493RD FIGHTER SQUADRON SCRAMBLE - KEFLAVIK ICELAND - MUSIC VIDEO WITH AIRCRAFT SOUNDS INCLUDED

Описание: I was with the Eagle mission twice...first time in 1983-84 at Kadena AB, Okinawa Japan and the second time was at Naval Air Station Keflavik in 1997-1999. Most of my time was split between the 56th Rescue Squadron and the 85th Operations Squadron during Arctic HH-60G and F-15C Alert.

I'll never get tired of the sound of an Eagle starting up!

MUSIC: Sons of Legion - In The Air Tonight

The 493rd Fighter Squadron (FS), known as the "Grim Reapers," was the last unit in U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to fly the F-15C Eagle and is renowned for its pilots' success in air-to-air combat, earning them the nickname "MiG killers". The squadron has since converted to the F-35A Lightning II.

The squadron, based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK, achieved four MiG-29 kills over the course of three days during Operation Allied Force in March 1999. Three specific F-15C aircraft that were assigned to the 493rd FS at the time accounted for these victories, while several other aircraft later assigned to the squadron also carried kill markings from their service with other units.

Notable MiG Kills
Lt Col Cesar "Rico" Rodriguez scored a MiG-29 kill on March 24, 1999, using an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. This added to his two previous kills from Operation Desert Storm in 1991, making him a triple MiG killer.
Capt Mike "Dozer" Shower also shot down a MiG-29 on the same night, March 24, 1999.

Capt Jeff "Claw" Hwang achieved two MiG-29 kills in a single engagement on March 26, 1999, the F-15's first double MiG-29 kill in one engagement.

Legacy and Retirement of the F-15C
The F-15C Eagles of the 493rd FS played a crucial role in maintaining air superiority for NATO for decades, earning multiple Raytheon Trophies as the best fighter squadron in the USAF. The F-15 is historically known for an undefeated air-to-air combat record.

In April 2022, the last F-15Cs departed RAF Lakenheath, marking the end of an era for the F-15 in European service as the squadron transitioned to the fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II. Many of the retired F-15Cs, including the historic "MiG killers," were transferred to Air National Guard units or museums, continuing their legacy.

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