On Dec. 27, 1992, four U.S. Air Force F-16s, led by Lt. Col. Gary North, encountered an Iraqi MiG 25 that crossed into the no-fly zone in southern Iraq. The F-16s trapped the Iraqi aircraft in the no-fly zone, blocking it from escaping to the north. F-16D #90-0778, flow by North, fired an AIM-120A at the Soviet-built fighter and shot it down. The encounter was also the first air combat kill for a U.S. F-16.
The 33rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, led by Lt Col Gary North, arrived on Dec. 20th, 1992 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia for a 90-day tour as part of Operation Southern Watch (OSW). Their mission was to patrol the skies of southern Iraq in support of U.N. resolutions and maintain a consistent U.S.-coalition air presence below the 32nd parallel.
Bringing 18 F-16C/Ds, it was the squadron’s first deployment for Southern Watch. While the unit was experienced as a whole, only three of the deployed pilots had previously seen combat during the Gulf War. Still, all were motivated to fulfilling their duty in Saudi Arabia.
That fateful morning, North’s flight was refueling from a KC-135 when an Iraqi MiG 25 had crossed the border into the no-fly zone. It managed to escape north into safety with U.S. F-15s in pursuit. In order to avoid delay, Lt Col North and his wingman quickly refueled their aircraft with just enough gas to complete their assigned on-station time in the no-fly zone. They then crossed the border into southern Iraq, while the other two fighters remained on the tanker.
The F-16s were called to intercept and prevent further border crossings by Iraqi aircraft. Multiple Iraqi aircraft were observed approaching the border and entering the no-fly zone, and the F-16s were called to intercept each one. During the fourth intercept, a MiG-25 approached the two F-16s from the West. North ordered the other pair of F-16s to fly between the MiG-25 and the 32nd parallel, blocking its escape. North then vectored towards the Iraqi with his wingman and seek permission to open fire.
The Foxbat was turning north to escape from the F-16s when the radio message “BANDIT-BANDIT-BANDIT, CLEARED TO KILL” came in. Pulling up at 15 degrees nose high and in a 15 degrees right bank, North fired a AIM-120A which broke the MiG into three sections before it was consumed by a huge fireball. It took less than 15 minutes from the time North departed from the KC-135 till shooting down the MiG.