{"id":57687,"date":"2024-11-07T20:39:27","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T19:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=57687"},"modified":"2025-11-19T05:10:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T04:10:11","slug":"vega-31-the-story-of-the-usaf-f-117-nighthawk-stealth-aircraft-that-was-shot-down-in-serbia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2024\/11\/07\/vega-31-the-story-of-the-usaf-f-117-nighthawk-stealth-aircraft-that-was-shot-down-in-serbia\/","title":{"rendered":"Vega 31, the story of the USAF F-117 Nighthawk stealth aircraft that was shot down in Serbia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, fighter aircraft with stealth technology (i.e. with a very low radar signature) are already commonplace.<\/p>\n

The cockpit interior of the still mysterious F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft<\/a><\/rel>
\nThe sophisticated Sukhoi S-70 aircraft that Russia lost in Ukraine in a bizarre incident<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

However, a few decades ago, these types of aircraft were shrouded in almost complete secrecy. The first stealth fighter aircraft in active service was the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk<\/strong>, which I told you about here in September<\/a>. This aircraft made its first flight on June 18, 1981, but was kept in the strictest secrecy for seven years<\/strong>, until the Pentagon finally showed a first image of the aircraft on November 10, 1988.<\/p>\n

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Two F-117As of the USAF's 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (37th TFW) inside a hangar during Operation Desert Shield in 1991 (Photo: NARA<\/a>).<\/div>\n

The F-117 entered service in 1983<\/strong>, five years before the Pentagon revealed its existence. Five prototypes and 59 production aircraft were built. It should be noted that despite its designation (in the US, the F is used to designate fighter aircraft), the F-117 was a subsonic attack aircraft<\/strong>, capable of carrying two laser or GPS-guided bombs in separate weapons bays. The Nighthawk was first used in combat in the 1991 Gulf War,<\/strong> with great success.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
An F-117A of the USAF's 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (37th TFW) prepares to deploy to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield in 1991 (Photo: NARA<\/a>).<\/div>\n

On March 27, 1999, the only F-117 shot down in combat occurred<\/strong>, and the only stealth aircraft downed to date. The downed aircraft had the radio callsign \"Vega 31\", serial number 82-0806 and nickname \"Something Wicked\"<\/strong>, and was piloted by Lt. Col. Patrick \"Dale\" Zelko. It was detected by a Yugoslav Army anti-aircraft battery<\/strong> belonging to the 3rd Battalion of the 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade (under the command of Lt. Col. Zolt\u00e1n Dani) while flying a combat mission over Bu\u0111anovci, Serbia, during NATO's Operation Allied Force.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
The cockpit cover of the F-117 Vega 31, displayed at the Belgrade Aviation Museum together with other remains of this aircraft shot down on March 27, 1999 over Serbia (Photo: Marko M<\/a>).<\/div>\n

The F-117 was detected opening its weapons bays to drop its bombs,<\/strong> at which point the bay doors momentarily increased the aircraft\u2019s very low radar signature. The Vega 31 was hit by an S-125 Neva surface-to-air missile,<\/strong> causing severe damage to the aircraft. Fortunately, its pilot was able to eject and was rescued on the ground by a USAF pararescue team in a Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low helicopter. The cockpit cover and other remains of the Vega 31 are preserved in Belgrade<\/strong>, and are on display at the Belgrade Aviation Museum.<\/p>\n

A few days ago, the always interesting channel Yarnhub<\/a> published an excellent video recreating on computer the flight in which the Vega 31 was shot down<\/strong> over Serbia:<\/p>\n