Three US A-10 Warthogs Hit By Iraqi Missiles - CNN

Nasdaq/ Dow Jones Newswire ^ | 4-8-03

[Unwavering Conservative]

Three US A-10 Warthogs Hit By Iraqi Missiles -CNN

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Three U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthogs were hit Tuesday by Iraqi surface-to-air missiles - two of the pilots landed safely, the third pilot ejected and was rescued, the Cable News Network reported.

The ejection and rescue of the pilot who landed in the desert south of Baghdad had been reported earlier.

CNN said the pilot of a second Warthog managed to land safely at a base in southern Iraq and the third U.S. plane landed at a base, which under military restrictions, can only be identified as "near the Iraqi border."

A picture of the plane that landed in southern Iraq shows a hole in the right engine, CNN reported.

According to CNN, the pilot rescued from the desert by U.S. Army troops is reported in good condition and good spirits, CNN said.

Although the pilot hasn't been identified, he is from the 172nd Fighter Squadron based in Grand Rapids, Mich., the report said.

-By Larry McCoy, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-4378; hbsglobaldesk@ dowjones.com

According to CNN, the pilot rescued from the desert by U.S. Army troops is reported in good condition and good spirits.

Although the pilot hasn't been identified, he is from the 172nd Fighter Squadron based in Battle Creek, Mich., the report said.

(In an item timed around 3:03 p.m. EDT (1903), the pilot's home base was misstated.)

[Unwavering Conservative]

This is bad news. We must keep all the pilots and their families in our prayer.

Let's pray for the Lord to protect them while they fight for our freedom.

[Noslrac]

Bad news?? they are all safe and accounted for!! You can't ask for anything more when you are getting hit with SAMs.

[grobdriver]

According to CNN, the pilot rescued from the desert by U.S. Army troops is reported in good condition and good spirits.

No doubt.
Cheated death once again.
"Get me another plane, boss. I got unfinished business."

[Noslrac]

Two of them even flew home after getting hit. They are in a flying tank.

[Frank_Discussion]

Hmmm... Is this the SAM location from which our first Warthog was downed? Perhaps special forces should pay someone a visit...

[WhiskeyPapa]

This is bad news.

They are all alive and okay. That is great news. It's startling that we are this far into the conflict and have no fixed wing pilot POW's.

Walt

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[struwwelpeter]

3 hits, or footage of one being hit from 3 different camera angles? After the six "COJONE EH" tanks last week, I'm skeptical.

[jwalsh07]

Not bad news, good news. All the pilots made it back safely and I'm damn sure they gave more than they got. Killing tanks in bad guy territory in slow movers is dangerous business.

These guys are good!

[thinktwice]

Sounds like a shipment of new missiles arrived.

From where?

[NavyCaptain]

All the pilots are OK! That is one indestructable airplane and we bought over 750 of them!

[Rammer]

Hard to stop a hog! Hit with SAMS and two still landed!

[Unwavering Conservative]

I know that, but it is bad news that the Iraqis still have the ability to it our planes.

We need to pray for our military personnel and their families in this trying time.

[Noslrac]

I agree with you 100%, but the a-10 is an easy target flying low and slow. Thats why they are built to take direct fire. And these two the flew back prove that they can. Thats why we using them.

[Unwavering Conservative]

France or Russia probably sent Iraq some new missiles.

Didnt Russia supply Iraq with some new anti-tank missile lately that was used to knock some of our military's Abrams tanks out?

[Catspaw]

From where?

I have no hard evidence, but Syria has been warned by the coalition about supplying Iraq with personnel and equipment.

[nana4bush]

Ping!

Looks like these are your guys. Thank God they are safe and sound.

[Tennessee_Bob]

A picture of the plane that landed in southern Iraq shows a hole in the right engine, CNN reported.

A tribute to the foresight of the design team. Engines in separate pods to eliminate the possibility that one strike would kill both engines. I loved working on the A-10 when I had the chance. A maintainer's dream, a tanker's nightmare.

[Unwavering Conservative]

That is how the IDF knocked out the Syrian military's SAM capability during the Yom Kippur war.

IDF commandos destroyed the sites in daring raids on the ground.