Air Force magazine's Michael Sirak today posts an interesting tally of USAF airframe losses since Sept 11, 2001. The count includes seven aircraft shot down or lost in direct combat and another 58 lost in "contingency" operations.
The manned contingency loss breakdown is: one A-10A, two B-1Bs, one B-2A, one C-5B, one C-130H, one F-15E, four F-16s, two HH-60Gs, two MC-130Hs, one MC-130P, six MH-53s, and one U-2.
The unmanned losses are: 39 MQ/RQ-1 Predators, one MQ-9A Reaper, and two RQ-4A Global Hawks.
on October 27, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply
Well, at least the war is convenient for the selling the idea that all the losses were war related to the gullible taxpayer.
Of course the C-5B was gross aircrew error. I find the distinction on the B-52 loss with 6 aircrew as splitting hairs.
on October 28, 2008 7:42 PM | Reply
It would be far more informative if more precise details of these losses were given. One remembers the disinformation of Korea and Vietnam with rehard to losses. Why can't there be more honesty ?