+Typhoid 231 Posted January 20, 2009 chatting about the insanity of the North Koreans brought back some old memories. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Midway was on an operation in the Sea of Japan south of Vladivostok conducting routine training and exercises. That area is east of NK and outside of a NK declared military exclusion area - which we did not and do not recognize, but nevertheless try to avoid unless conducting a specificly authorized and directed Freedom of Navigation operation. So for our op we were watching for Russian aircraft coming down - and were not disappointed. Business was good. As a side note, we were curious to see how Korean (north and south) and Japanese fighters reacted to Soviet bombers in that area. We were somewhat more concerned with how those different fighters would react to each other (particularly Japanese and any Korean) rather than the Russians. But nothing unusual occurred...... At any rate - I was up on a routine AEW mission with the NK exclusion area plotted and avoided. At the end of my mission the replacement E-2 came up and we did the routine turnover. At that point I shut down our radar and computer and conducted the procedure that we did to warm up the system prior to landing - this procedure reducing condensation in the system and enhanced the system reliability. So at that point, I no longer had a display to show the NK exclusion area and our pilots were navigating solely off of the tacan and the ins readouts, no map display. We checked out of the operational networks and checked into the Midway CATCC (Carrier Air Traffic Control Center) who assigned us a holding station off of the Midway tacan. This was were the key mistake occurred as CATCC did not have the tactical plot with the NK exclusion area plotted, only the CIC had that. Problem was that the tacan holding station was inside of the NK exclusion area which we in the aircraft had no way of knowing. CATCC was assuming that we would still have that plotted. CIC assumed that we had that plotted and that CATCC had that plotted. The NK air defense network noticed that we were well inside the exclusion area where CATCC had placed us. Two Migs came after us under GCI, feet wet, supersonic and looking for their Hero of the Revolution Medals. CIC went ballistic. The cruisers ran out the warshots and locked up the Migs. The Midway CAP (F-4S) went after the Migs, warmed up their missiles and locked them up on radar. We hit our approach time and commenced our routine TACAN approach during which we dropped below NK air defense radar horizon and they lost track. Since the NK Migs were under close control of their GCI who no longer had a target, they missed the intercept. Essentially everyone, in a very tight piece of airspace almost close enough for visual, missed their intercept, and we continued our approach and recovery blissfully unaware of the utter chaos around us since we were tuned only to the CATCC and Tower frequencies. So when we all came into the ready room and were busy getting out of our flight gear, one of the Flag Staff officers came running into the ready room looking for the Mission Commander (me) and asked (very high-pitched voice) "How did you get away from the Migs?" - my reply "What Migs?". Things went rapidly downhill from there............. That was the last time anyone in my squadron ever shut down the radar and computer prior to commencing an approach, even if we had been relieved, and we always thereafter kept a radio tuned to the tactical network until shutdown on deck!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+SkippyBing 8 Posted January 20, 2009 The NK air defense network noticed that we were well inside the exclusionarea where CATCC had placed us. Well at least someone was paying attention to where you were! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaverickMike 10 Posted January 20, 2009 That is a very good story. Nonetheless it could have ended badly. Luckily it didnt so i guess its one of those ones we can now safely look back on and laugh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Typhoid 231 Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) That is a very good story. Nonetheless it could have ended badly. Luckily it didnt so i guess its one of those ones we can now safely look back on and laugh. you are not kidding! Not one of my finer moments of airmanship, everyone's complacency almost got us all killed. now - can look back and laugh at my folly............. Edited January 20, 2009 by Typhoid Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charlielima 328 Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) Wow! Bitchin. My Migs? What Migs? story was more like my first almost scrape. Platform:SH-3H Seaking Mission: Plane Guard Secondary: Take pictures of carrier battle group. Weapons: Good guess. Canon AE-1 Spooling up on spot 3 a bunch of Intel types come up to our Helo. Guy in khakis talks to pilots. The usual photo guys come up to me with this big case. Open it up. 90 mm camera, Got quick brief on how to use it. Sierra! If I stick this out the cargo door and point it at something I might start another war. This thing looks as dangerous as what the fast movers on alert bravo have strapped on thier hardpoints. Updated Mission: Go feet dry and take pictures of,...ah, stuff. It was pretty fun at first. Indiginious people running about in panic to get arms, or man a weapon system that is not kind to aircraft. Domestic animals running about. Never heard what we were suppose take a picture of. I did snap off a couple of shots. Intel types where happy. We went back to the carrier. Hell bent to leather terrain masking until we were feet wet. I was only on ICS so I didn't hear what was up but these 2 helo drivers where really working the helo hard and they where usually pretty easy and mello on our SeaPigs. I could tell thier stress level was off the scale. I saw the mig-21 that was working us when we were going thru our pre landing check list. Good thread Typhoid. I was going to start a Mig? What Mig? thread but you beat me to it. :ph34r: CL Edited January 20, 2009 by charlielima Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TX3RN0BILL 3 Posted January 20, 2009 Those north koreans are nothing if not feisty... reminds me of that video I've seen where a small north korean ship was intercepted by a small japanese coast guard flotilla... it acted in a suicidal manner and paid the ultimate price for it... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Typhoid 231 Posted January 20, 2009 Wow! Bitchin. My Migs? What Migs? story was more like my first almost scrape.Platform:SH-3H Seaking Mission: Plane Guard Secondary: Take pictures of carrier battle group. Weapons: Good guess. Canon AE-1 Spooling up on spot 3 a bunch of Intel types come up to our Helo. Guy in khakis talks to pilots. The usual photo guys come up to me with this big case. Open it up. 90 mm camera, Got quick brief on how to use it. Sierra! If I stick this out the cargo door and point it at something I might start another war. This thing looks as dangerous as what the fast movers on alert bravo have strapped on thier hardpoints. Updated Mission: Go feet dry and take pictures of,...ah, stuff. It was pretty fun at first. Indiginious people running about in panic to get arms, or man a weapon system that is not kind to aircraft. Domestic animals running about. Never heard what we were suppose take a picture of. I did snap off a couple of shots. Intel types where happy. We went back to the carrier. Hell bent to leather terrain masking until we were feet wet. I was only on ICS so I didn't hear what was up but these 2 helo drivers where really working the helo hard and they where usually pretty easy and mello on our SeaPigs. I could tell thier stress level was off the scale. I saw the mig-21 that was working us when we were going thru our pre landing check list. Good thread Typhoid. I was going to start a Mig? What Mig? thread but you beat me to it. :ph34r: CL very awesome story! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charlielima 328 Posted January 21, 2009 "very awesome story!" Jesus, Joseph, Mary, The 3 wisemen and the talking donkey. I think I violated the security act. :ph34r: CL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ezlead 42 Posted January 22, 2009 Hey Typhoid: I bet those fighter jocks from the Midway CAP were drooling in their O2 masks just hoping those Migs took a shot at you. Glad things worked out for the best. We've all had those days when "Our Brains are Up and Locked" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Typhoid 231 Posted January 23, 2009 Hey Typhoid: I bet those fighter jocks from the Midway CAP were drooling in their O2 masks just hoping those Migs took a shot at you. Glad things worked out for the best. We've all had those days when "Our Brains are Up and Locked" I called it a short-circuit between the headphones...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
