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U S Air Force (USAF) maintenance personnel work under an F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998. Night scope used

An F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter crew chief assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, works in the aircrafts nose gear bay, at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998. Night scope used

US Air Force (USAF) AIRMAN First Class (A1C) Robert Armstrong, a crew chief, helps Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) James E. Brown, an F-117 Nighthawk fighter pilot, both assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, prepare for departure from Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

Pilots from the 8th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, brief prior to launching a mission in their F-117 Nighthawk stealth-fighters at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

US Air Force (USAF) AIRMAN First Class (A1C) Dave Johnson, a crew chief assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, safety checks his F-117 Nighthawk fighter as it begins its departure from Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

An F-117A Nighthawk fighter assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, takes off from Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

An F-117A Nighthawk fighter from the 8th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, is prepared for departure at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

SENIOR AIRMAN (SRA) George Poppie, a crew chief assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, prepares his F-117 Nighthawk for a mission at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

US Air Force (USAF) STAFF Sergeant (SSGT) Ray Scott, an Avionics Journeyman and SSGT Brian Rebo, an Environmental Control Systems (ECS) Journeyman, both assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, stand-by as their F-117 Nighthawk Fighters depart Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

US Air Force (USAF) Technical Sergeant (TSGT) Richard Endicott, an Aircraft Repair Craftsman assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, prepares his F-117A Nighthawk fighter for departure from Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

description

Summary

The original finding aid described this photograph as:

Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

Base: Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base

State: Al Ahmadi

Country: Kuwait (KWT)

Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

Scene Camera Operator: TSGT James D. Mossman, USAF

Release Status: Released to Public

Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files

In 1964, Pyotr Ufimtsev, Russian mathematician, pioneered the idea that the level of the radar return from an airplane is related to its edge configuration, not its size. Basing on work by the German physicist Arnold Sommerfeld, Ufimtsev demonstrated that an aircraft radar signature can be reduced. By the 1970s, Lockheed analyst Denys Overholser found Ufimtsev's paper and F-117 Nighthawk was born as a black project, an ultra-secret Pentagon program. The F-117 has a radar cross-section of about 0.001 m2 (0.0108 sq ft). The F-117A carries no radar and whether it carries any radar detection equipment is classified. The F-117 also reduces infrared signature, lacks afterburners, and limited to subsonic speeds. However, the resulting design makes the aircraft aerodynamically unstable and requires constant flight corrections from a fly-by-wire flight system to maintain controlled flight. A pilot, who flew it while it was still a secret project, stated that when he first saw a photograph of the F-117, he "promptly giggled and thought to this clearly can't fly'". It has low engine thrust due to losses in the inlet and outlet, a low wing aspect ratio, and 50° wing sweep angle to deflect radar waves to the sides. Supercomputers made it possible for subsequent aircraft like the B-2 to use curved surfaces while maintaining stealth. The 558 Nighthawk's pilots called themselves "Bandits", such as "Bandit 17", that where 17 is a sequential order of their first flight in the F-117. The aircraft was in use during Panama invasion, the Gulf War in 1991 and was first shot down in Serbia during on 27 March 1999 by an antiquate Soviet-made SA-3s (S-125 "Neva" ) anti-aircraft missile. The pilot was recovered by a United States Air Force Pararescue team. According to Serbian anti-aircraft unit commander, they spotted the aircraft on the radar when its bomb-bay doors opened, raising its radar signature. The Serbs invited Russians to inspect the aircraft's remains, compromising the stealth technology. Although officially retired, the F-117 fleet remains intact and some of the aircraft are flown periodically as of 2019.

label_outline

Tags

air force usaf technical sergeant technical sergeant tsgt endicott richard endicott aircraft repair craftsman aircraft repair craftsman fighter squadron holloman holloman air force base afb new mexico nighthawk nighthawk fighter departure jaber al jaber air base kuwait operation southern al jaber air base kuwait f 117 a operation southern watch military operations us air force air force base stealth fighter f 117 f 117 nighthawk f 117 a nighthawk fighter al ahmadi scene major command tsgt james southern us national archives
date_range

Date

06/06/1998
collections

in collections

F-117

F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber aircraft
place

Location

create

Source

The U.S. National Archives
link

Link

https://catalog.archives.gov/
copyright

Copyright info

No known copyright restrictions

label_outline Explore Endicott, F 117 A, F 117 A

F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter attack aircraft, on static display in support of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic (SACLANT) Seminar held at Langley AFB, Virginia. The SACLANT Seminar was attended by 100 delegates from 18 countries, the purpose was to bring NATO leaders together to discuss issues from a Maritime and North American perspective and give leaders a hands on opportunity

A US Marine Corps (USMC) KC-130 Hercules aircraft assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron Two Three Four (VMGR-234) sits on the flight deck in the early morning hours prior to departure at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, ending a deployment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM

US Air Force STAFF Sergeant Mark Hamilton, Non Destructive Inspection (NDI) Craftsman Technician, 31st Maintenance Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, removes oil test sample tabs. NDI is responsible for early engine wear detection to accomplish missions in a more cost effective way

US Air Force (USAF) STAFF Sergeant (SSGT) Jeannette Grimm, Non-destructive Inspection (NDI) Craftsman, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron (EMS), accomplishes a magnetic particle inspection on an engine actuator mount, inside the NDI shop at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, United Kingdom (UK)

Captain (CAPT) Thad Darger, an F-117 Nighthawk pilot assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron (FS), 49th Fighter Wing (FW), Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, puts on his G-suit in preparation for a mission at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

F-117 stealth fighter aircraft of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing stand on the flight line with canopies raised following their return from Saudi Arabia where they took part in Operation Desert Storm.

An A-10 Thunderbolt or "Warthog" from the 74th Fighter Squadron (FS), 23rd Wing, Pope Air Force Base (AFB), North Carolina, departs Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

As seen through a night vision lens, an F-117A aircraft from the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (37th TFW) moves in for a midair refueling during Operation Desert Shield

An F-117A Stealth Fighter aircraft stands on the flight line as part of a static display at the Paris Air Show. A laser-guided bomb is on display in front of the aircraft.

The 'business end' of a 74th Fighter Squadron A-10A Thunderbolt II, a GAU-8 30 mm Avenger seven-barrel gatling gun speaks volumes about its mission at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH 1998

A Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) F-14A Tomcat aircraft flies over part of Al Jaber Airfield. The airfield was heavily damaged during Operation Desert Storm

A US Air Force (USAF) F-117A Stealth Fighter takes off during an air show at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), Cherry Point, North Carolina (NC)

Topics

air force usaf technical sergeant technical sergeant tsgt endicott richard endicott aircraft repair craftsman aircraft repair craftsman fighter squadron holloman holloman air force base afb new mexico nighthawk nighthawk fighter departure jaber al jaber air base kuwait operation southern al jaber air base kuwait f 117 a operation southern watch military operations us air force air force base stealth fighter f 117 f 117 nighthawk f 117 a nighthawk fighter al ahmadi scene major command tsgt james southern us national archives