Hobby Master 1/72 HA4551 McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle AF 86-0156/LN, Capt. Jeff Hwang, 1999 Operation Allied Force "Double MIG Killer"
Hobby Master 1/72 McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle AF 86-0156/LN, Capt. Jeff Hwang, 1999 Operation Allied Force "Double MIG Killer" HA4551
In 1967 the U.S. became aware of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG-25. The USAF rejected the USN F-14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. The F-15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The "E" entered service in 1989. The F-15 was the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre.
McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle 86-0156 was manufactured as c/n 1003/C384 and on March 26, 1999 during “Operation Allied Force” was assigned to the 48th FW/493rd FS “Grim Reapers” operating from Cervia AB, Italy. On this day the aircraft was piloted by Capt Jeff Hwang who managed to destroy two Serbian MiG-29’s when he simultaneously fired two AIM-120B AMRAAMs. The first pilot ejected but the second didn’t. The aircraft returned to normal service with the 493rd based at Lakenheath, England.