Back in 1983

[Navy Chief]

When I was with Attack Squadron Fifteen, onboard the USS Independence, our aircraft was part of a attack against Syrian anti-aircraft defenses in Lebanon in 1983. Our Executive Officer was participating in the attack when his aircraft was hit by shrapnel from a Syrian missile. He landed back onboard, but the damage to the engine was enough to require a replacement, in addition to structural repairs. Here is what his aircraft looked like right when he landed.

 

[PhantomTweak]

Ouch! Glad he made it back aboard safely.
Now you know why the Navy tends to insist on two engines, although the A7 and F-8 seemed to be the exceptions. Oops! Can't forget the A-4, sorry. After all, I met my lovely wife because of an A-4.
But overall...
Anywho, glad he was safe an sound onboard.
Fair skies, and following seas!
Pat☺

 

[stansdds]

Yep, there is something to be said about having two engines instead of one.

 

[TARPSBird]

He's carrying Mk 20 Rockeye. That would have put the hurts on any AAA site he dropped it on.

 

[SSI01]

There was an A-6 squadron that had a far more tragic event occur, wasn't there?

 

[PhantomTweak]

The one where the the B/N was half ejected in flight? I believe he lived, although iirc he was pretty severely injured...
Pat☺

 

[Victory103]

Not that one, BN captured:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Goodman

I'm surprised he didn't jettison the Mk20, I understand the FLIR pod, pretty $$$ back then. Somewhat related, recent local air show and got to see the VFA-106 Tac Demo team jet painted up like a VA-15 A-7, well kind of hard to make a pointy nose F-18 look like a SLUF.

http://airshowstuff.com/v4/2017/vfa...scheme-for-2017-fa-18c-hornet-demonstrations/

 

[PhantomTweak]

Man, those A-7 scare me. We called them Great Whites when I was in. I gave them a WIDE berth any time I had to hit the Flight or Hangar deck. They EAT people...
Pat☺