Naval air ops for Operation Enduring Freedom kicked off the night of October 7, 2001 with 2 strikes from CVW-11 based off CVN-70 in the North Arabian Sea. One was to neutralize air defenses in the Kabul area the other was a combined TARCAP and precision strike in western Afghanistan close to the Iranian border.
This mission is based on the latter sortie flown by Cdr A. Giaini, the XO of VA-213 Blacklions, and his wingman as detailed in “F-14 tomcats in Operation Enduring Freedom” by Tony Holms
This package of 2 aircraft from VA-213 were tasked to provide escort and TARCAP for a division of B1B bombers attacking the Herat airbase then head south to Farah to destroy the Taliban communications center inside the village with LGB’s
After meeting up with the bombers and crossing into Afghanistan the codeword “Indian Country” was passed and they proceeded north to Herat. Well outside the range of AWACS, they relied on the Tomcats radar for any enemy interception. Not showing any airborne threats, and switching to the LANTIRN pod, RIO Lt Cdr Claffy was surprised to see “a pristine Mig-21 sitting on the ramp attached to it’s huffer…as the miles marched down it became apparent there was no activity around this jet…we decided to take it out with a GBU-12. I had never before delivered a LGB, never mind one in combat, and held my breath. I watched the GBU-12 streak towards the target on my FLIR, hitting the MiG-21 amidships blowing chunks all over the airfield. ‘Good kill, good kill’ we said to each other as I switched back to air-air mode…..”
Cdr Gianini and Lt Cdr Claffy went on to successfully locate and destroy the communications complex in Farah with two perfectly placed GBU-12, minimizing collateral damage.
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