As suspected - for now they aren't talking. Local folks related to SJAFB know more but have been told to zip-it.
From local media.
Military leaders with U.S. Central Command confirmed that details related to three F-15E Strike Eagles that went down over Kuwait Sunday during Operation Epic Fury will not be released to the public.
“On background as a defense official, we do not discuss specific locations or units to protect operational security,” according to a U.S. Central Command official.
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base public affairs staff declined to comment on whether the base’s F-15E Strike Eagles were engaged in the conflict. Base officials directed all inquiries to U.S. Central Command.
U.S. military leaders said three American F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses during an Iranian air assault, which occurred during an Iranian aircraft attack that included missiles and drones, according to the Associated Press.
All six crew members safely ejected from the fighter jets and were recovered.
“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition,” according to a statement released by U.S. Central Command. “Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
A witness, Ahmed al-Asar told the Associated Press that he heard the explosions “as one of the planes fell from the sky in flames.” He rushed to the scene along with many other people as the pilot parachuted down. Al-Asar said he thought the pilot was Iranian at first and then quickly recognized him to be an American.
U.S. Central Command officials said the fighter jets were accidentally shot down in Kuwait’s support efforts of the U.S. military Operation Epic Fury in Iran.
The F-15E’s are listed as a deployed U.S. asset on an information sheet about Operation Epic Fury provided by U.S. Central Command.
Military leaders with U.S. Central Command declined to disclose the number of troops deployed from Seymour Johnson AFB, also due to security concerns.
Operation Epic Fury began Saturday, Feb. 28, at the direction of President Trump.
According to U.S. Central Command, its forces are “striking targets to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus, prioritizing locations that pose an imminent threat.”
The F-15E fighter jets are among many other U.S. assets employed to go after targets, such as command and control centers, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps joint headquarters and aerospace forces headquarters, integrated air defense systems, ballistic missile sites, Iranian navy ships and submarines, anti-ship missile sites and military communication capabilities, according to U.S. Central Command.
Commissioner Joe Daughtery, chairman of Wayne County Board of Commissioners, said Tuesday during the board meeting that residents should avoid speculation involving the aircraft.
“At this time, neither the 4th Fighter Wing nor U.S. Central Command has officially confirmed that the F-15E’s (that) were involved were Seymour assets,” Daughtery said. “Until that information is formally released it is important that we avoid speculation and rely only on verified sources.
“Seymour Johnson serves as a training base for F-15E Strike Eagle aviators. The F-15E community is a close one and when something like this happens, it is felt beyond a single duty station. We ask our citizens to keep all those connected in this mission in their thoughts and prayers and to allow official channels to provide confirmed information as it becomes available.”
theaviationist.com
Nope, we luckily survived. Kidding. While in practice a good idea, the odds of Hadji being able to 1) hear the transmission 2)interpret what I said and 3) just happen to be in the same area with an SA-7 would be slim. Still, opsec has its purpose and no point in showing our hand to the enemy if we don’t have to.
