The F-15 scored my favorite kill story....
"One F-15E scored an aerial kill by dropping a laser-guided bomb on an airborne Iraqi helicopter."
Feb. 15, 1991. In one of the most unusual air-to-air victories ever, Capt. Tim Bennett and Capt. Dan Bakke of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., shoot down an Iraqi helicopter (probably an Mi-24 Hind) with a GBU-10 2,000-pound Laser-Guided Bomb dropped from their F-15E.
Here's a short article on the F-15's combat history....
F-15 in combat:
Israel :
The first IDF/AF action with Eagles took place on 27 June 1979, since that day the F-15's of the Israeli Air Force scored 17 air to air victories.
Saudi Arabia:
On 5 June 1984, Eagles of No 6 Squadron were involved in an air battle with Iranian piloted F-4 Phantoms witch were threatening Saudi oil fields. Two of the intruders were shot down by AIM-7 Sparrows. This was the first time (and the only) that McDonnell Douglas fighters fought each other. One RSAF F-15 shot down a pair of Iraqi Dassault Mirage F-1's during Desert Storm.
Desert Storm 17 January - 28 February 1991:
The USAF had five F-15C and two F-15E squadrons when the (air) war against Iraq began. Although the F-15E was still not fully combat-ready, 48 F-15Es flew in the Gulf War. F-15Es joined other Coalition aircraft in searching for and attacking Iraqi "Scud" missile launchers. These Scud hunt missions were largely unsuccessful, but the F-15Es attacked many other Iraqi targets of opportunity. The F-15C's scored 32 aerial kills, of a total of 41 victories. Twenty-four of these kills were achieved with the Sparrow missile, eight by AIM-9 sidewinders. One F-15E scored an aerial kill by dropping a laser-guided bomb on an airborne Iraqi helicopter. No F-15C/D Eagle fighters were lost during Desert Shield / Storm, two F-15E Strike Eagles were lost in action.
Provide Comfort 1 March 1991 - 1 January 1997
Northern/Southern watch: 1 January 1997 - 1 May 2003:
F-15C's of the USAF shot down three Iraqi Su-22's with the AIM-9 and one Pilatus PC-9 trainer.
On 14 April 1994 there was a tragic 'Friendly Fire' incident over Northern Iraq, when a pair of F-15C's shot down two UH-60 Black hawks, killing 26 American and United Nations personnel.
Deliberate Force: Aug.- Sept. 1994:
F-15C were in combat air patrols, and never shot down a Serbian aircraft (all F-16 kills) The F-15E was in air to ground actions.
Allied Force: 24 March - 10 June 1999:
On the first day of Allied Force 24 March 1999, F-15C's killed four Serbian MiG-29's with AIM-120 AMRAAM's. One pilot Major J.Kwhang from the 493rd FS shot-down two aircraft.
Enduring Freedom 7 October 2001 - :
F-15E 89-0487 shot-down a Mi-24 Hind helicopter in Afghanistan.
Iraqi Freedom 20 March 2003 - April 2003:
USAF F-15C/D's from Al Jaber AB, Kuwait and F-15C/D from Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia flew together with F-15E Strike Eagles combat-missions in Iraq. One F-15E (88-1694/SJ) of 333rd FS, 4th FW from Seymour Johnson AFB, NC was shot-down near Tikrit in Iraq on 6 April 2003, the pilots were Killed in Action.
This article has been written by Rob Vogelaar.