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U.S. Pilots Describe Flying Over Iraq
Friday, October 4, 2002
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service

"Prior to every mission, you sit down and ask yourself, 'What could happen today? What has changed in the past day or so that could affect my mission today?'" Sofley explained. "But when you're airborne it's time to put those thoughts away. You're only really able to focus on the mission ahead of you." Pietrucha said he's not sure if pilots can ever totally avoid becoming complacent. "It's tough to keep it from becoming routine. Sometimes the Iraqis will keep it from getting routine for you, depending on what they elect to do," he said. "But if there's a time period where nothing's going on, it's very difficult to keep that from happening. That's just very human nature," he said. "If you're doing the same thing over and over again with no changes, you really have to fight against complacency."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
One described northern Iraq as scenic. The other said it's vital to not become too complacent. Both said they owe their success to the maintenance folks who keep their planes flying.

Two American pilots who have flown missions in the northern and southern no-fly zones over Iraq and are now stationed in the Pentagon shared their experiences with American Forces Press Service today.

Air Force Maj. Mike Pietrucha, an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot, has been assigned to monitor the skies over Iraq 10 times. He goes by the call sign "Star Baby" when he's flying and said he lost track of his missions when he went over 150.

He said he's particularly proud that in all his combat missions -- both over Iraq and parts of the former Yugoslavia -- no one has claimed he caused collateral damage. Pietrucha said the U.S. military tries so hard to avoid injuring civilians that it will occasionally drop inert bombs -- laser-guided bombs filled with concrete rather than high explosives -- when the Iraqis have stationed weaponry near schools or other civilian facilities.

"When you hit a radar with 2,000 pounds of steel and concrete going 1,000 feet per second, it doesn't do the radar any good," Pietrucha said. "But there's no explosion and no collateral damage."

Even in situations where there are no civilians in an area, Pietrucha said he still thinks about the people on the ground. "You have to understand that the people on the ground are just people. They're very similar to you and I," he said. "They aren't necessarily wanting to be involved in the situation they're involved in, and that sometimes even applies to your enemy combatants.
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2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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