Aviation Photojournal March - April 2016 | Page 47

47

APJ/DAVID F. BROWN

APJ/DAVID F. BROWN

This Iraqi Bell-214SP was captured by members of the 1st Marine Division at Kuwait International Airport, February 27, 1991.  There is a handwritten inscription behind the pilot's access door.   It reads as follows: "Do not touch or damage this aircraft.  Captured by 1st MarDiv at Kuwait Intl Airport 27 Feb 91.  Ship to: CG 3d MAW MCAS El Toro.  By order of CG MEF"

"DELIVERED PROUDLY & PROFESSIONALLY BY THE MARINES OF DELTA FORCE CAREFULLY & SHARPLY.  SEMPER FI! SIR"

Below: This S-3B, 159765, was assigned to VS-32 during Desert Storm.  While flying an armed reconnaissance from the USS America (CV-66), 159765 was vectored to a contact near Faylaka Island.  Using ISAR and FLIR, the crew was able to identify the target as an Iraqi, ZHUK class gunboat.  In their zeal to achieve the first ever S-3 Viking surface kill, the crew armed both wing stations, one armed with general purpose bombs and the other a D-704 aerial refueling pod.  As a result, the bombs and the refueling pod were dropped on the target causing its destruction.    When you destroy a target using unconventional ordnance, your aircraft receives unconventional mission markings (inset).