About this episode

The episode features a discussion among four F-15E veterans about their experiences during the Libya air war and the evolution of military tactics.

10PCT Episode #90This is an interview recorded as part of my research for Twenty Years at War - the second part of my series of coffee table books on the F-15E Strike Eagle: https://www.10percenttrue.com/product-page/tyaw-pre-orderFour F-15E veterans — “Deuce” Cooper, “Funkle” Esler, “NAILS” Ashmore and “Leroy” Domberg — reunite to discuss Operation Odyssey Dawn and the opening phase of the Libya air war in 2011. What begins as a discussion about Libya quickly becomes a broader conversation about the Strike Eagle community’s transition from the highly restrictive, JTAC-driven wars in Iraq and Afghanistan back to dynamic targeting, SCAR, coalition strike operations and independent decision-making. The group recounts the rapid deployment from RAF Lakenheath, the uncertainty surrounding Libyan air defences, the first night over Benghazi, the loss of BOLAR 34, the evolution of tactics during the campaign, and the lessons that would later shape operations against ISIS and beyond. Along the way they discuss mission planning, coalition integration, the value of the two-seat cockpit, targeting pods, radar development, CCA concepts and the future of the Strike Eagle.

People in this episode

Host: Steve Davies

Guests: Deuce Cooper, Funkle Esler, NAILS Ashmore, Leroy Domberg

Topics covered

• F-15E Strike Eagle
• Libya air war
• Operation Odyssey Dawn
• military tactics
• coalition operations
• aviation history

Keywords

• F-15E
• air war
• military veterans
• tactics
• coalition strikes
• Libya
• aviation
• Operation Odyssey Dawn

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: RAF Lakenheath

Books & works: Twenty Years at War

Places: Libya, Benghazi

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