The US engaged in an retaliatory raid of Libya in response to numerous terrorist attacks that had ties to Libya's leader Muahmar Gadafi. 18 USAF F-111F Aardvark interdiction-strike jets supported by 4 EF-111A Raven electronics countermeasures jets and escorted by KC-10 tanker jets, launched from the UK. Denied permission to take a direct route over France, Spain and Italy, they were forced to route down the Atlantic, and east through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Med. Targets for the F-111s were Tripoli airfield and two Army barracks.
USN aircraft consisting of A-6E Intruders, A-7E Corsairs, EA-6B Prowlers and the then-new and in their combat debut F/A-18A Hornets from the USS Coral Sea and the USS America in the Gulf of Sidra (the USS Coral Sea's last combat it would see before retirement), took on the role of "Iron Hand", striking Libyan air defense SAM and AAA sites for protection of their own A-6s that were striking another airfield and barracks complex, as well as protection for the F-111s, augmenting the EF-111s and EA-6Bs in their electronic jamming roles.
1 F-111F was lost, and the circumstances surrounding the loss still have not been fully released, nor have the story of what specifically happened to the aircrew of the ill-fated jet, besides the fact that it ended up in the Gulf of Sidra. Both aircrew were initially listed as MIA. The pilot's body was returned by Libya 2 years later, though they had misidentified it as the WSOs body. The WSOs body has never been recovered and he is still MIA, presumed KIA/BNR.
The Isla Grande airport west of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was renamed The Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci airport, in honor of the pilot who was a native of Puerto Rico.
USN aircraft consisting of A-6E Intruders, A-7E Corsairs, EA-6B Prowlers and the then-new and in their combat debut F/A-18A Hornets from the USS Coral Sea and the USS America in the Gulf of Sidra (the USS Coral Sea's last combat it would see before retirement), took on the role of "Iron Hand", striking Libyan air defense SAM and AAA sites for protection of their own A-6s that were striking another airfield and barracks complex, as well as protection for the F-111s, augmenting the EF-111s and EA-6Bs in their electronic jamming roles.
1 F-111F was lost, and the circumstances surrounding the loss still have not been fully released, nor have the story of what specifically happened to the aircrew of the ill-fated jet, besides the fact that it ended up in the Gulf of Sidra. Both aircrew were initially listed as MIA. The pilot's body was returned by Libya 2 years later, though they had misidentified it as the WSOs body. The WSOs body has never been recovered and he is still MIA, presumed KIA/BNR.
The Isla Grande airport west of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was renamed The Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci airport, in honor of the pilot who was a native of Puerto Rico.
Last edited: