A brief dogfight between US and Libyan fighter jets.

During Operation Freedom of Navigation off Libya in 1981, a squadron of US F-14 fighter jets took less than 45 seconds to shoot down two Su-22 aircraft.

A US F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. Photo: Playbuzz

August 19, 1981, was a significant date for the American F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. It marked its first air-to-air combat mission, shooting down an enemy fighter aircraft, according to Aviationist.

In 1974, Colonel Gaddafi, then leader of Libya, declared that the country's territorial waters extended to the 32°30' latitude. This was considered inconsistent with international law, but the US did not react. Even when a US reconnaissance plane was attacked in the area, President Jimmy Carter ordered the Sixth Fleet to stay away.

However, when President Ronald Reagan took office, things changed. He ordered the U.S. Navy to conduct Operation Freedom of Navigation (FON), culminating in missile launch exercises in waters that Libya considered its territorial waters.

In August 1981, the US Navy launched Operation FON, involving the aircraft carriers USS Forrestal and USS Nimitz, with the aim of demonstrating to Tripoli that Washington was serious about its right to project naval power in international waters.

The rules of engagement in Operation FON allowed field commanders to take any necessary action without orders from higher command, but fighter pilots were not permitted to fire unless under attack.

To counter the US Navy, Libya deployed fighter jets and bombers such as the Soviet-made Su-22, Mig-23, and Mig-25, along with French Mirage F-1 and Mirage 5D fighters.

When Operation FON began on August 18, 1981, a squadron of MiG-25s approached the American carrier strike group, but were quickly intercepted by F-4J fighters from the USS Forrestal and F-14 fighters from the USS Nimitz.

On the first day, Libyan aircraft scrambled approximately 35 times to scout the American aircraft carrier. Although no combat broke out, American and Libyan air force fighters performed numerous dangerous maneuvers.

The Libyan Air Force moved to a higher state of combat readiness for the second day. On the morning of August 19, two US F-14 fighter jets, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Kleemann and Lieutenant Larry Muczynski, were on combat patrol off the coast of Libya when they spotted a formation of Su-22 fighter jets approaching.

"They clearly approached us and flew up to an altitude of 6 km level with us, then accelerated to 1,000 km/h. Kleemann's plane was leading and I was at the 3 o'clock position, about 1.6 to 3.2 km away from him."

"As we approached the Libyan aircraft, we saw they had very good ground control. Every time we changed course to gain the upper hand, they changed course to neutralize us," Muczynski recalled.

The two F-14s were unable to gain an initial advantage over the Su-22 formation. The American pilots decided to engage maximum afterburner mode and accelerate to 926 km/h.

A Libyan Air Force Su-22 aircraft. Photo: Photobucket

When Kleemann's plane was more than 300 meters from the enemy, he tilted to the left to overtake and identify them. But at that moment, a fireball appeared on the left side of the lead Libyan plane as its missile engine activated.

A large yellow streak of light and smoke shot out from the plane and flew towards Kleemann. It then circled over Muczynski's plane, but neither was hit.

After firing missiles at the American F-14 formation, the two Libyan Su-22s were considered to have declared war, and the American pilots had the right to retaliate.

Kleemann pursued the lead Su-22, but upon seeing Muczynski's aircraft approaching its target, he turned around to target the aircraft behind. When approximately 1.2 km from the enemy, Kleemann fired an AIM-9L missile, striking the tail of the Su-22 and causing it to flip over. The Libyan pilot quickly ejected.

Muczynski then fired a missile, shooting down the remaining Su-22. The opposing pilot also ejected, but Muczynski did not see the parachute open. The two F-14s then returned safely to the aircraft carrier, while the Libyan side began a search and rescue operation for the pilots.

An hour later, two MiG-25 fighters, flying at Mach 1.5, headed towards the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier. But F-14 fighters scrambled to intercept them, forcing them to turn back.

The dogfight between the F-14 and the Su-22 marked the F-14's first combat engagement, and also the first dogfight between variable-geometry fighters. The battle lasted less than 45 seconds, from the moment the Libyan aircraft launched its missiles until the second Su-22 was shot down.

According to VNE