A crew flying this aircraft had a heart-stopping day in 1987
Synopsis: On 10 September, 1987, 64-0638 came within 5 seconds of being shot down
by anti-aircraft missiles, following a mix-up with diplomatic clearances and
misidentification as hostile aircraft by French military authorities. The attack
was called off at the last second when airborne foreign fighter aircraft spotted
the US flag on the tail of the C-141. There were no injuries.
The Norton AFB crew had departed on a multi-stop "embassy-run" mission to Africa.
Prior to departing Charleston, the crew had sought a full mission brief from
Charleston MAC Command Post. They were handed a photocopy of the world atlas map
of Africa and the Command Post Officer offered the observation, "Dakar is a great
crew rest". The mission itinerary was: Charleston-Bermuda-Dakar, Senegal-Robert's
Field, Liberia-Kinshasa, Zaire-Niamey Niger-Kinshasa-Bennuda-Charleston.
At Dakar, no flight plan was available for the Kinshasa-Niamey leg. The crew was
provided diplomatic clearances for Zaire, Central African Republic, and Chad, but
not for me destination country of Niger. Prior to takeoff from Kinshasa, the crew
unsuccessfully attempted to contact the MAC command and control for the Niger
diplomatic clearance, using both phone and HF radio.
They elected to depart Kinshasa on schedule, planning to get the clearance
enroute, and if necessary hold outside Niger airspace, until they received
clearance. Enroute, they continued to attempt HF radio contact with any Global HF
radio station, to no avail. They maintained normal VHP ATC communications.
The standard routing to Niamey is north from Kinshasa through the Central African
Republic, crossing southwestern Chad and into Niger. Shortly after passing the
N'djamena VOR, the copilot noticed a couple of French Air Force Mirage F-l
fighters maneuvering several hundred yards behind the C-141. At about that time,
on Guard frequency, they heard, "Aircraft over N'djamena identify yourself.
Divert to N'djamena".
The crew acknowledged with a wing rock. With the Mirages following, they landed
at N'djamena Int'l Airport. Aimed soldiers instantly surrounded the aircraft.
While generally aware of hostilities between Libya and Chad, the crew was unaware
of the recent fighting in southern Chad. Only two days before, one of two Libyan
Tu-22 bombers had been shot down during an attack on N'djamena, the capital of
Chad. The French government had come to the aid of Chad in February 1986, and had
established anti-aircraft defenses around the capital, using US-made Hawk
missiles. French Military Intelligence believed the Libyans would again attack,
mis time using an 11-76 (similar in size and shape to the C-141), possibly with
chemical weapons and coming from the south. When the French manned air defenses
saw an unknown aircraft coming from the south, the French Commander ordered the
missiles to fire. While the missiles were in a several minute long pre-launch
sequence, some French F-l's, who happened to be in the vicinity, flew by for a
final visual confirmation. It was only when the Mirage pilot noticed the American
flag on the tail of the green camouflaged C-141, that the attack was called off
and communication attempted, approximately 5 seconds from missile launch.
Investigation revealed that the diplomatic clearances provided to the crew were
over two years old. USAF Intelligence had not be monitoring the war between Chad
and Libya and believed that the fighting was only in northern Chad. 21st Air
Force Flight Planners had provided incorrect flight plans for the mission. The
use of Mode 4 or other authentication documents was not a factor in the incident,
as the French and Chad military would not have had the proper codes, with which
to authenticate the US aircraft. The crew was released, after interrogation by
French military and US embassy personnel, and continued the mission to Niger
(this time with a correct diplomatic clearance). While no known connection
exists, the governments of Chad and Libya signed a cease-fire agreement the next
day, September 11, 1987.
The above information was provided by Paul Hansen
DEC-1999 at SFO
Copyright © - Carl Waldenmaier
Source:Werner Fishdick Collection