Soldiers found buried MiG 25 jets - Dallas Dance Music - Dallas nightlife, music, tickets, and more

08-08-03, 10:37 AM

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Search teams, some hunting for Iraq (news - web sites)'s alleged weapons of mass destruction, found dozens of fighter jets from Iraq's air force buried beneath the sands, U.S. officials say.

At least one Cold War-era MiG-25 interceptor was found when searchers saw the tops of its twin tail fins poking up from the sands, said one Pentagon (news - web sites) official familiar with the hunt. He said search teams have found several MiG-25s and Su-25 ground attack jets buried at al-Taqqadum air field west of Baghdad.

Iraq's air squadrons were a no-show during the war, and U.S. military officials supposed their pilots stayed grounded because they believed they were overmatched by American and British air power.

Various officials differed in opinion as to whether the buried aircraft could ever fly again. Many of the planes were buried intact with minimal efforts to protect them from the sand.

Rep. Porter Goss, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said the discovery pointed to how far Iraqi forces went to conceal their activities. The Florida Republican was briefed on the discovery during his recent trip to Iraq.

"Our guys have found 30-something brand new aircraft buried in the sand to deny us access to them," Goss said. "These are craft we didn't know about."

He said the planes were not considered weapons of mass destruction for which coalition troops have been searching for months, "but they are weapons (Iraq) tried to hide."

Prewar intelligence estimates from earlier this year said Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime had about 300 combat aircraft, all of them survivors of the Gulf War (news - web sites). Most were aging Soviet-era MiGs, Sukhois and older French Mirage fighters. The best are MiG-29 Fulcrums, one of the most advanced fighters produced in the Soviet era.

Allied warplanes bombed several planes on the ground, and U.S. Air Force officials say no Iraqi planes were detected flying a combat mission during the war.

Australian troops, who on April 16 captured the Al Asad Airfield, 112 miles northwest of Baghdad, found scores of fighter aircraft, mostly Soviet-era MiGs but also three advanced MiG-25 Foxbats, the fastest combat aircraft today. Helicopters, radar systems and millions of pounds of explosives also were found.

The MiGs had escaped detection during the coalition bombing campaign. Some were buried or hidden under trees or covered with camouflage sheets. Aircraft destroyed in prior wars were littered across the airfield to make it more difficult for bombers to choose their targets.

Element4040 · 08-08-03, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by WarLord
Hussein knew any attempt to put an air defnce would be obliterated. The MIG 25's were antiquated 10 years ago vis-a-vis U.S. fighter aircraft which is why during Gulf War 1, he sent his entire jet fighter fleet to Iran to sit the war out.

What a deal that turned out to be for the Iranians. Free Jets, seeing as how Hussein isn't going to be able to ask for them back. It's like the lost and found box, where no one comes back to claim the goods.

08-08-03, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by WarLord
Hussein knew any attempt to put an air defnce would be obliterated. The MIG 25's were antiquated 10 years ago vis-a-vis U.S. fighter aircraft which is why during Gulf War 1, he sent his entire jet fighter fleet to Iran to sit the war out.

All of this is new to me, man I must be out of the loop.

johnny861 · 08-08-03, 11:30 AM

There's a lot of sand out there...

Though we were not exclusively looking for them, it shows the Iraqis were able to hide a squadron of jets under the sand for this length of time before anybody ever discovered them, let alone anything else they may have hidden...

It doesn't prove or disprove the existence of WMD, but it displays the effectiveness of the Iraqi government to hide possessions.

08-10-03, 08:12 AM

hes right there is a lot of sand out there.......dear god so much FUCKIN SAND (im still finding it in my stuff)

maybe we might find those WMD's who knows?

And I was wondering where those fighters were at.

randyc · 08-10-03, 09:24 AM

little do our people know that Iraq's WMD is Clifford the big red dog. He's their secret weapon. He's running around burying jets like chew toys. He probably ATE the biochem shit. Hell, Saddam could be with him.

I say we nuke the place nice and flat, build a couple Walmarts and bring our people home.

FLAME ON!!!!!

08-08-03, 10:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Fratsum Guest Posts: n/a	Soldiers found buried MiG 25 jets Article Search teams, some hunting for Iraq (news - web sites)'s alleged weapons of mass destruction, found dozens of fighter jets from Iraq's air force buried beneath the sands, U.S. officials say. At least one Cold War-era MiG-25 interceptor was found when searchers saw the tops of its twin tail fins poking up from the sands, said one Pentagon (news - web sites) official familiar with the hunt. He said search teams have found several MiG-25s and Su-25 ground attack jets buried at al-Taqqadum air field west of Baghdad. Iraq's air squadrons were a no-show during the war, and U.S. military officials supposed their pilots stayed grounded because they believed they were overmatched by American and British air power. Various officials differed in opinion as to whether the buried aircraft could ever fly again. Many of the planes were buried intact with minimal efforts to protect them from the sand. Rep. Porter Goss, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said the discovery pointed to how far Iraqi forces went to conceal their activities. The Florida Republican was briefed on the discovery during his recent trip to Iraq. "Our guys have found 30-something brand new aircraft buried in the sand to deny us access to them," Goss said. "These are craft we didn't know about." He said the planes were not considered weapons of mass destruction for which coalition troops have been searching for months, "but they are weapons (Iraq) tried to hide." Prewar intelligence estimates from earlier this year said Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime had about 300 combat aircraft, all of them survivors of the Gulf War (news - web sites). Most were aging Soviet-era MiGs, Sukhois and older French Mirage fighters. The best are MiG-29 Fulcrums, one of the most advanced fighters produced in the Soviet era. Allied warplanes bombed several planes on the ground, and U.S. Air Force officials say no Iraqi planes were detected flying a combat mission during the war. Australian troops, who on April 16 captured the Al Asad Airfield, 112 miles northwest of Baghdad, found scores of fighter aircraft, mostly Soviet-era MiGs but also three advanced MiG-25 Foxbats, the fastest combat aircraft today. Helicopters, radar systems and millions of pounds of explosives also were found. The MiGs had escaped detection during the coalition bombing campaign. Some were buried or hidden under trees or covered with camouflage sheets. Aircraft destroyed in prior wars were littered across the airfield to make it more difficult for bombers to choose their targets.

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08-10-03, 08:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dropzone Guest Posts: n/a	hes right there is a lot of sand out there.......dear god so much FUCKIN SAND (im still finding it in my stuff) maybe we might find those WMD's who knows? And I was wondering where those fighters were at.

08-10-03, 09:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
randyc Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: back in the ussr Posts: 505	little do our people know that Iraq's WMD is Clifford the big red dog. He's their secret weapon. He's running around burying jets like chew toys. He probably ATE the biochem shit. Hell, Saddam could be with him. I say we nuke the place nice and flat, build a couple Walmarts and bring our people home. FLAME ON!!!!!