Viper Pilot_ A Memoi..

snapshot of the location and snapped back to the Maverick video. The missile was
still locked and the Iraqi shooters were all standing now.
“AGNEW One . . . there’s a launch in your vicinity . . . just west of the pond!”
At least my wingman was watching. I kept the jet steady, watched the SAM from
the corner of my left eye, and mashed the pickle button. There was an instant, hard
kick as the Maverick lunged off the rail and nosed over. I immediately went to mil
power, pulled hard left into the airborne SA-2, and punched the chaff button.
“AGNEW One . . . Rifle SA-2, Tikrit.”
Shoving forward, I floated off the seat and watched the SAM. My own missile
was on its own, a true “fire and forget” weapon. Fortunately, the SA-2 was a
relatively slow starter and not particularly maneuverable. I could never have
hesitated against an SA-6 or a ROLAND.
“AGNEW . . . this is KARMA say again”
I slapped a few more chaff bundles out, popped the jet upright directly over the
Tigris, and stared back at the target area. “AGNEW One, defending . . . northeast
over the river bend. Two, posit”
“Two is due north, five miles . . . tally SAM to your south.”
“Mark the launch point.”
“Done.”
Good kid. I rolled up and flew sideways up the river, watching for Triple-A.
Suddenly, there was a tremendously bright flash near the intersection. Billowing up
and out, a black mushroom cloud with dirty-brown edges completely obscured the
area. As I keyed the mike to speak, flaming orange bits shot from all sides of the
clouds. Then a thick, white plume shot up through the middle as one of the spare
missiles cooked off. It corkscrewed wildly for a half second, then plowed into the
military barracks south of the site.
“Cool,” someone said on the radio.
“Good hit AGNEW.”
I smiled but didn’t take my eyes off the target area. Sure enough, another SAM
lifted off from the site that I hadn’t seen the first time. This one was headed east in
my general direction, so they had an operable radar down there.
Shoving in the afterburner, I punched out more chaff and cranked the fighter
over at the SAM site.
“AGNEW One . . . attacking SA-2, Tikrit.”
My eyes danced around the cockpit. The decoy was still intact, my jamming pod
was transmitting, and the other Maverick was up. Using the HUD, I called up the
BORESIGHT cross and simply dove straight at the SAM. As the Tigris disappeared