The missile gets within a few hundred meters before it peters out and falls away behind me. I start to breath a sigh of relief and briefly consider turning back to re-attempt my bombing run, perhaps bagging a MiG-29 too! But the damage to my airframe during the dive is too extensive. I find even my avionics are not functioning as my radar has shut down and I cannot switch any of the avionics modes. I can’t even select new steerpoints or HSD ranges. My mission is over and I take a steer from AWACS for homeplate.
Even though the radar doesn’t appear to be working, I turn it off and safe my Master Arm.
Overflying another base on the way home (Osan?) I see a ramp full of A-10s armed and waiting for their mission time.
And another flight of F-16s with the best paint-job in the theater is taxing out for what looks to be a long range strike mission. The specular highlights on the bombs are really fantastic; you have to see it in motion to really appreciate it.
Arriving at Kunsan I declare an emergency and get cleared for the straight in approach. It feels miserable to bring back so much ordnance but we did hit the target and we both members of our flight are returning safely, which can be an accomplishment in itself.
Wheels and boards out I turn onto final.
