In the Cockpit (Diary of Israeli Fighter Pilot

Jerusalem Post ^

[af_vet_rr]

We head back - "mission complete. 4 direct hits," reports Major E to the controller. The rush and adrenalin gone, thoughts enter my head. I sure wish I hit the "bad guys" and that there were no civilians hanging around the place. Hizballah cynically often uses civilians as a shelter from Israel's bombings.

1630 We land in the base, and are relieved to learn that we went for a Hizbullah post. Probably unmanned. It's strange how the focus in these missions is not to succeed, hit the target precisely, but rather - not to make any mistakes. The message is clear all the way from the Squadron commander to the last pilot. One mistake can jeopardize the whole war, like in Kfar-Kana, in one of the last operations in Lebanon, where artillery bombarded a refugee camp, killing over 100 people, which resulted in international pressure that halted the operation. Hitting the target is expected, no misses are acceptable. There aren't any congratulations for a well-performed mission. Only a hammer on the head if something goes wrong. Personally, I think it's a healthy attitude; it causes the whole system to be less rash and hot on the trigger.

[af_vet_rr]

Unlike their enemies, it's pretty clear the Israelis try to minimize civilian casualties.

[af_vet_rr]

You may want to add this to the Aviation ping list, interesting look at the Israeli Air Force (anonymous as the IAF generally doesn't ID pilots).

[george76]

Hard to tell between terrorists and civilians.

 

[bedowin]

1800
"I join up with a few friends on Tel Aviv beach. We're having some beers, enjoying the breeze and watching the sunset. After a while I say something about how bizarre the situation is - we're here having fun, while whole towns in the north are being bombarded. Wait a minute - they ask me, haven't you been called up? Sure, I reply. Just this morning I dropped two tons of explosives on Lebanon."

[txroadhawg]

"...Wait a minute - they ask me, haven't you been called up? Sure, I reply. Just this morning I dropped two tons of explosives on Lebanon."

To which they all raised their beers in a toast, proclaiming You Da Man!

[GAB-1955]

My Uncle Bob flew B-17s during WW2 and won the DFC several times. He told me he always prayed that his bombs would not hit innocent people. He was a Baptist deacon after the war.

[af_vet_rr]

It gives you a sense of how small Israel is - from the time they leave the runway until they are in combat, it's shorter than your morning commute (literally minutes).

People wonder if Syria is going to do anything - chances are, they won't. The last time they met up in combat, Israel suffered few, if any losses, while the Syrians lost around 100 aircraft (and depending on your definition, Syria has as few as less than two dozen "modern" fighters left).

[af_vet_rr]

Related article - Israel capable of air strike on Iran

[Alouette]

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel/Russian Jewry ping list.

Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Ping!

[Salem]

"Unlike their enemies, it's pretty clear the Israelis try to minimize civilian casualties."

---

Zec 12:6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.





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[Iscool]

Hard to tell between terrorists and civilians.

I don't see anyone in that picture besides terrorists...

[george76]

Just terrorist !

[SJackson]

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[Convert from ECUSA]

""Unlike their enemies, it's pretty clear the Israelis try to minimize civilian casualties."

For some threads in other FR forums, this should be required reading. You know which ones I'm talking about.