Posted on 06/22/2012 7:42:30 AM PDT by tcrlaf
A Turkish military aircraft has crashed in Syria, according to media reports. A local witness has told RT Arabic that the plane crashed on Syrian territory and the two pilots were captured.
The plane appears to have been shot down, the witness said. The craft went down as Syrian air defense opened fire, says Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV.
Other unconfirmed reports suggest that Syria has shot at two Turkish fighter jets that entered Syrian airspace. One has crash-landed in Syria, and the pilots were captured, while the other jet managed to turn back to Turkey despite being damaged.
Ankara declares it lost contact with one craft while it was flying over the Mediterranean sea off the southeastern province of Hatay, which borders Syria. According to this version, the plane went down eight miles short of Syria's territorial waters.
The Turkish daily Hurriyet also says the two pilots have been rescued by Turkish helicopters.
(Excerpt) Read more at rt.com ...
BBC, 6 minutes ago: Turkish military F-4 plane 'vanishes' near Syria border Breaking news
Turkey's military says it has lost contact with one of its aircraft over the sea close to the border with Syria. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18554246
Reuters: Turkey says warplane lost off Syria http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/22/us-turkey-syria-plane-idUSBRE85L0PZ20120622
The Drums of War are beating, folks...
A Syrian pilot defected to Jordan in his Mig-21 yesterday.
http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-pilot-flies-mig-jordan-gets-asylum-201635654.html
Turkey has but 5 Phantom F-4s. So I guess these leaves 4? 3 1/2?
They have a few more planes than that...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_Turkish_military_aircraft
F-4E Phantom II - 127
RF-4E Phantom II - 35
And about 222 Block 50 F16s
Speaking of the F-4s only, I thought they were retired this year? Or is it next?
It should come to a crescendo sometime in October surprisingly enough.
I’m amazed that there are any F-4’s still operating in an active duty air force.
These are Turkish Air Force F-4 Phantoms (2020 Terminator upgrade):
5.56mm
beautiful
Surprisingly or unexpectedly?
After 10 years in the Air Force I’m well aware of what an F16 looks like. My point is that the Turkish Air Force has other aircraft in their inventory. Thus the picture of the 16s...
Rgr that. Just looking for an excuse to post the F-4 picture.
Thanks tcrlaf.
Russian client dictatorship in Syria shoots down plane of a Russian enemy.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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