“Look at that! Right over one of their airbases and they’re sound asleep!” We are passing over a Dhimari airbase, it’s sliding under my right wing! I later found out that Parani commandos struck the largest radar station in the Dhimar air defense warning system in this area prior to our flight, but right then I could only stare out the canopy in wonder. Just any other training flight, right over an enemy airfield. They do not know we are the enemy… I consider for a moment, recalling that Indian MiG-21 aircraft are also flying with the Dhimar forces in this area. They must think we’re the Indians! They are in for a nasty surprise.
“Back to reality. IP in five minutes. Weapons hot.” Raskov refocuses my attention as we turn onto course for the initial point. I concentrate, trying to remember the aerial photos. The generator building is at the northeastern edge of the city. Raskov’s voice on the net is soothing, calming, as he calls the tactical control center to verify that the enemy has not scrambled to meet us.
“Two, IP.” I am concentrating on the task at hand now, and suddenly, I feel calm, my nerves gone. Slipping under my left wing, the landmark! I push up my visor, scrabbling in the bag jammed down beside my seat for my binoculars.
Yes, there it is, the generator! “Target in sight, in hot!” I snap inverted and pull my nose onto target, lining up the metal gun/rocket sight.
