Tag Archives: flight 149

Desert Storm: Aircraft Graveyard

Operation Desert Shield/Storm can be considered the last battle of the undeclared Cold War.  It was totally one sided, and can’t be considered a ‘war’.  The battle annihilated the Iraqi air force.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) photo.

What’s left of a Sukhoi 25, NATO reporting name Frogfoot.

DoD photo.

From this angle it appears the Su-25 made an emergency landing on the dirt.  Notice the tracks in the dirt indicate the right main tire was blown as the track is deeper and rougher cut that the left main and nose wheel-tires.

DoD photo.

Sukhoi 22 found in a hardened hanger.

DoD photo.

DoD photo.

In a hanger hit by airstrikes, is this what is left of a MiG-25?

DoD photo.

Definitely a MiG-25.

DoD photo.

What’s left of British Airways flight 149 Boeing 747, on the Kuwait International Airport.  The U.S. DoD reported it as destroyed by retreating Iraqi troops, however it has never been proven. Flight 149 just happen to arrive on the airport the day the Iraqis invaded, passengers and crew were taken hostage. 

DoD photo.

An aerial view showing the British Airways 747 and a smaller Kuwaiti Air Force DC-9 cargo aircraft.  It should be noted that the information that came with this DoD photo said “…coalition bombing of a transport aircraft and a small jet at Kuwait International Airport in the final days of Operation Desert Storm”, contradicting statements that retreating Iraqis did it.

DoD photo.

Staff Sergeant Lee Corkran stands in front of KAF320, the destroyed Kuwaiti Air Force DC-9.  The photo’s original DoD information claimed this was the tail section of a Kuwaiti Air Force 747!

DoD photo.

Abandoned Iraqi Mil 8, NATO reporting name Hip.

DoD photo.

Remains of a helicopter.

DoD photo.

Was this a Hind or a Hip?

DoD photo.

U.S. Army soldiers check-out a Mil-24, NATO reporting name Hind.

DoD photo.

DoD photo.

General Norman Schwarzkopf uses his foot to check-out the pieces & parts of an abandoned Hind.

DoD photo.

Captured by U.S. Marines, a U.S. made Bell 214ST.

DoD photo.

An Iranian F-4E was destroyed during Desert Storm.  The interesting story is that the Iranian pilot defected to Iraq in 1984, in the middle of the Iran-Iraq War.  The back seat Weapon System Operator (WSO) was not part of the defection and became a Prisoner of War.  Later the WSO was released to NATO Turkey, where he was assassinated.

DoD photo.

What’s left of a MiG 29, NATO reporting name Fulcrum.

DoD photo.

U.S. Army combat cameraman, Daniel Jackson, videos the burned-out Fulcrum.

DoD photo.

An aerial view of the same MiG-29.

DoD photo.

A bashed-up Iraqi Pilatus PC-7.

DoD photo.

Burned beyond recognition.

DoD photo.

Sukhoi 22.

DoD photo.

More destroyed Su-22s.

DoD photo.

Su-22 nose.

Iraq 2003:

USN/USMC photo.

ARMOR BATTLE DAMAGE

Vehicle I-D:  IRAQI HUEY