>>27722972Other cases, in which not only the pilot but also the aircraft survived major
battle damage, were equally dramatic. On February 6, Capt. Paul Johnson’s
A–10, assigned to the 353d TFW, was heavily damaged during an unsuccessful
attack on a SAM battery. The aircraft was hit at approximately 7,500 feet as it
climbed away from the target. As the last attacker to leave the area, the A–10 was
probably struck by a shoulder-fired missile. Captain Johnson recounted that his
aircraft “rolled about 120 degrees to the right with the nose slicing downward.”
He was preparing to eject when he regained control and leveled off at about 6,000
feet. The enemy missile had hit near one of the aircraft’s Mavericks and blasted a
huge hole in Johnson’s right wing. His engine on that side lost power, but only
briefly. At first Johnson hoped only to reach Saudi airspace and eject there, but,
after crossing the border and jettisoning his remaining ordnance, he raised his aspirations. After refueling from a KC–10, the fortunate pilot landed safely at King
Fahd International Airport. His aircraft was among the five A–10s that suffered
major battle damage, were repaired, and returned to combat.
