Lightning air battle between US and Libyan fighters

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

US F-14 Tomcat fighter. Photo: Playbuzz

August 19, 1981 was a milestone for the American F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. It was the first time it carried out an air-to-air combat mission and shot down an enemy fighter, according to Aviationist.

In 1974, Colonel Gaddafi, the leader of Libya at the time, declared that his country's territorial waters extended to the 32°30' parallel. 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 6th Fleet to stay away from the area.

However, when President Ronald Reagan came to power, everything changed. He ordered the US Navy to conduct Freedom of Navigation (FON) operations, culminating in missile-firing exercises in waters that Libya considered its territorial waters.

In August 1981, the US Navy conducted a FON operation with the participation of the aircraft carriers USS Forrestal and USS Nimitz, aiming to demonstrate to Tripoli that Washington was serious about the right to deploy naval power in international waters.

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

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

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

On the first day, Libyan aircraft took off about 35 times to spy on the US aircraft carrier. Although no fighting broke out, the US and Libyan air force fighters still performed many dangerous maneuvers.

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

"They were clearly coming towards us and flying up to 6,000 metres above us, then accelerating to 1,000 km/h. Kleemann's plane was in the lead and I was in the 3 o'clock position about 1.6 to 3.2 kilometres behind him.

"As we approached the Libyan aircraft, we saw that they had very good ground guidance. Every time we turned to gain an advantage, they turned to neutralize us," Muczynski recalled.

The two F-14s could not gain an initial advantage over the Su-22 formation. The American pilots decided to turn on maximum power and accelerate to 926 km/h.

Su-22 aircraft of the Libyan Air Force. Photo: Photobucket

When Kleemann's plane was more than 300 meters away from the enemy, he banked left to pass and identify the enemy. But at this time, the left side of the Libyan lead plane appeared a ring of fire as the rocket engine ignited.

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

After firing missiles at the US F-14 squadron, the two Libyan Su-22s were considered to have declared war and the US pilots had the right to return fire.

Kleemann pursued the lead Su-22, but when he saw Muczynski's plane approaching his target, he circled around to target the plane behind him. When he was about 1.2 km away, Kleemann fired an AIM-9L missile, hitting the Su-22 in the tail, causing it to roll over. The Libyan pilot quickly ejected and parachuted to safety.

Muczynski then fired a missile and shot down the remaining Su-22. The enemy pilot also ejected from the plane, 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 flew at Mach 1.5 towards the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier. But F-14 fighters scrambled to intercept them, forcing them to turn back.

The air battle between the F-14 and the Su-22 marked the F-14's first combat engagement, and also the first air battle between swing-wing fighters. The battle lasted less than 45 seconds, from the time the Libyan plane launched its missile until the second Su-22 was shot down.

According to VNE