How a Nighthawk Was Shot Down

Summary

On March 27, 1999, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, F-117 pilot Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Zelko encounters a deadly challenge when his stealth bomber is targeted by a Serbian anti-air missile defense led by Lieutenant Colonel Zoltán Dani. Despite successfully bombing his target, Zelko's aircraft is hit, forcing him to eject and evade enemy forces behind enemy lines. After a tense escape and failed attempts at communication, Zelko is rescued by an American helicopter. Dani's team remains the only one to down a stealth aircraft in combat, and Zelko later meets Dani, honoring their intense encounter.

Takeaways

• 😀 The F-117 Nighthawk, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Zelko, is on a bombing mission over Serbia in March 1999.
• 😀 The mission's goal is to bomb the Serbian Air Force Command Center in Belgrade, a high-risk operation with no support from escorting jets due to bad weather.
• 😀 The Nighthawk is equipped with advanced stealth technology, making it nearly invisible to radar, which has kept it safe on previous missions.
• 😀 Serbian forces, led by Lieutenant Colonel Zoltán Dani, are prepared with an anti-air missile battery to target the incoming Nighthawk.
• 😀 Despite heavy radar interference from clouds, the Serbian forces detect the Nighthawk and successfully lock onto it with their missile targeting system.
• 😀 Two missiles are launched at Zelko’s aircraft, with the first malfunctioning and the second striking the plane, causing severe damage to the left wing.
• 😀 Zelko fights the loss of control and severe G-forces before deciding to eject from the aircraft, which results in a high-speed free fall.
• 😀 After parachuting to safety, Zelko realizes his bright orange parachute will make it hard for him to remain undetected by enemy forces.
• 😀 Despite the risks, Zelko successfully radios for help and is eventually found by a rescue team using an infrared strobe and a flare to signal his position.
• 😀 Zelko is rescued by an American helicopter just as enemy patrols close in on his location, narrowly escaping capture or death.
• 😀 The downing of Zelko's stealth aircraft remains the only confirmed instance of a stealth bomber being shot down in combat, with the wreckage later displayed in Belgrade's Museum of Aviation.

Q & A

What was the mission of Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Zelko on the night of March 27th, 1999?

Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Zelko's mission was to bomb the Command Center of the Serbian Air Force in Belgrade, the headquarters of the force that would attempt to stop him during his mission.

How was Zelko's mission impacted by the weather and the F-16 Viper escort?

The bad weather forced the F-16 Viper escorts to turn back and return to base, leaving Zelko to complete the mission on his own without any backup.

What stealth technology did the F-117 Nighthawk possess, and how did it help Zelko's mission?

The F-117 Nighthawk had advanced stealth capabilities that made it appear as small as a tennis ball on radar, allowing it to avoid detection and perform missions undisturbed until this particular mission.

What role did Lieutenant Colonel Zoltán Dani play during this mission?

Lieutenant Colonel Zoltán Dani was in charge of the anti-air missile battery that was tasked with detecting and targeting Zelko’s Nighthawk. He successfully tracked the F-117 and launched missiles to bring it down.

How did the Serbian forces manage to detect and target the F-117 despite its stealth capabilities?

The Serbian forces used a P-18 early warning radar, which initially faced interference from weather conditions, but eventually detected the F-117 after it increased its radar signature when opening its bomb bay.

What happened after the missiles launched at Zelko's F-117 Nighthawk?

One missile malfunctioned and missed Zelko's aircraft, but the second missile exploded and severely damaged the left wing of the Nighthawk, causing the plane to spin out of control.

What actions did Zelko take after his aircraft was hit?

After his aircraft was hit, Zelko performed evasive maneuvers, but realizing the situation was critical, he ejected from the plane, free-falling before deploying his parachute.

What was Zelko's reaction after successfully ejecting from the plane?

Zelko initially thought the ejection seat had malfunctioned, but upon realizing his parachute had deployed and he was alive, he reflected humorously that his mother would not be happy about the incident.

How did Zelko try to avoid detection after landing behind enemy lines?

Zelko hid in a ditch, camouflaging himself with mud to avoid detection by Serbian forces, who were quickly searching for him after the plane's downing.

What challenges did Zelko face during the rescue attempt?

Zelko faced several challenges during the rescue, including the difficulty of signaling the helicopter due to equipment malfunctions, the presence of enemy patrols, and the need to use a flare to signal the rescue team, which also attracted enemy attention.