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==Combat History==

==Combat History==

===Israel===

===Israel===

Israel was the first foreign customer for the F-15, buying 51 of them by 1978.  The F-15 first saw combat with the [[Israeli]] air force on June 27, 1979.  F-15s were escorting a strike mission in southern [[Lebanon]] when several [[Syria]]n Mig-21s attempted to intercept.  The Eagles shot down four Migs with no loss.<ref>Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat From World War II to the Gulf War, by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  Three months later, Israeli Eagles doubled their score when they shot down 4 more Syrian Mig-21s.  During the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, the Syrian Air Force engaged the Israelis over the Bekaa Valley in a series of contests for air superiority.  F-15s downed 40 Syrian fighters for no loss.

Israel was the first foreign customer for the F-15, buying 51 of them by 1978.  The F-15 first saw combat with the [[Israeli]] air force on June 27, 1979.  F-15s were escorting a strike mission in southern [[Lebanon]] when several [[Syria]]n Mig-21s attempted to intercept.  The Eagles shot down four Migs with no loss.<ref>''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat From World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  Three months later, Israeli Eagles doubled their score when they shot down 4 more Syrian Mig-21s.  During the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, the Syrian Air Force engaged the Israelis over the Bekaa Valley in a series of contests for air superiority.  F-15s downed 40 Syrian fighters for no loss.

In 1981, Israeli Eagles provided escort for the successful attack on the Osirak nuclear reactor in [[Iraq]].

In 1981, Israeli Eagles provided escort for the successful attack on the Osirak nuclear reactor in [[Iraq]].

The Royal Saudi Air Force purchased 52 F-15s for air defense in 1983.  In consideration of Israeli concerns, the planes were made less capable, particularly against US-made weapons systems, before delivery.

The Royal Saudi Air Force purchased 52 F-15s for air defense in 1983.  In consideration of Israeli concerns, the planes were made less capable, particularly against US-made weapons systems, before delivery.

During the [[Iran-Iraq War]], tensions in the area were high.  On June 5, 1984, two Iranian [[F-4|Phantom]]s were scrambled to attack shipping on the Saudi side of the [[Persian Gulf]].  They were detected by a USAF AWACS, and two Saudi F-15s were sent to intercept.  When the Phantoms were over the southern Gulf, and still heading south, the Eagles engaged with [[AIM-7 Sparrow]] missiles, downing one and seriously damaging the other.<ref name="MyFirstRef">F-15C Eagle Units in Combat, by Steve Davies, Osprey Publishing, 2005</ref>

During the [[Iran-Iraq War]], tensions in the area were high.  On June 5, 1984, two Iranian [[F-4|Phantom]]s were scrambled to attack shipping on the Saudi side of the [[Persian Gulf]].  They were detected by a USAF AWACS, and two Saudi F-15s were sent to intercept.  When the Phantoms were over the southern Gulf, and still heading south, the Eagles engaged with [[AIM-7 Sparrow]] missiles, downing one and seriously damaging the other.<ref name="MyFirstRef">''F-15C Eagle Units in Combat'', by Steve Davies, Osprey Publishing, 2005</ref>

During the [[Gulf War]], Saudi F-15s were involved in combat air patrols over [[Saudi Arabia]] and the [[Persian Gulf]].  On January 19, 1991, a Saudi F-15 intercepted two Iraqi Mirage F1s attempting to attack coalition naval vessels in the Gulf.  Aided by vectors from a USAF AWACS, the pilot shot down both planes with Sidewinder missiles, resulting in two aerial victories for the coalition and a public relations victory for the Saudi air force.

During the [[Gulf War]], Saudi F-15s were involved in combat air patrols over [[Saudi Arabia]] and the [[Persian Gulf]].  On January 19, 1991, a Saudi F-15 intercepted two Iraqi Mirage F1s attempting to attack coalition naval vessels in the Gulf.  Aided by vectors from a USAF AWACS, the pilot shot down both planes with Sidewinder missiles, resulting in two aerial victories for the coalition and a public relations victory for the Saudi air force.

===United States===

===United States===

The F-15's combat debut with the [[USAF|US Air Force]] was in the [[Gulf War]].  On the first night of Desert Storm, January 17, 1991, Eagle pilot Captain John Kelk shot down a Mig-29 with a Sparrow missile for the first air-to-air victory of the war.  Eagles downed five more Iraqi planes that night (two more Mig-29s and three Mirages), all with Sparrow missiles.  2 days later, Eagles scored a further six victories.  By the end of the war, US Air Force Eagles had shot down 31 Iraqi aircraft, 26 of them fighters, for no losses.<ref name="MyFirstRef"/>  After the war, F-15s enforced the no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq.

The F-15's combat debut with the [[USAF|US Air Force]] was in the [[Gulf War]].  On the first night of Desert Storm, January 17, 1991, Eagle pilot Captain John Kelk shot down a Mig-29 with a Sparrow missile for the first air-to-air victory of the war.  Eagles downed five more Iraqi planes that night (two more Mig-29s and three Mirages), all with Sparrow missiles.  2 days later, Eagles scored a further six victories.  By the end of the war, US Air Force Eagles had shot down 31 Iraqi aircraft, 26 of them fighters, for no losses.<ref name="MyFirstRef"/>  After the war, F-15s enforced the no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq.

== See also==

== See also==