Episode 41

27^th Fighter Squadron

Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

Major Richard “Tex” Ewing stretched hugely.  After weeks of constant operations the long flight back from the SCS to Guam had taken a toll.  With no external tanks, the F-22’s of the 27th had tanked four times on the return leg.  While flying back to Clark in the Philipines would have been much simpler, it was judged too dangerous by command.  Too close to the South China Sea and too likely to come under attack.  So, the squadron had flown through the night to Andersen, only arriving near dawn.

Fortunately, the ground crews had been waiting thanks to operation “Urgent Raptor.”  The successor to “Rapid Raptor,” the Urgent Raptor program allowed an entire squadron to be supported anywhere in the world with just a pair of C-17’s.

After the squadron had landed, the ground crews had swarmed over the planes, refueling, re-arming and performing minor maintenance as needed.  Meanwhile, the pilots had gotten some much needed rack time.

Just then the Giant Voice system blared to life all over the base.  “Incoming raid warning.  All units, scramble!  All units, scramble, scramble, scramble!”

Ewing ran for his plane.  And this is SAFER than Clark?  “Get that start cart going NOW!”

“Yes sir!!  On it!”  

As Ewing climbed up the F-22’s built in ladder, his crew chief initiated the emergency start sequence.  All over the base, crews were running in every direction.  He looked to his left and saw his wingman already strapping in.  He got his helmet on, plugged in and hit the radio button.  “Talk to me Chewy!”

“Tex, sat comm is dead.  The CP is telling us to get the fuck into the air!”

“Working on it!”

“Same.”

Normally, Ewing would do a very meticulous walk around to inspect the aircraft before flying.  That wasn’t going to happen today.  Hopefully, all the bits were attached and safety flags had been removed.  As the engine start procedure completed, he urgently gestured to the ground crew to remove the chocks and get clear.

“Chewy, the heavies are taking up the runways.  I’m going down the taxiway.”

“Right behind you Tex.”

“Tower, this is Raptor One One. We are taking off taxiway fifteen left.”

“Raptor one one, you are clear.  Watch the heavies taking off runway fifteen.”

“Roger that.”

“Raptor lead to raptor flight, form up on me, minimal intervals.”

A series of confirmations rang out from the squadron.  Damn, I have a good crew.  As the F-22’s lined up in pairs, they quickly rolled down the taxiway and took off, avoiding their larger brethren.  They lit afterburners and were up to ten thousand feet in minutes.

Then all hell broke loose.  Counter missiles began to fire.  Short range Patriot interceptors began to fire off by the dozens.  Oh shit, that means they’re close.  Ewing had a moment to wonder what had happened to the THAAD battery.  The thought was interrupted by massive explosions which could be seen for miles as Chinese DF-26 missiles began to impact.  Not a hugely accurate missile, it was sufficient to the task.  At least a dozen aircraft were caught on the ground and destroyed. 

“All aircraft within Guam ADIZ, enemy attack is under way, divert to your primary.  Tactical aircraft, tanker plan zulu is now in effect.  Repeat, all aircraft, divert.”

“Ah, Tex, any idea where our primary divert is?”

“I was just wondering that myself Chewy.  I think you’re lookin’ at it.”

“Well, ain’t that a bitch?”

“Raid warning.  Raid warning.  Four zero vampires inbound Guam.  Raid warning, raid warning, four zero vampires inbound Guam.  Bearing three one zero, ten minutes current speed.”

“Jesus Chewy, this gets better and better.”

“Calling in the blind, AWACS bird say your call sign, this is Raptor One One with you at angels 10.”

“Raptor One One this is Sentry Seven.  Say your status.”

“Pissed off and ready to blow some shit up.”  Ewing knew he would catch hell for that last but he was pissed off and hadn’t had much sleep.  Fuck it.

“Say again Raptor?”

Apparently comms were “garbled.”  “Raptor Flight ready for engagement at angels 10, four zero miles north of Andersen.  Loaded heavy for air to air.”

“Raptor One One, bearing three one zero.  Your signal is buster.”

“Raptor One one we are buster, bearing three one zero.”

Quickly accelerating over the speed of sound, the Raptors moved to intercept the incoming cruise missiles.  

Supported by the AWACS plane, they were able to quickly locate and vector in on the incoming missiles.  AIM-120D missiles filled the air.  The fighters had height and speed on their side.  The cruise missiles had numbers on their side.

Within thirty seconds of firing, the F-22’s had cleared half the missiles and were vectoring around for attempted gun runs.  Not a very likely attack, but they had expended their loads of missiles.

“Raptor One One, break off.”

“Say again, this is Raptor One One.”

“Independence, Actual to Raptor One One, Break off.  We are birds affirm.  Weapons tight until you break off.”

“Raptor One One, breaking high and to the right.  All raptors, break high and right.”

“Independence, Birds Away.”

“Coronado, Birds Away.”

As Ewing gained altitude, he could see the two Littoral Combat Ships laying down a massive wake.  They could do fifty knots when pressed and they seemed to be doing at least that.  Small streaks erupted from the SeaRAM launchers on each ship.  The diminutive missiles streaked out towards the incoming cruise missiles.

One after another, the cruise missiles fell to the barrage of interceptors.

“Sentry Seven to all units, we have a leaker.   Heading to Guam Naval Station.  Fifty miles.”

“Sentry, this is Foxtrot Uniform.  We are weapons free, anti air.”

From thirty miles away, Ewing could see the pillar of fire as four RIM-162 ESSM missiles erupted from a Destroyer inside the harbor of Guam Naval Station.  Seconds later, a small ball of fire and a puff of smoke marked the demise of the last cruise missile.

“Let’s go home Tex.”

“Andersen, this is Raptor one one, say your status.”

The silence on the radio was deafening.

“Sentry Seven, Raptor One One.  Can you raise Andersen?”

“Negative Raptor.  Won Pat appears to be on the air, we are headed there.”

“Copy that Sentry.  Same.”