F-117A is a bomber
designed to attack the most “difficult” targets. This aircraft have very long combat
history (Panama 1989, Gulf War 1991) and this is the first aircraft with STEALTH
characteristics ever used. |
At 8:38 on Saturday,
27.03 1999., the stealth F-117 bomber, flown by Capt Dale Zelco, was shoot down near the
village Budjanovci, 64 km from Belgrade.In the 10 minute long report a clear wreckage of
the American plane with a crest and the number AF 82 806 was shown.The wreckage was on its
back in flames dug into the ground. |
"Certain
electronic equipment was recovered from wreckage and stored for further
investigation."(Serbian Radio Television). |
A few aircraft of this
type were destroyed during testing. This is the first aircraft of this type lost in combat
due to enemy action. Nobody knows what is the cause of this. |
| Throughout the 78 days of Allied Force
some 24 F-117As of the 49th FW flew missions from Aviano AB in Italy and Spangdahlem AB in
Germany against strategic targets in Serbia and Kosovo. |
Remains
of this aircraft are now in the Yugoslav Aeronautical museum. Canopy hood is shown on
first floor, and rest of wreckage is there too but it is not available to the
public. |
According to
the Air Force Monthly magazine two
other aircraft of this type were damaged. |
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More
photos |
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HOW
DID YUGOSLAV ARMY SHOT DOWN THIS STEALT AIRCRAFT? |
Unofficial “NATO”
story is that "Neva 125M” missile hit this aircraft. The story said that the
Yugoslav army used a special tactic called "Clippers". It is used when two or
more SAM-2 system are guided in a special way . F-117 did avoid the first missile but
second one hit it and that was the
first loss of a STEALTH aircraft in war. |
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April 21
An F-117A 86-0837/'OT' of the USAF 422nd TES "suffered extensive damage in an
unspecified landing accident, details unconfirmed, but reported as a Class A
accident." (source: Air Force Monthly, August 1999, p. 74) |
April 30
An F-117A of the 49th FW was damaged during strike mission by a nearby explosion of an
SA-3 SAM, "...causing loss of part of the tail section, but the aircraft was able to
return safely to Spangdahlem air base, Germany." (source: Air Forces Monthly, July
1999, p. 75)
 |
"Souvenir"
taken from downed aircraft |
special thanks to Vladimir
Zajic |
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