Looking to hold a night CAP over Bosnia-Serbia border during allied operations in 1999, and so since the Serbs were firing their missles without "lock" in order to not get "wacked" by HARM shooter, the objective was to appear as "unpredictable" as possible.
Therefore, "unpredictable" CAP patterns were established and flown as directed by command authority. Seeing the flashing bombs far away on the ground, the pilot of this specific -16, along with the rain of missles streaking upwards into the blackness (it was just like Christmas, ney, it was like 4th of July thought the Viper pilot), and yet the intrepid pilot refused to bail out (relying instead on their superior "world-class" training).
"Beacons" were off, and exterior lights were dimmed and steady. Suddenly, the Falcon pilot saw a sight that made his mouth taste like battery acid (you ever been there?).
A light came towards the hapless pilot from his 3 O'clock position, and instantly his training kicked in: staying constant on the canopy - only meaning "it" was after HIM - he wheeled his multi-million dollar jet about in the air. The pilot made that jet DANCE!
Heart pounding, adrenelin pumping, vivid images of long-lost childhood friends, the pilot turned HARD to "beam" aspect, dumping chaff and flares furiously (all the while as fast as he could muster the thoughts and compell his fingers to obey). However, the pilot's efforts were all to no avail: the "missle" remained dedicated straight upon the plane being piloted (one person, $50 million plane, and neither does it matter who the President is).
"Oh, my bad, that's just the right wingtip formation light. Nevermind." Can you imagine how cold that pilot felt afterwards?
1942:21 approach control (east RADAR): NS282
Mobile departure (ATC)..."turn right bla bla bla join vector victor 454..."
"Roger. 454."
1942:25 "12 O'clock traffic, 7 mi SB heavy DC-10 @ 4k"
"night ship two, I'm IMC"