F/A-18 - CF-188 History Page

Damage Done By F/A-18s

Heavy Equipment 1 AFV 5 Assisted in Capturing 18
Artillery 4 weapons cache 5 Aircraft (Air) 3
Wall 1 Silkworm Missiles 2 Cave Entrance 2
Cable Repeater Site 1 Fighting Position 3
Rocket Batteries 3    
Enemy position 32 Assisted in destruction 6 enemy positions
Tanks 1    
Patrol Boat 1    
Buildings & other structures 271 (4 HBIED) Assisted in destruction 5 (3 HBIED)
Enemy troops 75, including Al-Qaeda terrorist Abu Islam, and 3 Taliban commanders Assisted in killing 2
Vehicle 15 (Includes an allied vehicle destroyed to keep it from enemy forces.) Assisted in destruction 3 (Includes an allied vehicle destroyed to keep it from enemy forces.)
Enemy compound 4 Assisted in destruction 1
Bunkers & Caves 11    
IED 7 Assisted in destruction 1
Motorcycle 2    
Communication Tower 1    
Mortar 1    
APC   Assisted in Destruction 4
Weapons Cache 2    

SOME RECENT ACTION INVOLVING F/A-18s

Bu No. Unit Comment
188752 Canadian Air Force, 447 Tactical Fighter Squadron Served as part of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn (Operation MOBILE)
C.15-65 Canadian Air Force, ALA N*12 Served as part of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn
760 Canadian Air Force, ALA N*12 Served as part of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn
769 Canadian Air Force, ALA N*12 Served as part of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn
163750 VFA-136 Flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
164048 VFA-94 flew 20 missions
164054   Flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
164258 VFA-15 Flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
164631 VFA-15 Flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
164655   Flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
164668 USS Ronald Reagan Supported Operation Enduring Freedom.
164715 USS Ronald Reagan Supported Operation Enduring Freedom.
16472    
165913   Flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
165209 VFA-82 Flew Operation Enduring Freedom missions from the USS Enterprise.
165220 VFA-83 Flew Operation Enduring Freedom missions.
165217 VFA-83  
165443 USS Ronald Reagan Flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
166613 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Flew Operation Enduring Freedom missions.
166629 USS Enterprise Flew Operation Enduring Freedom missions. Made the 400,000th landing on the USS Enterprise.
A2F40 RAAF Flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
Destroyed Participated in Destruction
2 x AFVs 2 x CSSC-3 anti-ship missile batteries
12 x Tank  
1 x Vehicles
 

MIDDLE EAST

  • May 2024 - An E/A-18G shot down a Mi-24/25 Hing with an AARGM missile.
  • February 3, 2024 - F/A-18s struck Houthi targets.
  • January 31, 2024 - F/A-18s struck 10 drones on the ground in Yemen.
  • January 22, 2024 - F/A-18, and EF/A-18s struck Houthi Targers in Yemen
  • January 18, 2024 - F/A-18s struck 14 Houthi missiles.
  • January 11, 2024 - F/A-18s and the USS Laboon destroyed 12 drones, 3 anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles fired by the Houthis.
  • June 18, 2017 - A U.S. Navy F/A-18, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Michael "Mob" Tremel, shot down a Syrian Su-22.

    LIBYA

    CF-188s have flown 733 sorties in Operation MOBILE.
    March 25, 2011 - Two CF-188s attacked an electronic warfare site.
    March 2011 - CF-188s carried out multiple attacks against an ammunition dump.
    March 2011 - EA-18Gs supported operations against Libya.

    IRAQ

    Australian F/A-18 Super Hornets have flown 180 sorties. They destroyed 36 targets and damaged 6 others. An F/A-18 Weapons System Operator discovered a network of bunkers and caves that was later bombed.
    Canadian CF-188s had flown 1,340 sorties as part of Operation IMPACT.
    June 18, 2017 - A U.S. Navy F/A-18E, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Michael "Mob" Tremel, shot down a Syrian Su-22.
    December 24, 2014 - Two CF-188s struck an ISIL position near Al Qa'im.
    December 10, 2014 - CF-118s damaged an ISIL bunker.
    September 23, 2014 - F/A-18s flew strike missions against ISIL forces.
    August 10, 2014 - F/A-18s and MQ-1s destroyed 4 APCs and 1 truck.
    August 9, 2014 - Two F/A-18s from the USS George H.W. Bush escorted a C-17 & 2 C-130s on a humanitarian mission to Mount Sinjar.
    August 8, 2014 - Attacked an ISIL vehicle convoy and an artillery piece in separate attacks.
    EA-18Gs served in Iraq.
    August 2008 - Dropped ordinance.
    May 2008 - Dropped ordinance & provided a show of force.
    April 2008 - Dropped ordinance and provided a shows of force.
    March 2008 - Dropped ordinance, strafed, & Provided shows of force.
    February 2008 - Dropped ordinance & provided shows of force.
    January 2008 - Dropped ordinance & Provided shows of force.
    December 2007 - Dropped ordinance, strafed and provided shows of force.
    November 2007 - Dropped ordinance and provided shows of force.
    October 2007 - Dropped ordinance & provided show of force.
    September 2007 - Dropped ordinance and provided a shows of force.
    August 2007 - Strafed, provided a shows of force and overwatches.
    July 2007 F/A-18s provided: June 2007 F/A-18s provided: May 2007 F/A-18s provided: April 2007 F/A-18s provided this support: March 2007 F/A-18s provided this support: January 28 - 29, 2007 - Carried out missions during the Battle of Najaf where 373 members of the Soldiers of Heaven died and 407 were taken prisoner.
    December 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinities of Al Qa'im, Baghdad, Ramadi & Sangin.
    October 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinity of Akhtaro Kalay, Al Diwaniyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Mahmidiyah, Al Yusufiyah, At Tarmiyah, Baghdad, Band-e Kajaki, Baqubeh, Basrah, Fallujah, Karbala, Mahmuyidah, Miqdadiya, Mosul, Musayyib, Qazwan, Ramadi, & Samarra.
    September 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinity of Al Hilliah, Al Iskanderiyah, Al Kut, Al Mahmudiyah, Al Musayibb, Baghdad, Balad, Basrah, Kirkuk, Najaf, Ramadi, Salman Pak & Tall Afar.
    June 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinity of AL Hawijah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Mahmudiyah, Al Taji, Baghdad, Balad AB, Baqubah, Ramadi.
    May 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinities of Al Amarah, Al Asad, Al Hawijah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Mahmudiyah, Al Taji, Baghdad, Balad, Bayji, Hit, Ramadi, Salman Pak, Samarra, Tal Afar, and Tikrit.
    F/A-18 served in the ISR role.
    April 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinities of Al Fathah, Al Hawijah, Al Iskanderiyah, Al Mahmudiyah, Al Mansuriyah, Al Sahra, Al Taji, Baghdad, Balad, Baquba, Basrah, Bayji, Haditha, Hit, Kirkuk, Mosul, Ramadi, Al Migdadiyah, Samarra, Tall Afar, and Tikrit
    March 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinities of Al Habbaniyah, Al Hawijah, Al Miqdadiyah, Baghdad, Balad, Bayji, Ramadi, Jallulah Al Iskandariyah, Al Mahmudiyah, Tikrit, Al Amarah, Al Taji, Salman Pak, Samarra, Baquba, and Mosul.
    February 28, 2006 - Supported ground forces in Al Amarah, Al Taji, Balad, and Baghdad.
    February 26, 2006 - Supported ground forces in Al Mansuriyah, Baghdad, Hit, and Ramadi.
    February 22, 2006 - F/A-18s struck Samarra, Al Amarah, and Balad. F/A-18s from the USS Ronald Reagan of Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 115 became the first aircraft assigned to the USS Ronald Reagan to drop ordinance on enemy targets.
    January 2, 2006 - F/A-18s supported ground forces in Balad and Tikrit.
    December 2005 - F/A-18s supported ground forces in Balad & Ramadi.
    November 2005 - F/A-18s supported ground forces in Ramadi.
    October 2005 - U.S. Navy F/A-18 supported operations in Baghdad, Basrah, Fallujah, Hawijah, Mahmudiyah, Musayyib, Sadiyah, Samarra, and Karkuk.
    October 16, 2005 - F/A-18 spotted and attacked terrorists in two places.
    F/A-18s of (VFA)15 supported Operation Steel Curtain on five consecutive days.
    September 2005 - U.S. Navy F/A-18s supported operations in Al Majarr Al Kabir, Baghdad, Kirkuk, Qayyarah, Rawah, and Tuz Khurmatu, Al Mahmudiyah, Al Mansuriyah, Baquba, Karabilah, Mishal, Mosul, Iskandariyah, Muqdadiyah, Hawija, Jallulah, Mansiyah, Suwayrah, Ash Shargat, Tal Afar.
    September 6, 2005 - USMC F/A-18s cratered two bridges with cement filled bombs.
    August 2005 - USN & USMC F/A-18s Supported ground operations in Baghdad, Balad, Baqubahi, Tuz Khurmatu, Al Qaim, Fallujah, Mosul, Tall Afar, & Tikrit.
    May 8, 2005 - USMC F/A-18s dropped 6 precision guided bombs and fired 319x20mm rounds.
    November 11, 2004 - An F/A-18 destroyed two minarets of the Khulafah Al Rashid mosque.
    August 18, 2004 - F/A-18s supported ground forces without expending ordinance.
    April 28, 2004 - Three F/A-18s dropped 3x500lb bombs on enemy positions.
    January 12, 2004 - Two F/A-18s of VFA 86 struck an enemy position with 2x1000lb bombs.
    March 28, 2003 - RAAF F/A-18s flew Close Air Support missions.
    March 26, 2003 - F/A-18s struck vehicles outside Basra.
    F/A-18s from the USS John F. Kennedy dropped the U.S. Navy's first two 500 lbs. JDAM during Operation Iraqi Freedom
    RAAF F/A-18s flew 130 sorties, 700 flying hours, and 70 strike missions as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They struck the HQ Tenth Armored Division.
    A RAAF F/A-18 flew seven OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM missions.
    F/A-18Cs from VFA-25 are flew Operation Southern Watch missions.
    September 5, 2002 - Four F/A-18s from the USS George Washington struck targets in Iraq.
    US Navy F/A-18s from the USS Carl Vinson were involved in the September 10, 2001 air strikes.
    F/A-18s were part of a strike package that attacked Iraq on August 10, 2001.
    12 USMC F/A-18s participated in OPERATION DESERT FOX
    January 7, 2008 - A US Navy F/A-18E & F/A-18F collided in the Persian Gulf. The USS Harry S. Truman rescued all three crew members.
    May 2, 2005 - Two USMC F/A-18s crashed over Iraq, apparently from a mid-air collision. Maj. John C. Spahr & Capt. Kelly C. Hinz died in the crash.
    A Patriot missile shot down an F/A-18C on April 2, 2003. Lt. Nathan D. White was killed in the crash.

    OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM

    Operation Enduring Freedom was the first time the F/A-18F Super Hornet was used in combat.
    December 15, 2008 - Provided a coalition convoy with reconnaissance of a high value target.
    September 2008 - Dropped ordinance, stafed an enemy sniper & provided shows of force.
    August 2008 - Dropped ordinance, strafed & provided shows of force.
    July 2008 - Bombed & straffed enemy combatants and provided shows of force.
    November 2007 - Dropped ordinance, strafed, and provided shows of force.
    May 2007 - F/A-18s provided:
    • Ordinance dropped - Asadabad, Gereshk, Ghazni, Now Zad, Qalat, Oruzgan, Shurakian, Tarin Kowt
    • Show of force - Gereshk, Oruzgan, Tarin Kowt
    • overwatch - Gereshk, Shindand
    • reconnaissance - Garmsir, Kandahar and Orgun-E, Sangin and Ghazni, Gereshk, Asmar, and Tarin Kowt
    April 2007 -F/A-18s provided:
    • munitions dropped - Asmar, Garmsir, Ghazni, Qalat
    • strafed - Oruzgan, Qalat
    • show of force - Asadabad, Chahar Bagh, Diwaniyah, Ghazni, Kabul, Qalat, Sahidan, Saraw
    March 2007 - F/A-18 provided support in:
    • munitions dropped - Now Zad, Gereshk, Malek Din, Qurya, Sangin
    • Strafed - Sangin
    • Leaflets dropped - Qurya, Sangin, Surkhabad, Washir
    • reconnaissance - Delaram, Garmir, Kajaki Dam, Musa Qal'eh, Now Zad, Sangin, Washir
    • Fighter escort - C-130
    • show of force - Delaram, Farah, Kandahar, Mogholabad, Musa Qal'eh, Now Zad, Sangin, Washir
    • Overwatch - Delaram
    February 2007 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinities of Forward Operating Base Carlson, Musa Qal’eh Zad, Tarin Kowt, Pashsbad, Gardez, Qalat , Qurya, Now Zad and Shurakian.
    December 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinities of Lashkar Gah.
    November 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinites of Kabul, Kandahar, Musah Qal'eh, Now Zad & Orgun-e.
    October 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinities of Al Yusufiyah, Aranas, At Timm, Band-e Kajaki, Dabar, Kandahar, Kharnay, Kuchnay Darvishan, Lwara Dasta, Maladis, Mangretay, Myan Koh, Now Zad, Regal, Shuhika, Zehdanen.
    September 2006 - F/A-18s provided air support in the vicinities of Deh Rawood, Gardez, Gereshk, Kandahar, Khowst, Moqor, Musah Qal'eh, Now Zad, Oruzgan, Qalat, Sangin, Tarin Kowt
    US Navy F/A-18s were among the first wave of attack aircraft.
    F/A-18s participated in an attack on a convoy and a compound on 21 December, 2001. The attack left 14 vehicles destroyed and 65 troops dead.
    4 F/A-18s attacked al-Qaeda's Zawar Kili Camp on January 3, 2002. More F/A-18s attacked the camp on 4 January.
    F/A-18 attacked targets on 6 January, 2002.
    An F/A-18 attacked buildings in the Zawar Kili camp on 9 January, 2002.
    An F/A-18 struck the Zawar Kili Camp on 11 January, 2002.
    Two F/A-18s destroyed a crashed CH-53E with two precision guided bombs on January 24, 2002.
    On June 24, 2002 two F/A-18s dropped 2 x 500 pound bombs on an enemy position after the enemy fired a rocket at US ground troops.
    On July 27, 2002 F/A-18s supported a ground operation that resulted in five people being detained.
    F/A-18s supported the crew of a downed Chinook during the battle of Roberts Ridge.
    F/A-18s flew missions in Operation Anaconda. On one of these missions an F/A-18 bombed fleeing al-Qaeda troops.
    1 Mullah Omar's (The Taliban Leader) house. One building attack killed Mohammed Atef along with 50 others. An F/A-18 destroyed a building during the Mazar-e-Sharif uprising. One building was an al-Qaeda troop facility.
    2 Tank belonged to the Northern Alliance destroyed by accident. A USMC F/A-18 missed its target with a 2,000 pound JDAM and destroyed 1 Northern Alliance tank, killed 6 Northern Alliance troops and injured 5 US military personnel.

    OPERATION ALLIED FORCE

    Spanish EF-18s destoyed a petroleum storage tank.
    An F/A-18 attacked a troop concentration.
    A CF-18 destroyed a Barracks at Pec. CF-18s destroyed an Ammo Storage dump. CF-18s damaged the 3rd Army Command Post and garrison.
    US Navy F/A-18s successfully attacked a vehicle convoy. F/A-18s destroyed a bridge. An F/A-18 acted as an AFAC during an attack in which a tank was destroyed. An F/A-18 struck the Rabovina Highway Bridge. F/A-18s attacked a troop concentration. F/A-18s attacked a revetment. F/A-18s destroyed a vehicle. F/A-18s destroyed an APC. F/A-18s destroyed a command post.
    Other Damage Done by F-18s:
    US Navy F/A-18 Hornet Artillery Pieces 2 Bunkers 3 Buildings 2
    Spanish Air Force EF-18s           4

    OPERATION DESERT STORM

    US Navy F/A-18s shot down two MiG-21s during Operation Desert Storm.
    A MiG-25 shot down an F/A-18 during Operation Desert Storm. It was the first coalition aircraft lost during the conflict.

    OTHER INCIDENTS

    October 29, 2010 - Two Canadian CF-18s escorted a Boeing 777 during its flight to the U.S. there was concern a bomb may have been on board the cargo plane.
    May 15, 2010 - Canadian CF-18s escorted a Cathay Pacific jetliner after a bomb threat.
    July 31, 2019 - An F/A-18 crashed near the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. The pilot died in the crash. April 21, 2017 - A Carl Vinson F/A-18 crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The pilot ejected safely.
    December 7, 2016 - An F/A-18 crashed in the ocean near Japan. USMC Captain Jake Frederick was killed.
    November 9, 2016 - Two USMC Hornets collided off the coast of San Deigo. One F/A-18 returned to base. The pilot ejected safely from the other Hornet and was rescued.
    June 2, 2016 - An F/A-18 of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels crashed on take off. The pilot, USMC Captain Jeff Kuss, died in the crash.
    May 26, 2016 - Two F/A-18 Super Hornets crashed off the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The 4 crew members received only minor injuries.
    October 21, 2015 - An F/A-18 crashed and its pilot was killed.
    September 12, 2014 - Two F/A-18s collided and crashed into the western Pacific Ocean. One pilot was rescued. Lt. Nathan Polski is missing and presumed killed
    January 15, 2014 - An F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed off Virginia Beach. The pilot ejected and was rescued by a fisherman.
    April 6, 2012 - A mechanical malfunction caused the crash of an F/A-18D. The F/A-18D crashed into an appartment complex in Virginia Beach, VA. Both crew members ejected but were injured. Five people on the ground were injured. The crash destroyed 3 building and damaged some others.
    April 6, 2011 - An F/A-18 Super Hornet crashed near NAS Lemoore, CA. Both crew members died in the crash.
    March 15, 2010 - Two F/A-18s collided over Nevada, both pilots are safe. One Hornet landed the other crashed.
    December 8, 2008 - An F/A-18D crashed into a civilian neighborhood near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA. The jet crashed into two homes and killed Suk Im Kim, 60, her daughter Young Mi Yoon, 36, and her two daughters Grace, 15 months, and Rachel, 2 months.
    An F/A-18 crashed off the coast of Virginia. The pilot ejected and was rescued.
    April 21, 2007 - A Blue Angels, F/A-18 crashed during an air show. The pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Kevin J. Davis, died in the crash and eight people on the ground were injured.
    February 6, 2006 - An F/A-18D of VFA-125 crashed near NAS Key West. The pilot ejected safely.
    January 28, 2006 - An F/A-18C crashed while attempting to land on the USS Ronald Reagan. The pilot was recovered safely.
    January 18, 2006 - An F/A-18C crashed in El Centro, CA. The pilot was killed.
    January 29, 2005 - A deck accident on the USS Kitty Hawk involving an F/A-18 of (VFA) 102 injured six sailors. The two pilots were safely recovered.
    December 1, 2004 - A Blue Angel F/A-18 crashed. The pilot, Lt. Ted Steelman, ejected safely.
    June 27, 2004 - A USMC F/A-18 operating from the USS Harry S. Truman crashed in the Atlantic. The pilot, Captain Franklyn R. Hooks II died in the crash.
    March 29, 2004 - An F/A-18 crashed the pilot Kevin T. Hagenstad broke his leg.
    March 26, 2004 - An F/A-18 crashed at Raleigh-Durham airport. The pilot, Lt j.g. Wesley Baumgartner, ejected safely.
    October 15, 2003 - Two F/A-18s collided and crashed of the coast of South Carolina. Both pilots ejected safely.
    September 11, 2003 - An F/A-18 of VFA-106 crashed. The pilot was rescued but five sailors were injured in the incident.
    October 18, 2002 - two F/A-18F Super Hornets of VFA-41 collided off the coast of California. The four crew members lost were:
    Lt. Stephen R. Nevarez (WSO) † Lt. Joel A. Korkowski (Pilot) † Lt Matthew S. Shubzda (Pilot) † Lt. Stephen N. Benson (WSO)

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