The mission for this morning is a good one. Penetrate the enemy lines and destroy an enemy supply depot consisting of cargo and fuel haulers. Nice, soft targets that should be easy pickings for either canon or free fall bombs!
The intel photo looks like this will be an easy target area to spot too since it is a relatively isolated industrial area.
And I can't quibble much with the preselected route as it performs an end-around from a low threat area over the target and out toward home base via a gap in the defenses.
It's a misty morning as we zip down the runway.
The low fog is only at the lower coastal elevations though - inland is clear and hunting should be good.
I track through the waypoints and enroute to waypoint #5 (the target area) I start peering through the HUD at the location. The lower corner of the HUD indicates I'm 4.6 miles and just over 1 minute to go to the strike area.
I can see distant explosions blanketing the area just to the west of the target area as an MLRS attack precedes our arrival.
My wingman calls out a SAM launch warning and two seconds later my aircraft comes apart and I eject. Where did that come from??!!
A few seconds later my wingman meets the same fate...
I float down to a field and light up a smoke. Dammit! That was a short mission! I sigh and start walking, hoping I might be able to catch that bus back to the base.
The event list is short indeed. Seems I was struck by an SA-13 "Strella". I can see that when I refly this mission I'm going to have to find that unit and take it out early.
BeachAV8R
