late retired Staff Pilot Colonel Göksel Erdöl.
He didn't go to school that day, he watched his transfer with curiosity and took these photos. Unfortunately, Kartal Erdöl lost his life when the Turkish Air Force's UH-1H helicopter flying over Lake Manyas crashed on July 4, 1991. These photographs were sent to us by his older brother, Captain Pilot Kanat Erdöl. We remember him fondly.
For photos and else, please go to the original article page below:
https://tolgaozbek.com/hobi/havacil...irak-hava-ussunu-vurmak-icin-emir-bekliyordu/
Can we go back to the days before the Gulf War started? How was your day at Filo? Have there been any unusual circumstances?
I joined the 111th Fleet on January 2, 1990. I was at the rank of lieutenant. Previously, I had completed the Combat Readiness Training with the F-5s at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya, and when the F-4E aircraft type that I would serve in the draw came out, I completed the F-4E Full Combat Readiness Training in the 131st Fleet. .
Then I was assigned to the 111th Fleet and in August I became a First Lieutenant.
That year, in the autumn before the Gulf War, NATO's Display Determination'90 exercise was held in Eskişehir. For this exercise, F-14 and F-18s from the fleets of the US Navy on the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga were transferred to Eskişehir.
In the exercise, we created attack packages and conducted joint flights with both the F-18 and F-14s and the F-104s departing from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir.
Electronic Warfare support was provided to us by the EA-6Bs that took off from the USS Saratoga. Our air protection was with the F-14s and the F-4Es of the 112th Fleet.
We were creating the attack packages together with the F/A-18s. Some squadrons were also flying in the red role (Enemy). There were Dutch or Belgian F-16s deployed to Balıkesir Square. They were also trying to prevent us.
We also made field attacks with the F-18s. For example, we attacked Merzifon Square. I remember well that we flew to Balikesir. We also attacked somewhere in the south. We have always tried to make offensive packages. I think it was all in preparation for the Gulf War of 1991.
How many days did this exercise last?
It took 10 days. As it was a NATO exercise, the plans were coming with an air mission order. In other words, the NATO headquarters in Izmir is from the 6th ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force). At that time, the CAOC (Combined Air Operation Center) in Eskişehir had not been established yet.
The 6th ATAF broadcasts "Frag Order", that is, "Fragment Order" in such exercises, and the flights to be made the next day would be clear in this way. What would happen in the Frag Order, the flight mission order? Description of general intelligence, mission code (for example Delta 502), arms that will perform the mission (such as 2xF-16, 2xF-18, 2xF-4), total attack package, who will fly with what, etc. In this way, the task of each arm would be clear.
Missions would come from NATO
Were the assignments coming directly from NATO headquarters?
Yes, it came directly from NATO. We were learning which mission would be flown that day, with the order of the message received the previous evening. All air elements participating in the exercise were informed in this way. Similarly, in NATO inspections, which we call TACEVAL (Tactical Evaluation), the task would come the previous evening.
Everyone was waiting for that order to come to the Combat Operations Center. The incoming message was distributed to the squadrons, and each squadron would have its own mission removed from there. In fact, in that Frag Order, information such as who to fly with, how many planes would take off, which ammunition would be loaded were written in the attack package.
It would take quite a while to decipher that message to identify the offensive package. After that, plans were made for how many planes would be needed to carry out the mission the next day. The Mission Commander would coordinate the work. Mission Commander would give information to the fleets that would participate in that attack package by phone. This is how it was done in NATO exercises.
111th Fleet arrives in Malatya
How did you prepare when Iraq invaded Kuwait? What happened?
We were transferred to the 7th Main Jet Base Command in Malatya-Erhaç with 16 F-4Es.
When did this transfer happen? Because after Iraq invaded Kuwait, negotiations were held at the United Nations, and the USA made a decision to intervene. These were things that took time.
Yes that's true. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the exact date of transfer (1). I think we moved to Malatya before the war started. Because Turkey had declared that it would take part in the created power.
Let me give a little detail for those who are curious; Our planes were 1977 model F-4Es, which we call SEA (South East Asia-South East Asia) camouflage painted in three colors (light brown, light green and dark green) and entered the inventory with the Peace Diamond-2 (PD-2) project. Our Fleet Commander, the late Kur. Yb. Muhittin Taylak, our Operations Officer is the late Kur. Maj. It was Baynur Pekar.
Where did the 112th Fleet, the other fleet of the base, move to?
The 112th Fleet remained in Eskişehir because we were still defending against threats from the West.
What was your plan if we went to war with Iraq then? Would you go to Malatya again?
I don't know about the operational plans or what we will do in a possible Iraq War. I was new to the fleet at the time. It had been 1 year since I joined. I came in January 1990, the Gulf War started in January 1991. That's why I wasn't very familiar with the operation plans.
That's why I'm asking. Normally, a preparation is made against neighboring countries. Did you also have a target file against Iraq?
It was against Greece. Our target was in the west, as our fleet was subordinate to the 1st Tactical Air Force Command. It certainly exists against the east, because the plans for a possible operation to the east have been studied and prepared long ago. However, it was not possible for a low-ranking pilot like me to know this at that time.
Where did you settle when you went to Malatya? As far as we know, the base was quite crowded.
We were deployed to the building of the 173rd Squadron. The 173rd Squadron also started using the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) building. Their presence was less than ours. At that time, the 173rd Squadron (Called “Şahin”) was the air defense squadron. The 171st Squadron was the fighter-bomber, and the 172nd Squadron was the anti-prey squadron.
The aircraft of the 171st and 172nd Squadrons were also in SEA camouflage. But the camouflage painted (dark gray, light green and dark green) planes we call Euro-1 or Lizard were probably in the 173rd Fleet. Because those planes started arriving in 1985 or 1986.
The 173rd Squadron was on air defense watch (QRA watch) with 4 AIM-7 Sparrow and 4 AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles loaded on their F-4Es. They have always had this task. The fleets in the east had not yet been modernized with the F-16. Every air defense mission was carried out by Malatya's Phantoms in the East and Eskişehir's Phantoms in the West. Until F-16s came to the fleets in the west, every air defense mission was only in Eskişehir.
After the arrival of the F-16s, they started to keep this watch. The 173rd Squadron also performed protection duties for the E-3 AWACS aircraft flying in the region. In fact, on the first of these flights, they scared us a lot.
Could you tell?
It was the beginning of the Gulf War. We were staying in the guesthouse inside the base. There were no flights at night. But one night, I think it was 00:30, I woke up to the sound of a plane. The guesthouse was very close to the runway. I thought there was an air attack on the square. I jumped out of bed and started counting to myself when the bomb would explode. Because the sound of airplanes comes first, then the sound of bombs. It turned out that since that night, the 173rd Squadron was assigned the task of protecting the E-3 AWACS aircraft. They took off for that mission. I was pretty scared because we didn't know about it.
Since the guesthouse is in the base, you couldn't sleep much then.
We were sleep deprived when the 173rd Squadron was on AWACS protection duties at night, but we are already at war. There is nothing to do. For example, during TACEVAL inspections, we couldn't go home, we slept in the fleet. Because the mission order was coming late. We were preparing mission profiles, drawing maps, doing leader briefings. We were not going home, we were sleeping on the seats in the casino.
Couldn't they put you in lodgings?
The lodgings were 45 km away, we could not come from there in an emergency. Later, we went and stayed at the Officer's Club, but at first we had to stay in the base. We didn't like this very much. There was no proper food, no social activity. We just watched TV and slept on bunk beds.
Before sunrise, we would get up and go to the fleet, start the planes and stand by. This situation continued until it was free to leave the city. We started to go to the city with shuttles. We were eating at the Officer's Club, socializing a bit. Then we were back again. Our condition was still good. For example, the fleet that was transferred to Batman suffered a lot.
Where were 171 and 172 Fleets when you went to Malatya? Had they been to any square?
No, they were there. They served in their own fleet buildings. In fact, one plane of the 171st Fleet crashed while we were there. While we were there, the German Alpha Jet fleet arrived. An Italian RF-104G reconnaissance fleet was deployed (2).
Have you ever seen them?
No, we didn't see it. They stayed in their own buildings or tents. I don't remember how many planes they came. I don't think it's much though.
They were nicknamed the "Rotten Force". “Is this the aid that NATO has sent?” comments were made.
In other words, only close air support can be made with the Alpha Jet. It doesn't even have radar. I think they sent those planes just for the sake of sending them. The RF-104G makes good tactical reconnaissance. It comes at a very high speed and takes pictures from a low altitude, but the F-104G's capabilities were limited. The Italians had Tornado planes, and they were already transferred elsewhere. They sent RF-104s to Malatya. Actually, they are the F-104G we know. They carried a reconnaissance pod under them.
Can you tell us a little bit about your experiences since the first day of your transfer?
As soon as we left, they loaded 6 Durandal (3) runway destruction bombs and 3 fuel tanks on our 16 planes. This fuel and ammunition configuration was barely enough for target range. The target assigned to us was Iraq's Al-Qayyarah Square. It was a square a little south of Mosul and Kirkuk. It was always clear how many numbers we would fly and what we would do. We drew our target maps, we made our offensive preparations. A briefing was given on what to do in case of an ejection after being hit.
Every morning at 04:30, before sunrise, we went to the fleet, started the planes and did the gun checks.
What does gun control mean?
We were running the plane and giving electricity. We were setting the Master Arm switch to “ARM” and selecting Durandal bombs. As long as the "ARM" light was on, the bombs were ready to fire. If the light did not come on, the technical maintenance team intervened immediately. If it was okay, we would put the planes in Q state (4) and return to the squadron. We were waiting in the fleet until evening with our G-Suites on us. When the order to take off came, we would immediately go and start the planes, go to the target area from the previously briefed route, drop our bombs and come.
Turgut Özal was the President at that time. He said that in the Gulf crisis, Turkey should definitely participate in the attacks to be made from the north. That was the political view at that time. Maybe he was right at that time, I don't know, but if we had gone to war, we would definitely have lost. I don't know what would happen next. As a result, our goal was clear. If the order to get up had come, we would have gone and hit that square.
Can we get some more information about the Durandal bomb?
Durandal was a bomb dropped from 300 feet. After being thrown, a parachute opens behind the bomb, that parachute makes the bomb upright, and after bringing it, the parachute leaves. The rocket engine of the bomb was ignited and the bomb was entering the runway with high speed and energy. Since it was a tail plug, it exploded after a while and opened a crater. Thus making the runway unusable.
The calculation for this was as follows: According to intelligence information, the take-off and landing distances of the planes that would take off from the area to be hit were checked. It was calculated that when the runway was divided into equal parts, it would be closed for takeoff and landing. A standard NATO runway is 10,000 feet long. In order to divide it into 3 equal parts, it is necessary to cover it from 2 places. It is necessary to throw 6 bombs on the runway at an angle of 45 degrees. Considering that the 1st and 6th bombs will hit the outside of the track, the 2-3-4-5 bombs will open a crater on the track. We were training and shooting according to this calculation.
How many runways did the Iraqi square have that you would have struck at that time?
I remember it had two parallel runways.
Well, 16 planes is not too much for this attack, isn't it?
No, because it was calculated accordingly. The fleet had no other target. Attacking with 16 planes loaded with 6 Durandals meant securing the job.
Would everyone fly in a two-ship formation?
No, we were going to go in four separate arms. Everyone had a departure time. We would take off at different times. So 16 planes would not go together. Maybe they planned it that way, taking the losses into account. If 8 planes can't hit the target, it's like 8 other planes will hit it.
What were the threats against you in the square that you were going to strike?
The threats that would most affect us were the ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” (5) and MIM-23 “Hawk” (6) anti-aircraft systems. Therefore, we had to fly to the target at an altitude below 50 feet.
Who would silence the Shilka and Hawk batteries that were threatening you? Would anyone enter the area before you?
Maybe. I am not sure. But I will never forget that ZSU-23-4. Since I am also a modeler, I even bought a plastic model of Shilka later. The Hawk was also a very effective weapon. It was really our nightmare. Both Shilka and Hawk had us thinking seriously. We were joking amongst ourselves: "If you don't fly low, you'll eat Hawk in your ass." Although we were a hunting-bomber squadron, we were doing all our training at low altitudes. Flying 50 feet high was not a problem for us.
Weren't there any other SAM systems in the area? So there were only those two to guard that square?
Did not have. What interested us the most was the location of the ZSU-23-4 stationed inside the square. Imagine you are going to shoot Al-Qayyarah Square, but the exact location of that Shilka is not clear. It could be in the south, it could be in the north. Or somewhere outside the square. It tries to influence the incoming aircraft from a low altitude, it can move very easily. It was a tracked vehicle after all. So it was mobile.
Who gave you the intelligence about the existence of these anti-aircraft threats?
Since the operation was not a national but a joint NATO operation, all the information came from NATO. All targets were set by coalition forces. If you were going to join the operation from the north, your targets were according to him. We followed this plan. The order to attack was a national decision. Neither the Italians nor the Germans attacked from the north. Belgian Mirages stationed in Diyarbakir, too. None of them participated in the operation, but everyone stood ready.
But they are all given a mission, right? For example, I suppose the German Alpha Jets also had a specific target?
Maybe. I have no information about these issues, because we were always ready in the fleet in the form of sunrise-sunset, so we did not go and pay attention to what other fleets were doing and what their targets were. We did not look at what the 171st and 172nd Squadrons were busy with. We didn't get a chance to chat with them. So we didn't actually see anyone there. We were always ready. This situation changed as the number of aircraft kept ready decreased from 16 to 12, and then to 6 aircraft.
What type of planes were on the Iraqi square that you were going to strike? Mig-21s or Mig-23s?
I don't remember at all.
I think Saddam had smuggled them to Iran.
It's possible. We were only given the task of hitting the runways. Of course, since I am very new to the fleet, I did not look at the tactical side of the event. I focused more on things like how to get there, how to best hit my target, how to get back, what to do if I jump. So I thought about the task assigned to me. As the ranks progress, as you become a column leader, that is, start doing something about the campaign, you start to look through the bigger window.
By the way, did you follow the war on TV?
Yes, we were watching until the evening. We couldn't go to the city because 16 planes were constantly on standby. We slept in the base guesthouse, got up early in the morning, went to the planes, went back to the fleet after checking the guns, and the G-Suites were waiting on us until the evening.
How did you talk to your families?
Back then there were prepaid phones. We were looking for our families with them. I was not married.
How long did the standby process take?
I don't remember it, but we always waited for 16 planes during the busiest period. Then, when it became clear that there would be no operation from the north, the situation gradually relaxed. When the number of aircraft on standby was reduced, we started to conduct training flights with the remaining aircraft. These were air-ground attack training flights. In our own fleet, we used to go to the shooting range with two arms and shoot. We even changed our shooting tactics afterwards.
Now let's come to the most crucial issue: What would you do if that Shilka shot one of you down? What were your escape methods? What would happen in case of a shoot down?
Regarding this, they gathered the pilots of all the fleets present in the great hall inside the base. When F-16s began to enter the TurAF inventory, there was a Captain named Ali, who was an F-16 instructor pilot in the US Air Force, who taught the teacher pilots how to refuel from tanker aircraft in the air. Here he briefed us a little bit in Turkish and a little bit in English. The Americans were doing the search-and-rescue and combat search-and-rescue missions. He told us how we would escape when we ejected, and how the incoming forces would intervene.
Let's say that you ejected out of a plane. Every day has a code. For example, if that day is September 3, it has a letter code. If you jumped on September 3, let's say the letter code of that day is A, you draw an A on the first day in contrast to the ground. If the ground is dark, you are doing an A with light colored stones. You also have to be constantly on the move, and you have to run away without being seen by anyone. They see that letter A from satellite or various reconnaissance systems. Every day you change the direction of A. If you are in the same place, you change its direction, if you are in a different place, you draw an A in a different direction. That way they think you're still alive.
There were also procedures to be applied mutually with the team that came to rescue you. The rescue helicopter could come day or night. When the helicopter arrives, you never go to hug them or do anything. You kneel, put your hands on your head and wait. They get off the helicopter and take perimeter security, they catch you as if you are a real prisoner and take you into the helicopter. They make sure of your identity that there is no ambush for the incoming team. By the way, just as we saw in the Vietnam War, they first ensure the security of the airspace. The helicopter comes later.
Another method was air capture with the C-130. They told us: “We will throw you a kit from the C-130. You will wear the kit. Then when you give the signal, you will inflate that balloon. When the balloon is inflated, you will turn on the strobe lights on it and leave the balloon. You will wait without raising your head. You won't be looking to see if the plane is coming. After that, the C-130 will come and catch you in the air. At first you will be knocked off the ground at a really high speed. You will not panic. Then in the air they will pull you into the plane.
Did you have a gun with you?
We were taking our own principal weapon with us. Apart from that, we were removing all kinds of squadron signs, ranks, etc.. We were doing things like that.
After a while, you said that you changed tactics in the training on the shooting range?
Yes, our shooting tactics have been changed. Normally, we were doing shooting training in a way to drop general purpose bombs from 3,000 feet with a 30-degree dive. However, after the experiences gained in the Gulf War, we started training to drop bombs from a very high altitude, from 10-15 thousand feet. At first, dropping bombs from 15,000 feet seemed very strange. We could hardly see the target. We were correcting where the bomb fell.
Didn't you have a hard time with this new shooting tactic?
Of course we had a hard time at first. His profile was different. We were coming to the target from a high altitude. It was very comfortable actually. We didn't come with Pop-Up (7) like the other one. We would come from high altitude with a straight flight, see the target circle in the shooting range, drop the bomb at 15-20 thousand feet and rise again. Thus, the anti-aircraft systems we call Triple-A (8), which are effective at low altitudes, were not targeted. We were able to drop the bombs easily, but since the 25-lb training bombs were so light, they were affected by the wind when they were dropped from such a high altitude. This is the purpose of training with a light bomb. Real bombs have a much better hit accuracy than training munitions.
How long did you stay in Malatya after completing your high altitude shooting training?
We probably stayed for 2.5 months. We were there until the end of the Gulf War. Then we returned to Eskişehir. There was even a ceremony for our return from the transfer. We came in double arms and pulled “Peel-Off” and got off. We lined up our planes in what we call the "Phantom Pool" in Eskişehir. Everyone stood in front of their plane. They also brought planes from other squadrons. The base commander gave a complete response to the force commander: “The Gulf War is over”. Commander of the 113th Fleet Lieutenant Colonel Ahmet Ata made a speech. It was a beautiful ceremony. We have some great photos taken from the tower.
Downed F-4E aircraft
You mentioned that an F-4 crashed while you were there.
Yes, it happened while we were there. As I said, after a while, we reduced the activity of keeping watch with bomb-laden planes and started training flights. On one of those flights, the square was filled with fog. What we call a walking fog.
The 171st Squadron Commander was also in the air at the time. Before that, an F-4 formation noticed the walking fog and came down the square from the opposite direction of landing. After they landed, they were stuck in fog halfway down the runway. The 171st Fleet Commander was descending to runway 0-3 with GCA (Ground Control Approach).
The plane hit the ground 1 mile before the runway because it descended too low. As soon as it hit, the seat of the SSO (Weapon System Officer) sitting in the rear cockpit was thrown off by the impact. The squadron commander, sitting in the front cockpit, is stuck inside the plane. According to our squadron friends who were running to the crash site, the pilot's feet were out and there was no front of the plane.
Both pilots survived this accident, but there was a big problem in the waist areas. SSO could not fly again due to low back pain. The fleet commander continued to fly after a while and left the air force as a Staff Colonel and joined Turkish Airlines.
Now on to the famous Scud missile alert.
One day, a yellow alert was issued during the daytime. Sirens started to sound. We went to the cantine inside the base for lunch. We immediately returned to our fleet. At that time, the fleet commander was trying to send every pilot he could hold to the planes.
Since we were in the parking lot of the 173rd Fleet, we were very close to the runway. He was yelling, "You go to the plane over there, you to the one here, come on!"
Were you wearing a G-suit?
Did not have. It doesn't matter anyway. The aim was to air the planes as soon as possible and not to leave any planes on the ground. It was necessary to grab our helmet from the equipment room and run to the planes immediately.
Our planes were in the aircraft pool of the 173rd Fleet, right at the beginning of the 2-1 runway in Malatya. We had planes out in the open. S
According to the vertical dispersal plan, which we call battery dispersal, the aircraft that were not in the hangar had to be flown and sent to the regions opposite the attack until the enemy attack package reached the square. The aim was to disperse and wait for the attack to pass. The important thing was to save the planes in the open, on the ground.
Is a yellow alert immediately given when enemy planes or missiles take off?
Subject to. Now the Scud missile or ballistic missiles like that go up first. It is unclear where they were thrown. After reaching a certain altitude, they move to the horizontal position and turn to the direction they will go. That's when their goals become more or less clear.
When a Scud missile goes up, all squares under its influence are given a yellow alert. Yellow alert means go to bunkers or remove if there are planes in the open. As such, the squadron commander quickly directed what he had captured to the planes. Running the plane started the engine. The caretakers were already there. The planes immediately took off from the runway. In fact, what happened was a complete mess.
This is valid for the planes in the open, not the ones in the hangar?
Yes, because it was assumed that when you close the hangar door, no bombs will be planted there. It was thought that a general purpose bomb would be thrown in the field attack. It was calculated that the general purpose bomb would not have an effect, as there was steel mesh protection inside the hangars.
I couldn't fly that day. I entered the shelter. After a while, it became clear that a false alarm had been issued. After a short pause in the bunker, we came back to the fleet. The departing planes also returned to base. But there was an atmosphere of complete panic. Some even took off from the emergency runway instead of the normal runway. I think they were F-104s, or Alpha Jets.
As I understand it, you never had a flight in the Gulf War.
I didn't have a combat flight. None of us did.
Have you done air refueling training?
Then we did. Until then, we could not refuel in the air. We were not trained for this. After the end of the Gulf War, American teachers gave us air refueling training from American tankers.
You may remember that after the end of the Gulf War, an operation called "Provide Comfort" started in Northern Iraq. The Americans were constantly helping the Peshmerga, whom Saddam pushed to the north and left them in a difficult situation. We were getting the intelligence that these aids were going to the PKK, but we could not do anything.
After the Gulf War, we took part in the Provide Comfort operation for reconnaissance from the north by landing at Adana-İncirlik Square, but we never crossed into Northern Iraq. At that time, we were given air resupply training from American tankers. That's all I remember about the Gulf War.
Descriptions:
(1) In the photographs taken after deployment, it is seen that 07.01.1991 and 21.03.1991 were written on the air vent of an F-4E. These dates are very likely to show the dates of transfer and return. The Gulf War began on January 17, 1991, with an aerial bombardment to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
(2) On the transfer of the Italian F-104 fleet, see Article titled “Italian F-104s in Malatya”. https://tolgaozbek.com/hobi/dunya-havacilik-tarihi/italyan-f-104leri-malatyada/
(3) 450 lb runway destruction grenade produced by the French company Matra.
(4) To set the aircraft's navigation system (INS - Inertial Navigation System) to be ready quickly.
(5) Russian-made, self-propelled, 4-barrel anti-aircraft with radar.
(6) US-made medium altitude surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile system.
(7) Pop-Up: It is the technique of dropping bombs by coming to the target at a low altitude, climbing at a certain distance with a sudden rise, and diving into the target when it reaches a certain altitude.
(8) AAA: Anti-Aircraft Artillery – Anti-Aircraft Cannon.
* Kartal Erdöl: Kartal Erdöl actually witnessed a history while taking the plane photos written with chalk on it. He was a 16-year-old, very interested in aviation. He was the son of the late retired Staff Pilot Colonel Göksel Erdöl.
He didn't go to school that day, he watched his transfer with curiosity and took these photos. Unfortunately, Kartal Erdöl lost his life when the Turkish Air Force's UH-1H helicopter flying over Lake Manyas crashed on July 4, 1991. These photographs were sent to us by his older brother, Captain Pilot Kanat Erdöl. We remember him fondly.
For photos and else, please go to the original article page below:
https://tolgaozbek.com/hobi/havacil...irak-hava-ussunu-vurmak-icin-emir-bekliyordu/
