Posted on 08/29/2017 9:08:13 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
U.S. MILITARY FACILITY IN MIDDLE EAST (Reuters) - U.S. Air Force pilot Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Renken knew that whatever happened next might escalate the war in Syria.
The 40-year-old father of four was flying his F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet in “a race track” pattern around an Iranian-made drone, which had just tried to kill U.S.-backed forces and their advisers on the ground.
After the drone’s first shot failed to detonate on impact, it was positioning to strike again.
So, on June 8, in what was an unprecedented move in the U.S. air war over Syria to that point, Renken shot it down, even as two Russian fighter jets watched from a distance.
“When we saw the drone turn back towards friendly forces, we weren’t waiting around for anybody’s permission. We destroyed it,” Renken said in his first interview about the incident.
Renken’s downing of the Iranian drone, a Shaheed 129, was the first in a series of several defensive U.S. air-to-air shootdowns over several weeks in June that at first appeared to signal a tipping point to a far more dangerous air war in Syria.
But since the decisions by Renken and other U.S. pilots to fire at two drones and a manned Syrian fighter jet in June, there haven’t been similarly provocative actions by pro-Syrian forces. U.S. officials say they seem to have delivered the message.
Renken’s case, in many ways, highlights not just the risks of Syrian conflict in which Russia, Syria, the United States and its allies are flying military jets within targeting range of each other.
But it also illustrates the tremendous responsibility entrusted to U.S. pilots to make life-or-death decisions in an instant, with broad, strategic implications for the war.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
It has Mountain Home markings. When I was at Mountain Home, we had F-4s. Three reconnaissance squadrons, and one fighter squadron.
Glad to know the pilot’s name...and I’m sure others will be glad to know, if you know what I mean.
By the way, they took the same Tactical Air Command patch, and just put a new name on it, called Air Combat Command.
** an Iranian-made drone, which had just tried to kill U.S.-backed forces and their advisers on the ground. **
The US backed rebels we have financed to invade a sovereign nation. I just love the latest BS now being pushed to sway the American Public.
The SAA, and it’s allies are winning. The US needs to let Syria be Syria, and quit with the regime change crap.
Someone once said, this sh*t will get out of control and...
I’m surprised he didn’t just go guns on the drone. Missiles are expensive and can go sideways on you.
I wonder the significance too, but they read the number as 921 verified by the text in the photo.
The asshats in DC *think* they set national policy.
Got news for ya, Homer.
That Grunt walking point? The trying to stay alive in this last mess, or should I say latest mess, you have gotten us all in?
He’s the one that really sets policy, you politicos are just along for the ride.
They did just that and have also spent the last 25 years trying to re-write Air Force history to eliminate Strategic Air Command, which is the main reason the Air force became a separate service.
I agree. Our “Anybody-But-Assad” strategy is insane.
Most of the “Freedom Fighters” in Syria have affiliations or non-aggression agreements with known terrorist groups.
I wonder if the drone was similar to the one Hussein gave them?
Bump for later.. gotta show my hubby.
This includes as well the 'tell all' books some of these elite fighters release. They are very interesting reads, but they also provide a lot of information that may not be fully kosher
What a difference an election makes! A year ago that pilot would probably be met by the air police upon landing, facing a court martial for breaking the ROE.
This pilot is 40 years old? Sounds kinda old to be out flying fighters.
Forty seems about right for a wing commander in peacetime. There has to be some military pilots on FR to explain.
From a retired (former) Army paratrooper I can assure there are many pilots and crew up to forty years old. When one considers an officer does not enter “actively” into the Active Duty force until graduation college, age 22-24 is about right for a 01/2LT - given most do 20-years active duty works out the math, even given that a officers date of service is actually when they join ROTC or the Service Academy, this LTC probably has 22-years of service. National Guard, Active Reserves (remember Pres. Bush in TX) are older and ready to fill the ranks in Korea or elsewhere based on Op Plans that detail even the tail number of the aircraft due into conflict up to 90 days plus given a conflict....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.