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Aviation History
1986
1986 - 0942.PDF
DEFENCE Libya strike details revealed TRIPOLI The extent of the damage caused by US Air Force and US Navy aircraft to the five Libyan targets began to be re vealed by the US Department of Defence late last week. Flight understands that two Lockheed SR-71 Blackbirds left their base at RAF Mild- enhall at 05.00 and 06.30 on April 15, a few hours after the attack, to take reconnaissance photographs of the target areas. As reported in last week's Flight, the US Air Force (Europe) was alerted on April 11 to prepare for a strike. Under the guise of preparing for a routine Nato exercise, "Salty Nation", 16 Mc Donnell Douglas KC-10 Extenders arrived at RAF Mildenhall, another eight at RAF Fairford, and a further eight KC-lOs arrived over the weekend. MildenhalFs usual complement of 14 Boeing KC- 135 Stratotankers swelled to 20, including an extra KC- 135Q, used to refuel SR-71s. At 21.30 GMT on Monday, April 14, 15 General Dynam ics F-lllFs of the 48th Tacti cal Fighter Wing took off from RAF Lakenheath. At the same time three EF-111 Ravens of the 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron left RAF Upper Heyford to provide electronic countermeasures support. Refuelling twice from the tankers en route, they flew over the Atlantic, down the west side of Spain and Portugal, and through the Straits of Gibraltar. Before letting down to a low level to penetrate Libya's defences, the strike force tanked for a third time. The route covered about 2,800 n.m., some 1,200 n.m. longer than the direct, overland route. France, Spain, and Italy refused the USA permission to fly over their countries. At 01.00 on April 15 the F-lllFs began a three- pronged attack on targets in and around Tripoli. These were the Al Azziziyah barracks in Tripoli, the military side of Tripoli Airport, and the Sidi Bilal port facility ten miles west of Tripoli. The United States Department of Defence says FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 26 April 1986
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