F-117 HIGHLIGHTS (17Jan/Day 1):
v At 02:51 local, the 1st bomb from an F-117 flown by Maj Greg Feest
(who later also droped the 1st bomb in JUST CAUSE) hit the Radar Integrated
Operations Center, also called Iraqi Air Force Interceptor Operations Center
(IOC), 65 miles SW of Bagdad or 150 miles inside Iraq. The IOC was a key link
between border radar sites and the Air Defense Headquarters in Bagdad.
- target was housed in a hardened bunker in a town called Nukhayb
- Maj Feest used 1 x GBU-27 penetrator 2000 lbs bomb
- watching the 1st bomb impact the bunker, he noted that the doors blew off
- his second bomb was used on a target in Western Iraq, his wingman followed
- F-117's attacked targets in sequential streams of one after one, each
with an allowed time over the target area (around one minute trail)
- After their targets were hit, sections of F-117's would rejoin for
post attack tanking and the long track home to Khamis Mushait
- tanker tracks ran perpindicular to the Iraq border and F-117's were
dropped off at the "north" end of the track, closest to their targets
v F-117's then attack the Telecommunications Center in the heart of the city.
v 37th TFW Commanded by Col Alton C. Whitley, Jr. (19 combat missions)
- the 415th TFS Commander by LtCol Gretchel
- the 416th TFS Commanded by LtCol Greg Gonyea
v Capt Marcel Kerdavid received a Silver Star for gallantry during Day 1
v Day 1/Wave One: 0022 hrs, 10 x F-117's from the 415th TFS
- engine start for the 415th TFS at 23:00 on 16Jan
- Scored 13 hits with 17 PGM attempts (76%)
- Bagdad Integrated Air Defense Weapons Operations Center (ADWOC)
- Integrated Air Defense Center (IOC) and Ground Control Intercept (GCI) site
at Nukhayb (Maj Feest's target)
- The Telecommunications Center in downtown Bagdad ("The AT&T Building")
- 2 x Air Defense Sector Operations Centers (Headquarters)
- Iraqi Air Force Headquarters in Bagdad
- Joint Integrated Operations Center & GCI Radar Facility at Al Taqaddam
- Telephone Switching Center at Ar Ramadi and two more in Bagdad
- Integrated Air Operations Center at Al Taji
- Military Facility at North Al Taji
- the Presidential Grounds at Abu Ghurayb
v Day 1/Wave Two: 12 x F-117's from 415th TFS (3) and the 416th TFS (9)
- Scored 10 hits with 16 PGM attempts (63%)
- repeat strike on the Iraqi Air Force Headquarters in Bagdad
- repeat strike on Air Defense Sector HQ's
- repeat strike on the Telephone Exchanges in Bagdad
- repeat strike on the Al Taqaddum Integrated Air Ops Center & GCI facility
- repeat strike on Military Facilities at North Al Taji
- repeat strike on the Presidential Grounds at Abu Ghurayb
- Salmon Pak Troposcatter Station
- Habbaniyah Troposcatter Station
- Television Transmitter Station in the Bagdad Area
- International Radio Transmitter in Bagdad
- The Presidential Bunker in Bagdad
- Rasheed Airfield
- Joint Integrated Operations Center & GCI Radar Facility at Ar Rutbah
- Satellite Communications Terminal at Ad Dujayl
v Day 1/Wave Three: 8 x F-117's from undefined units
- Scored 5 hits with 16 PGM attempts (31%)
... very bad weather considered key to poor effectiveness
- Salmon Pak Chemical/Biological Facility hit by Maj Mike Mahar
... first bomb missed, a/c distracted by SAM near miss
- Nukhayb Sector Operations Center (SOC)
- Ad Diwamiyah Sector Operations Center (SOC)
- An Nasiriyah Sector Operations Center (SOC)
- Ash Shuaybah Headquarters Facility
- Qabatiyan Headquarters Facility
- Karbala Ammunition Storage
v Lockheed Horizons: We Own the Night, Issue 30, May 1992
"Targets attacked in Bagdad during those opening hours included the headquarters and operations centers of the Iraqi Air Force, Ministry of Defense, Intelligence Service, Secret
Police, National Air Defense, Republican Guard, and the Ministries of Military Production
and Propaganda. Also hit were command bunkers, a wide variety of communications and electrical power centers, military facilities, bridges, an oil refinery, a railroad yard, and a
SCUD missile assembly factory." (page 3)
http://www.sci.fi/~fta/Day-1.htm