WWIII Aircraft Losses: 4 ATAF, Central Front D+0 (9 July, 1987) Part I

WWIII Aircraft Losses: 4 ATAF, Central Front D+0 (9 July, 1987)  Part I We are moving south from 2 ATAF into the operating area of its sister allied air force. The first day of war presented different opportunities and challenges for 4 ATAF. Its airbases and other facilities did not receive even half of the …

WWIII In Numbers (Entry #2)

WWIII In Numbers Entry #2 14- Senior Soviet generals who were relieved of command and arrested between 9 July and 4 August, 1987. Three TVD commanders, two fleet commanders, three TVD deputies and four senior Soviet Air Force generals. All were executed with the exception of Marshal Ogarkov (Western TVD commander-in-chief) who was simply forced …

D+18 0000-0400 Zulu 27 July, 1987 Part II

Central Front Freden, FRG, 0000 Zulu, 27 July, 1987 (0200 local time) 1st Brigade/1st Cavalry Division’s crossing of the Leine was underway in earnest by 0200 hours. At Freden and Greene, 2nd Brigade’s battalions had the bridgeheads secure and pushed out 8 kilometers east of the river to give 1st Brigade a buffer against potential …

Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf D+12 (21 July, 1987) Part IV

0430-0545- A short period of time emerged when the airspace around Dhahran was void of US and Saudi fighters. When it became clear what was transpiring, Dhahran-based fighters still airborne were ordered to recover at Al Kharj, or sent to the air refueling tracks to hit the tankers and chase after the Soviet transport aircraft …

Baltic Approaches D+11 (20 July, 1987) Part III

NATO airpower was not only causing problems for the Polish divisions moving into and towards western Jutland. The Soviet divisions in the east were feeling the effects too. Danish, West German, and USAF ground attack jets were inflicting casualties, seeping the combat strength out of units, and slowing movement across southern Jutland around the clock. …

The Northern Flank D+10 (19 July, 1987) Part II

Sweden’s entry in the war brought operational consequences, as well as potential benefits and advantages for NATO and Soviet forces operating on the Northern Flank. These directly affected the air forces operating in the north on D+10 and beyond. The Swedish emergence from neutrality opened up the airspace of northern Sweden to all combatants. Soviet …

Air War on the Central Front D+4 (13 July, 1987) Part III

While the defensive counterair effort in 2nd ATAF skies was rather porous, in the 4th ATAF region, DCA was formed an impenetrable wall. The Warsaw Pact air interdiction strikes launched against targets deep in the CENTAG rear areas were attritted heavily by NATO interceptors, and SAMs. Closer to the forward edge of the battle area, …

Air War on the Central Front D+3 (12 July, 1987) Part II

As the day progressed the level of enemy air activity remained low in comparison to what it had been in the opening days of the fighting. It was becoming evident the Soviet and Warsaw Pact air forces in Eastern Europe were on the doorstep of a reconsolidation period. Mid-morning Intelligence reports making their way to …

USAFE Stands Up D-3 (6 July, 1987) Part 2 **

Although REFORGER was the primary focus of the initial US reinforcement of Western Europe, air power was a major consideration too. The trickle of warplanes leaving the United States for Europe on 6 July would shortly transform into an almost constant stream as more active duty and eventually Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve …