| Tango01 | 20 Oct 2016 3:57 p.m. PST |
Pentagon Denies A-10 Aircraft Shot By Islamic State Group In Syria. "The Pentagon is reportedly denying the Islamic State group's claim it shot down a U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt jet aircraft near a Syrian town Thursday morning, according to Reuters. The news comes as Iraqi security forces battle ISIS in Mosul with help from the United States. A Pentagon spokesperson also said all aircraft are accounted for. The initial report, coming from ISIS communications arm Aamaq Agency, stated the terror group claimed to have downed the powerful jet in Markadah, located 102 kilometers (63.3 miles) south of the town of Al Hasakah, Syria. The report also stressed the fate of the alleged pilot's fate was not known as the U.S. helps Kurdish militias fight ISIS in northern Syria…"
From here
link Seems that the Islamic State is looking for a moral boost… Amicalement
Armand |
| CFeicht | 20 Oct 2016 4:05 p.m. PST |
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| Mako11 | 20 Oct 2016 4:15 p.m. PST |
Given the weaponry they have, and how much damage an A-10 can take and still return to base, I doubt it. |
| Deadles | 20 Oct 2016 7:12 p.m. PST |
Mako11, I wouldn't over estimate the A-10s ability to take damage. In 1991 the USAF lost 5 A-10s to MANPADS/light SAMs. Insurgents including ISIS in Syria have been confirmed numerous times to have MANPADS including crappy Chinese FN-6s and SA-7s (the type responsible for 3 out of 5 A-10s in 1991). These have been used to shot down both Syrian and Iraqi helicopters including Mi-25/-35 Hinds and some Syrian fixed wing jets (most Syrian jets appear to have been lost to AAA due to primitive tactics – it was these losses that forced Syrians to switch to less accurate indiscriminate high altitude bombing that Western media has such convulsions over). There are concerns they may have more advanced SA-24 SAMS from Libyan stocks. Lucky AAA fire could also take out an A-10. So ISIS could shoot down an A-10.
Having said that, none of the more reliable aviation news sources or spotters sites I go to reports the loss of an A-10. There's no footage of wreckage. Insurgents love plastering Youtube with footage of downed aircraft.
So far this is just third rate propaganda. |
 Editor in Chief Bill   | 20 Oct 2016 7:23 p.m. PST |
Armand, note the difference in English between moral and morale. Could the reality be that a plane was damaged, but made a controlled landing in friendly territory? |
| Deadles | 20 Oct 2016 7:27 p.m. PST |
Possibly. Could also have been another nationality's jet. Syrians AF is still really active and has lost 4 aircraft in September (1 x MiG-23, 1 x MiG-21, 1 x L-39, 1 x SA-342L Gazelle helicopter). |
| Mako11 | 20 Oct 2016 8:02 p.m. PST |
I realize it is possible, but think it very unlikely. |
| Echoco | 21 Oct 2016 5:37 a.m. PST |
The USAF should have used this opportunity to say they've been loosing A-10s left and right and that is why the planes need to be replaced. |
 Legion 4   | 21 Oct 2016 10:01 a.m. PST |
Yeah … very unlikely … The US reported losses of US personnel recently in both Iraq and A'stan … Why would this shoot down not be reported ? As the US is very concerned about any US personnel being captured by Daesh. For obvious reasons. If you heard the reports from civilians that escaped from Mosul recently. Besides the usual war crimes, etc., which is Daesh's heinous signature. They said Deash fighters were escaping blending in with the escapees. Even some dressed as women. Wisely until these refugees are vetted. They stay in a POW camp as such. Before they are released. For obvious reasons again. Saying all that, I think Daesh may need a morale boost. Yes … they are willing to die. And we are pretty sure Baghdadi is holed up in Mosul. To make a broad generalization. This won't be Stalingrad … but Berlin … |
| Mako11 | 22 Oct 2016 4:15 p.m. PST |
No photos, or video, so it seems to be a less than credible report. |
| Legion 4 | 22 Oct 2016 4:18 p.m. PST |
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