Story of Operation El Dorado Canyon: US Strike on Libya 1986 told by Col. Arnie Franklin, Commander

Unusual Attitudes - Stories From Aviation

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Following graduation from Bowling Green High School (1962) and Western Kentucky University (1966), Colonel Arnie Franklin joined the United States Air Force. He attended Officer Training School, receiving his commission in February 1967. He completed undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona and earned his silver wings in February 1968. His first operational assignment was with the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada as an F-111A pilot.
Enroute to South East Asia, Colonel Franklin completed training in the OV-10 Bronco at Hurlburt Field, Florida and in 1971, was assigned to the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, Nakhom Phanom Royal Air Force Base, Republic of Thailand, performing duty as a Pave Nail Forward Air Controller and Instructor Pilot, logging over 700 combat hours. In early 1972, he returned to Nellis Air Force Base, and became recurrent in the F-111A. In September 1972 he was assigned to the 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Nellis, and deployed with the squadron to Takhli Royal Air Force Base, Republic of Thailand as an F-111A aircraft commander. Colonel Franklin returned to Nellis Air Force Base in September 1973, and was in the instructor pilot upgrade course when he departed to attend graduate school at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Following his graduate studies in laser physics at AFIT, he was assigned to the Air Force Materials Lab at Wright-Patterson in December 1975. During this assignment, he served as an electro-optical engineer and assistant division chief of the Electromagnetic Materials Division.
In 1979 Colonel Franklin was selected to attend Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Following graduation from ACSC, Colonel Franklin transferred to RAF Lakenheath, England, arriving in October 1980. During his six years at Lakenheath, Colonel Franklin performed duty as the chief of the wing’s aircrew Replacement Training Unit, operations officer of the 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and in December 1984 became the commander of the 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. While serving as the commander of the 493rd Colonel Franklin was selected to lead the USAF portion of Operation El Dorado Canyon, the US strike on Libya on 15 April, 1986.
Colonel Franklin returned to the United States in October 1986, and was assigned to Headquarters United States Air Force at the Pentagon as chief, Middle East, Africa, South Asia Division in the Directorate of Plans and Operations.
Following graduation from the National War College in July 1988, Colonel Franklin transferred to the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho as the director for operations. In October 1989 he became the vice commander of the 366th wing.
In September 1990 Colonel Franklin assumed command of the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, NM.
Following that tour of duty in July 1992, Colonel Franklin was assigned to the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama as a professor of military studies and chief, leadership studies, and as deputy chairman, department of military studies. Colonel Franklin was assigned as the vice commander of Air University at Maxwell in July 1994, and retired from active duty in July 1996, completing almost 30 years of service.
Colonel Franklin is a command pilot with over 3,500 flying hours. He logged 782 combat hours in F-111s and OV-10s during his Southeast Asia tours of duty and while assigned to RAF Lakenheath, England. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters.

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2 авг 2022

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Комментарии : 253

@henrykahr Год назад

Wonderful story told by a true patriot. Thank you for your service.

@claycook5773 Год назад

I was an Aircraft Commander in the 494th TFS when Eldorado Canyon happened. I knew everyone who went on the raid. One thing not mentioned was that the raid happened during a scheduled "Salty Nation" exercise at Lakenheath. During such exercises, flight crews would remain at home in "crew rest" waiting for the phone to ring to call them in to fly. Since there was no exercise happening, the only crews on base were those participating on the raid, and those of us sitting alert that week. I watched them depart, and stayed up all night to watch them land. It was a different era. Thanks, Arnie. Glad you got a chance to tell the story.

@JimHoward Год назад

I have an El Dorado Canyon peace story. I was a fairly new Electronic Warfare Officer in the 42ECS at RAF Upper Heyford. On March 28, 1986 I was going to 'pin on' my Major's oak leaves. The day before I came back from flying a practice sortie sortie for an upcoming check ride. When I walked to the duty desk I was handed a phone. The British police was calling me to tell me my wife and daughter had been in a serious traffic accident. One of my buddies drove me to the hospital. Of course I went on emergency leave. My family wound up being airlifted back to the states and I went back to work about ten days latter. The squadron was clearly in an uproar, with a lot of closed door meetings and rampant whispered speculation. My main concern was getting ready for my checkride, which happened a day or two latter. Our check mission was to fly a long low level and then jam an RAF radar station on the west coast of the UK. The rule was that to complete a checkride you had to at least fly a low level and at least two jamming orbits. Everything was going fine until we climbed into our jamming orbit. As soon as I selected 'Master Radiate' we lost a generator. 'Don't say anything!' said my pilot. Of course I turned the jammers off right away, and we flew two turns 'jamming', hoping that the check crew didn't notice the jammer's vent doors were not fully open, which would have told them my jammers were off. Or maybe they didn't really care that day. As soon as we finished the second orbit we declared an emergency for a lost generator. That ended our checkride, and we headed for home. Now for the weird part. You need to know that an Air Force check ride debrief can and often does last longer than the flight itself. Every second of the flight is reviewed and evaluated, along with lots of random 'stump the dummy' questions from the examiners. On this day once we were on final approach to Heyford the check pilot said 'We're going to Lakenhealth, we'll call you when we get there'. WTF????? Me and my pilot, 'Z-Bob', just looked at each other and said WTF????? Sure enough we get a phone call once we were back in the squadron. 'Q1 rejoin could have been better CICK'. The shortest checkride debrief in the history of the Air Force. I think it a day or two latter an assistant ops officer pulled me aside and told me 'We are going to attack Libya, I need you to help with the flight planning'. My 'help' consisted of operating a copier and our big-ass paper cutter to put together some books containing approach plates and some other general aviation information for the four crews that was going to fly the mission. I did no real 'flight planning', and was not told any details. I was in the flight planning room shortly before the combat crews (which included my check examiners) were going to start their formal mission brief. A General came into the room and wanted to talk to us. I was expecting something along the lines of "And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Canyon day. " His remarks were nothing like that. He appeared to be almost in tears and kept repeating 'we can't afford to lose an airplane'. Not at all what I expected. Right after that all the non-players were kicked out of the briefing room and told to go home. I hung around long enough to see the Ravens launch. Then I went home thinking "The whole world at war and I operated a paper cutter! It must be the will of God!". That night I laid in bed and held my manhood cheap.

@Mors_Inimicis Год назад

A really interesting story thanks for posting,I hope your wife and daughter made a full recovery.

@VectorOfKnowledge Год назад

See that, kids? That's a professional, right there. RIGHT THERE.

@danielmarshall4587 Год назад

The part he talks about when he was asked "is this true?" and he replied "I signed it" He's a man I'd work with or for, a stand up GEEZA(British slang for ship-shape bloke).

@posidontrident Год назад

Fact

@moler1964 Год назад

No kids gonna care!@@! They so woke they Tired!@@!

@Kelly-kg6rm Год назад

Col Franklin was my squadron commander at the 'heath. That was 36 year ago....he hasn't changed. This is the first time I'm hearing much of the back story of El Dorado Canyon. Thank you for posting this. I've always loved hearing this man speak.

@davidrice3337 Год назад

Thank you for serving our Country

@tforgan Год назад

Wonderful story and told very well. Thank you! My father was Gen. Forgan and so nice to hear him mentioned in your story. Thank you for your service and dedication to our country.

@jeffreyrichardson Год назад

destroyers squadron three pre teens known conundrum elishas dum dum

@jeffreyrichardson Год назад

@carlosgaytan9438 Год назад

@@jeffreyrichardson is 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

@shadetreader Год назад

Dedication to imperialism, you mean?

@edwardcarr2725 4 дня назад

What's it like having a general for a dad?

@thunderamu9543 Год назад

I was 18 year old A1C at Chanute AFB, training on the F-111 iron bird flight control mockup when Cap Weinberger made the brief on the raid. Pride could not explain how I felt. Colonel Franklin's details concerning how he used the TFR coupled to the AP rekindled those feelings 37 years later, like it happened yesterday! I've never heard this kind of detail concerning the mission before. My first duty assignment was to the 57th FWW at Nellis working in the Autopilot/Instrument shop and the phase dock. Finished up at Thunder AMU after the Tigers left from Baron and Mig AMUs. The 474th was flying F-16s by then. Thank you very much Col Franklin!!

@360ezy Год назад

Col. Franklin was my SASI and in JROTC in highschool. He was always very passionate about the subject matter. Attention to detail was a big deal. Great man, great instructor, and a great pilot.

@patrickflohe7427 Год назад

I truly enjoyed this video. Having been a part of that mission, this meant a lot to me. The aircraft that flew this mission came from all 4 squadrons, but they all flew out of the 494th & the 495th TFS shelters. -I was in the 495th. I haven’t heard the name Muddy Waters in a long time, but I launched him out that night. He flew aircraft 72-1449, and I pre-flighted it the night before, I believe. Initially, he had both afterburners fully lit….we were doing the EOR checks for our aircraft, as they were leaving. The aircraft that left from the 495th had the EOR checks done by 494th personnel. We did the same for those that left from the 494th shelters. Again, aircraft and (I believe) aircrews from all 4 squadrons took part. Blue, Yellow, Red, & Green….492nd, 493rd, 494th, & 495th. 449 was a Yellow tail. Anyway, I can’t remember if it was #1 or #2 engine, but one burner blew-out while on takeoff roll, but before rotation. He took off anyway, probably had to because another one was coming right up his ass if he stopped on the runway. -besides, stopping with all that weight on would not have been a good thing at that speed. -I have a beautiful picture of 449 on takeoff roll for that mission, and 3 or 4 others as well. Anyway….It was one of only 3 or 4 times, that I saw an afterburner blow-out on an F-111. If you’re anywhere near the rear end of the aircraft, it’s actually a pretty violent affair! He didn’t return for hours, and I was starting to think he was going all the way. When he did return, I caught the jet & could tell that he was pissed-off. He really wanted to go. Those of us maintenance troops that were part of this, were very concerned all through the night. One aircraft had a “Wheel Well Hot” light, & diverted to Rota AB in Spain. We sent group of maintenance personnel to fix the aircraft, so it could return to RAF Lakenheath…..the Spanish were very interested in the rapid removal of that aircraft from their soil! We also learned that one aircraft would not return, that it and the aircrew were lost. -that made me want to vomit, and I think a lot of others felt the same way. I knew the crew, both the pilot and the WSO….that made it even worse.

@davidchisholm7190 Год назад

Thank you for this additional information. Very interesting. Thank you for your service.

@ronlee5571 Год назад

As noted, thank you for the additional information and from a fellow American, a heartfelt “THANK YOU” for devoting so much of your life to our nation.

@FOH3663 Год назад

Fantastic additional detail, provides even more context. Much appreciated

@adlerarmory8382 Год назад

Was Karma one of the ECM Bird?

@timf2279 Год назад

Check this video on the mission ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IrHA-ubEmD0.html

@sgt_loeram1933 Год назад

Watching his voice crack while speaking about his family not knowing if he was alive or death hit me hard. When I was involved in combat operations in Iraq in 2004 I would try to contact my wife everyday “if possible”. I knew that was a bad idea because it’s simply not practical to have that ability. So when I wasn’t able to contact her for 3-5 days, I can only imagine what was going through her mind. Mind you, we had 4 children and had been married for 15 years at that point. I fully and completely understand why you tear up about that story sir, god bless you

@dahawk8574 21 день назад

41:12 - He is the person who killed Gaddafi's daughter. (Let alone injured his sons.) He LAUGHS about his action that killed an infant. The part where he's on the verge of crying is because he left family members worried for six and a half hours. Even when he speaks of Karma 52, always referred to as 'he'. Never 'they'. His empathy does not even extend to the WSO that died along with the pilot. Notice also how he says nothing about how they bombed the French Embassy in this raid. Retribution for forcing him to do more tanker hookups than he wanted. That target resulted in another girl who got killed. To this day, the US has refused to accept responsibility. Legal action opposed at every step. Limited empathy explains why we human beings are still in the business of killing each other, long after achieving the stage of becoming 'civilized' as a species.

@sgt_loeram1933 21 день назад

@@dahawk8574 You seem to forget was Gaddafi did to have Regan order in the first place. That raid that killed some of his family members was meant to kill him and him alone. Gaddafi didn’t seem to care when he blew up Pan Am flight 103 killing 259 people. I was just old enough to remember that well, it’s funny how the longer something took place, people seem to forget the details.

@FOH3663 Год назад

My God, that's one of the greatest YT vids I've ever seen! Outstanding The hyper-detail of every element, each challenge, throughout this complex endeavor. What a guy. Respect.

@TheCousinEddie Год назад

There is so much that the public never learns when it comes to military operations. Hearing Colonel Franklin share his story gave me a unique perspective of this mission. I was unaware of all the details and the way he spoke I felt like I was in the cockpit. Thank you for your Service, Colonel.

@charlesberlemann8831 Год назад

I was assigned to one of the Navy A-6 Intruder squadrons that participated in the raid that night. I was the Avionics Officer in VA-55. Our guys didn't have as far to travel so we got the back aboard, safe, fairly quickly. Watching this video, I learned for the first time that the Air Force crew was lost on the ingress. We had also been poking the bear for several months contesting Kadafi's "line of death" across the mouth of the Gulf of Sidra. In fact, one of our crews had smoked one of his gun boats. Pretty exciting times. I'm sure glad we got all of our crews back.

@Knuckledragnation Год назад

Right on and Go Navy! I was assigned to VQ-2 Rota, Spain were I worked as a Cryptologist aboard EP-3E. Fortunately I was not married and had no kids which meant I got an opportunity to deploy a lot to parts of the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, Europe and the Med including the Gulf of Sidra as well. In the 1980’s in this part of the world it seemed like every other day there was some sort of bombing, airline highjacking, assassination or killing of some sort with Libyas fingerprints all over it. In Greece especially as I was deployed to Souda Bay consistently. I can remember after the night club bombing in Germany that things got ratcheted up a level which I believe led to the direct encounters with Libya. I recall a flight in 1989 in which one of our P-3’s was flying in the Gulf of Sidra and had crossed Qaddafi’s “Line of Death”. In response Qaddafi Military deployed 2 Libyan Mig-23’s. We notified the U.S.S. Kennedy and they deployed 2 F-14’s to while we slipped out the back door so to speak. In the official write up it stated that an E-2 Hawkeye was involved in the early warning. I’m assuming the E-2 was deployed from the same boat. In the end the 2 MiGs were shot down. It doesn’t surprise me that the write up hadn’t mentioned our squadron as we always flew with no fan fair. I’m sure it was meant this way due to the sensitive nature of our mission in the region. I later found out that there was a similar incident in 1981 involving 2 U.S. Navy F-14’s, 2 MiGs (SU-22’s I believe), the Gulf of Sidra and Libya. In 1986 another Gulf of Sidra incident involving more personnel from the U.S. Navy including your squadron and mine and Libya. Like I said it seemed like Europe, the Middle East and of course North Africa in 1980’s there was always something going on. Anyways I want to thank you for your service. Your comment about serving with VA-55 in the Gulf of Sidra caught my attention and definitely brought back some memories as did this video. ✌🏽🇺🇸🙏

@robertbove2598 Год назад

I was a SSgt working maintenance the night of this operation great to hear OPS side of it…

@charlesnolan7602 Год назад

Salute, Col Arnie! In 1986, I was working at RCA -missle-surface radar division AEGIS weapons systems for the Navy in Moorestown, N.J. We were of course all proud of your mission, and to be honest, not too happy with France! Thanks for your briefing and recounting of your mission!

@deantait8326 Год назад

Ronnie and Margaret were excellent for our freedom and remaining strong I remember hearing the first news reports on the radio while driving home from a new job with Pennzoil Racing in Los Angeles, CA. When I heard about 3 or more locations in Libya being ‘hit’. I slyly smiled and went - ‘Yes’. And ‘he’ the target was very quiet for a long time.

@rschris Год назад

Oh man , what a heart pounding story. Their are no words, so I’ll just say thank you and your family for your service , sir.

@viewerad Год назад

I bumped into this by chance. No need to watch the movie. Incredibly descriptive. Colonel Franklin took us on quite an adventure and story. Amazing, instructive, emotional... What a video. Thank you

@AirForceMike1981 2 месяца назад

I can only add that I was an F-111 Flight Control & Instrument specialist, stationed at RAF Upper Heyford, when this went down. We were in a Local Salty Nation (LSN) exercise, I was in the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit attached to the 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron. We (I) didn't know about this until, as Colonel Franklin says, until the "next morning", and knew that the EF-111A's on Heyford flew in support of EL DORADO CANYON. We went to a real alert thereafter should the F-111E's be needed. I am so glad and fulfilled watching this interview!!!!

@DontLetTheOldManIn Год назад

Thank God there are folks who are this ridiculously smart and so capable and committed to defending this country.

@georgemallory797 Год назад

This was excellent. I remember this well. I was in college, about a year from embarking on my own aviation career. Great, detailed, interesting story. RIP to the crew who didn't survive this and to their families. You are NOT forgotten.

@jimcaufman2328 Год назад

At the end of January 1967, I was finishing up Primary Rotary Helicopter Pilot training at Ft Wolters, Texas. I had passed my last check ride but was short Flight time and had to fly another hour. My Instructor Pilot told me to go out and have some fun and stay out of any training areas, so I took off and flew northeast and climbed to 6500 feet (the highest I had flown) I was enjoying the view and admiring the Texas countryside when all of a sudden, a F-111 Airforce jet buzzed right by and scared the crap out me. After regaining my composure, I flew back to Ft Wolters and landed for the last time. Once on the ground I never mentioned the encounter to anyone because I was probably flying some place I was not supposed to be. If only the Airforce had a program like the Army that taught high school grads to fly.

@gregdanhauer8871 Год назад

Thank you Sir for sharing your courageous experience with us All !!! You make me extremely proud to be an Air Force veteran and a citizen of the United States of America. Peace be with you..... Greg Danhauer

@jimp7042 Год назад

I was SP sitting in a OO aa site at the end of the 24 runway watching you leave. Counting planes and the bombs knowing something was ip. We spent 5 hrs after shift watching CNN waiting impatiently. Thank you for a great story. We could not have been prouder!! We were so sad to learn of the loss of that crew. I remember the intel briefings by air crews to dispel scuttlebutt. I think that was you. Amazing. Still have the base magazine. Thank you for this. Can’t wait to share this!!! God bless!!!

@jimmysweet8907 Год назад

Thank you sir for your service. You are a true American hero!

@markcorchado1054 Год назад

Great story. I was stationed at Lakenheath from 84-87 as security police. In April '86, I just returned from a 60 day TDY to Turkey augmenting the local security police squadron at Incirlik. Our fighter squadrons were rotating in there for about two weeks at a time for training. We provided additional security needed for our planes. Upon my return, I was granted a few days off and I clearly remember watching from my dorm room the F-111s take off that evening and wondering what was going on. It was a bit unusual to see so many planes taking off one after another. It wasn't until the next morning we found out what happened. I still remember the bad press we got from the BBC and specifically reporter Katie Adie. Needless to say, security around Lakenheath was enhanced for about a month until the Chernobyl accident happened and took the Libya raid off the front page. A few weeks after the raid, while on duty in the QRA I had the privilege of attending a briefing by one of the aircrew members and watching the attack videos. If I recall, there was a "Wing Ding" that summer funded by a man named Ross Perot. He wanted to show his appreciation for the successful raid. Several years later, on my second tour at Lakenheath I gave a speech about that raid while attending the NCO Academy in Kapaun, Germany. The idea for the speech came from the fact I was wearing the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. It was awarded to all members of the 48th FW at the time of the raid. My classmates kept asking me what ribbon I was wearing because it wasn't an "Air Force" ribbon, so I decided to do a speech about the raid. I'm sure I probably checked your badge a time or two while manning one of the many entry control points on the flightline. Thanks for posting this video. MSgt(Ret) Mark Corchado

@jimp7042 Год назад

I was L.E. Sitting that night at the 24. I remember that party. Good memories!!! We probably know each other. B Flight L.E.!!

@markcorchado1054 Год назад

@@jimp7042 I briefly worked EGG from Sep - Nov '84 but I don't remember any of those guys. I worked Eagle flight security (day shift) during my whole time there.

@Nooneself Год назад

This gentleman and his full team has the right stuff... courage and intelligence. Thank God for them. Best Wishes

@tomiossi8092 Год назад

Thank you sir. Story was detailed, well told and appreciate your service. I am sorry that apparently 1 plane, 2-servicemen were lost.

@markgraham6928 Год назад

my dad was a boom operator for 26 yrs. when he heard france's decision he said to me the air force should have flown across france anyways. i think that's what thatcher said too.

@warnerchandler9826 Год назад

Immediately what I thought, too. We should have just "thumbed our noses" and flew across France. Some ally: screw them.

@jdlft.w836 Год назад

Thank you, Col. Franklin, for sharing such insight and detail. Fascinating even to the getting the last word: "Yes, Dear!" For years i have wondered about the challenge the USAF air crews had to face on that mission. After you were already airborn the USN air crews probably got rack time before mid-rats in the air wing ward room, then finally brief and THEN manned their planes. After they flew the mission they were back in the ward room for mission sea stories as you rounded Gibraltar. I remember thinking of this disparity as I watched the evening news; because SECNAV John Lehman told me to watch. That very afternoon i went to townhall meeting with none other than the father of the 600 Ship Navy, John Lehman. I remember it well because I had ask a question about a off duty education for ships crews. To end the presentation SECNAV said "One more question. You, the Chief Petty Officer in the back." The CPO was probably a plant but asked in a loud clear voice: "When are you gonna do something about that Mad Dog in the Med?" To which SECNAV replied something like I wish i could tell you to go home and watch it on CNN. But I not at liberty to tell you that yet. Your F-111 is near & dear to me because they were built in my hometown. I could see the Fort Worth Bomber Plant from my bedroom window. Many of my friends and neighbors worked on the Aardvark AND my Uncle Glenn Stewart worked on the F-111 after he survived the USS Indianapolis sinking. GREAT narrative, Colonel. Thanks for sharing and thank you for your service and dedication.

@dahawk8574 21 день назад

Sharkbait.

@a.g.6224 4 месяца назад

What a great story,he is a great storyteller and the time flew by while i was listening..He is a true hero.

@waynegriswold8953 Год назад

thank you for that amazing piece of your life Col. Arnie Franklin!

@pclayton5063 Год назад

I was TDY at Mildenhall when the F-111's took off. I was on a Staff Assistance Visit with my Colonel, a former F-4 fighter pilot. He actually was the Commander of the 496th FIS Sq at Hahn while I was there in the mid 1970's. Anyway, we had just finished up our work on base, it was dark, and were heading back to our hotel in Ely when we heard what sounded like a mass launch or aircraft from Lakenheath flying overhead. My Colonel looked at me and said, "those birds are loaded." He could tell just by the difference in noise. We were eating dinner in the hotel, with the tv on, when we heard we just bombed Libya.

@robertpitchford1786 Год назад

“Rooster” is one of my closest friends. A great pilot and leader.

@LanceRomanceF4E Год назад

Col Arnie Franklin was my Wing CC at Cannon AFB - best of the best. Flew with him a few times - good stick and natural leader. Great to see him after all these years - a real hero and F-111 icon

@richardbriscoe8563 Год назад

That’s a wonderful interview. Thank you.

@rockchester1 Год назад

What a great story and story teller! Had to hear it all before turning off the machine. What great detail and the human side of the event. Thanks so much for sharing!

@brendanhayes2752 Год назад

What a tremendous story, very touching. Thank you for sharing and reminding us of all the folks supporting our troops.

@Marks-Law Год назад

Mr. Franklin should have a show on the Military & History Channels. He knows how to tell the story.

@curtsmall8596 Год назад

Wow, tremendous account. Thank you for sharing. I was a wet behind the ears O3 Navy Doc on a Marine Corps airbase at the time. I was the son of a Navy WW2 fighter pilot/later reserve Air Intelligence squadron commander, so I can see the high level of dedication and performance you promoted. Thank you for your service, I salute you.

@wazhazhe5831 Год назад

What an incredible story. Thank you so much for sharing.

@jaynuck Год назад

Well told and incredible story. Thank you for this.

@evtyler Год назад

Thanks for sharing. I'm very much looking forward to more of these types of videos!

@hinglemccringle5939 Год назад

Thanks for your service Col Franklin & Micki!!

@miked8227 Год назад

Thank you for your perception of the events, very enlightening to some like myself that has done nothing but live and prosper directly from your bravery and sacrifices. My heart goes out to all the families that have lost love ones in keep this country the best in the world.

@j.w.perkins6004 Год назад

Great mission debrief! Thanks bud!

@thomasfx3190 Год назад

What a great story! I was in Navy boot camp in Great Lakes, IL in about week 5, & our recruit company CC (senior chief) briefed on the mission the next morning. Within a week their were Navy T-Shirts shoppette with, “Good Morning COL Ghadafi, this is your wake-up call…”

@carlosdeuriarte8015 Год назад

I was fortunate enough to see documentary of how difficult and complicated this mission really was. This narration of someone that was actually there is bonus. Thank for your service sir. I hope someday the French need something from us.

@danielpatterson836 Год назад

Not much more I can say other than Thank You Col. Franklin along with Gerney and to the other crews. And RIP to the lost crew. To there families my condolences. There was a time when we had leadership that could get the job done. Not so sure about now days. As an Active Duty USAF member at the time, I will never forget the pride I felt that we could actually pull something like this off. When Uncle Sugar finally gets around to come for you, there is no place to hide. This was a HUGE Deal!!!

@richardmarshall2229 Год назад

That was an amazing, and a outstanding story. Thank you for sharing it and for your Service.

@williamdahlstedt9515 5 дней назад

I have waited so long to hear first hand accounts like this and in the years since the mission I have agreed from someone who wanted to hear the operational details to someone who felt moved to tears by his clear love for his family who had to ensure the uncertainty and concern for fellow service members and their families.

@philslaton7302 Год назад

Thanks for the debrief, COL Franklin.

@danielmarshall4587 Год назад

If my employer asked me "would you like to do a Masters Degree in lazer physics?" OH BOY I'd loose my mind, for sure i don't work in his line of work. Great video, thank you for this.

@bikenavbm1229 Год назад

excellent account. thank you for the detail.

@karmpuscookie Год назад

Great video. Love the F-111 too!

@wildmanjeff42 Год назад

Awesome story. Thank you for your service. I remember all this conflict, and went into the Navy in 1988. Really wish I would have went into the air force.

@countzeero Год назад

This was so gripping and human, the integrity of this man shines through.

@alantoon5708 Год назад

Superb interview. Well done...

@rudyagresta Год назад

A riveting story. I was on the edge of my chair the whole time. God Bless.

@ElsinoreRacer Год назад

Thank you, sir. And thank you to your mother, wife, and daughter.

@72chargerse72 Год назад

That was an awsome story. Thank you for telling it. I Found the the layers of planning interesting.

@Sema4beach Год назад

OMG What a story! Thank you Sir!

@Athabina Год назад

Thank you for your outstanding service sir. God bless you and your family.

@Ammo08 Год назад

I worked with Captain Paul Lorence at FE Warren AFB when we were enlisted airmen in the nuclear weapons career field. Paul was a smart, funny person. A lot of us still talk about his unusual sense of humor and practical jokes.

@patrickflohe7427 Год назад

I remember him as being a quiet guy at RAF Lakenheath. Of course, I was an enlisted A1C or SRA, & he was an officer.

@flyingcaba5874 6 месяцев назад

Wow. I was a 12-year-old at the time and read all the news articles I could find. To listen to this story by the mission commander all these years later is quite something for me.

@C_C_SEA Год назад

💯Absolutely top shelf.

@charlesarlen644 Год назад

Hey dude, upload some more stories. This is great.😊

@unclefester9113 Год назад

Wherever you are Sir - I salute you. I salute you. I totally loved how you ended the story.

@CBeard849 Год назад

I find it amazing that this Airman with all those years experience can so calmly relate the details of such a dangerous mission as cool as a cucumber........right to the very end where he loses his composure somewhat when he relates the strain put on his family by what happened. It shows the professionalism of our pilots and when he started getting emotional at the end all I could think of was the three times my father left for South Vietnam and the tears rolling down Mom's cheeks. Military families live under a constant strain that doesn't ever really end. This^^ was an outstanding video!

@Duganoz Год назад

Loved this. Thanks

@path6598 Год назад

what an incredible story, and man. another shining example of the best and brightest in our military, thank you.

@my-yt-inputs2580 Год назад

While at a HQ job(9th AF/CENTAF) in the mid 90's I worked under a Lt Col F-111 WSO who was one of the planners of this mission. I used to remember his name but it escapes me now.

@machloop5229 Год назад

Superb interview. What a career.

@eazymoneyracing Год назад

As a KC-135 Boom that has flown hundreds of Combat sorties, I find this so fascinating! Thank you for your service! NKAWTG...N!!

@Ras7685 Год назад

Col. Franklin , thanks for the story. Cheers !

@holliscook7106 Год назад

Thank you sir and all your companions for your selfless dedication to the defence of the American people and to your families persavieranceand love

@samday9328 Год назад

Very interesting to hear all of this from the US perspective. Without giving too much away, I saw this raid developing as the aircraft left Lakenheath, tanked as they flew north over the southern North Sea, before turning south again. As a result of the raid, and shortly afterwards, I found myself on a magical mystery tour similar to Arnie's, but with a Brit flavour! Just like him, we were refused permission to fly across France!!!

@davidwarm6799 Год назад

What a wonderful man.

@viking956 Год назад

Great oral history. What I was surprised at was I had no idea the planning for this strike had been going on so long. There was a weekend bombing at a night club in Berlin (I think it was Berlin), and in retaliation the following week this mission was flown. So they had been thinking about striking at Libya for sometime and basically had this plan on the shelf ready to go. Fascinating! I was in the USAF assigned to Alaska when this went down and it was an exciting time to be in the military.

@jimjefftube Год назад

Thank you for your service!

@guzzilm3 Год назад

Thank you so much for this story and your service. I don't think you guys know how much some of us eat this kinda stuff up, to you it was your job, to me it was the job I wanted but couldn't get for whatever reason. Thanks again Arnie.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

@mjktrash Год назад

Fantastic story, well told, and thank you for your service on that day and all the days, from a Marine serving at the time. A small criticism for the editor... A few brief map overlays and flightplan overlays on the maps, even in the simplest, sanitized way, would have given the story more depth in the perspective. ; )

@MonteGould Год назад

This is a fascinating story and gentleman. So cool he shared his story and this episode of US history. How very interesting that they overall Commander wanted a plan from the Navy and the Air Force. "They got the boss", I love this guy, that's an old school professional and 100% confident. "We're going scolded dog"....reminds me so much of some of my WW2 uncles who are gone now.

@UGACobra Год назад

Incredible man. Incredible story. Brought tears to my eyes of sorrow for the lost crew but incredible pride in our men n women in uniform. Great, great film.

@ChappoTC Год назад

USS Farragut was part of the picket line/delouse. I reported aboard 2 weeks after this. We were in the dark, literally. Great story, great man!

@mattkaustickomments Год назад

Riveting account. So glad we had this intelligent warrior working this operation.

@simonburns1799 Год назад

Sir, Thank you for your service.

@360ezy Год назад

Great instructor aswell.

@lreid2495 Год назад

Thank you.

@jamescraft7509 Год назад

Interesting, in 1979 I was a O-2A crew chief with the 602nd Tactical Air Control Wing, 4502nd CAMS @ Bergstrom A.F.B. TX where we also had the OV-10. From there I went to RAF Upper Heyford to crew the F-111E from 1980 to 1983. I believe the Spark Varks(EF-111A's) were from Heyford on that mission. RAF Lakenheath had the F-111F.

@TheFlungpoo23 2 месяца назад

Col. Arnie Franklin, my father, Col. Franklin’s #2 during the raid always speaks so very highly of what a wonderful person and leader Col. Franklin was and is. He’s the guy that said, “I think they got the boss” and also along with Brad Insley has the most logged hours in the F-111. Should interview him one of these days. Can’t wait for everyone to read the book on Operation El Dorado Canyon that Col. Franklin has coming out because it’s the best and most detailed story of the lead up to, during, and after the Raid. What an amazing aircraft a group of Pilots and WSOs that pulled off such a long and exhausting mission. Fun fact I never knew until a few years ago that it was during Operation El Dorado Canyon is here my father also got his call sign “Downtown”

@jefferysharp3368 Год назад

Great story! I was in the Med on USS America assembling bombs as part of a rapid rearm team. Had no idea what was going on until after my shift. Captain Allen gets on the 1MC to announce the raid. I was proud for my little role in this operation

@Sugarmountaincondo Год назад

Man oh man, what a story

@timwalker8783 Год назад

For all of you that were afraid to listen to this story there is a safe space and a cookie for you nap time will be at 2:30 after which we will hand out some participation ribbons

@jtoddjb Год назад

Thanks very much

@ColeNorthgate Год назад

Amazing video

@fredrickmeintzer4297 Год назад

Thank You Sir!

@markusdaxamouli5196 Год назад

How awesome this is now memorialized forever..his Memory is wicked good. This would make a great movie with the detail his recall is.

@AmericaVoice Год назад

Holy hell! What a great human being and his crew and families! RIP my fellow brother who didn't come back! I have served in Iraq and Afghanistan deployments overseas as a civilian contractor for the DOD and he is absolutely correct about the families serve as well! We as a country have got to better in helping our service folks and there families! After they are helped, then we as civilians who assist them should be helped too. We take better care of non contributing citizens that never have in there life purposely and sometimes even non citizens or legal immigrants than we do our own! I became very emotional when he recalled about his mother, wife and daughter! I very early ensured I never called my family when overseas at a certain time or day or in a certain sequence of days for that very reason! There where times I missed those times I was going to call and was extremely grateful I thought about that! My mother, father and brother would have done the same! I told my brother more than I ever did my parents, but nothing secret EVER and made sure he would be the one notifying my parents and not someone who didn't know me from Adam! I luckily was able to call him first and personally when I was injured while overseas. My brother agreed to do it with honor and I lost him to COVID! I am the big brother, so I was supposed to be the first to go, not him! He is the greatest human I know and was very loyal to me! God bless the USA and all who truly help her!