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You have to kick down an enemy’s front door somehow, and in the case of Operation Desert Storm, a novel use of AH-64A Apache and MH-53J Special Operations Pave Low helicopters did just that for their fast-flying fighter jet comrades. The top-secret mission was dubbed Task Force Normandy, and it occurred 25 years ago today.

The thought that a critical portion of Iraq’s elaborate radar “fence” was blinded by helicopters seems strange in this day and age of stealthy standoff weaponry. But 25 years ago today, the choices for kicking open a hole in Iraq’s radar defenses weren’t so plentiful. The fact that these sites were located in the vast featureless desert along the border of Saudi Arabia and Iraq made the task even more challenging ...

Am I a bad person if I am interested in war? WW wars, Korean war, Vietnam, Iraq and the like. Studying the failures and the victories, but with great respect for the troops of course.

A good topic to bring up. Is it really 25 years?

I've been lucky enough to know some of those who went in with the RAF Tornado force on 17 January - at night, at ultra low level below radar cover to attack the Iraqi airbases - as instructors, colleagues and friends. Brave men all of them, and men who lost several friends out there in the Iraqi desert.

And if you wonder how low operational low level is...



After losing 5 Tornados to enemy fire in the airfield denial stage, thankfully most of the rest of the war was flown from medium level with Paveways.

Way too political - please get the message. NO POLITICS! (& this is politics more than history as it was such a controversial war)