Changes

Israel acquired F-16s for its air force in 1978, and their most well-known combat mission was the raid on the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981, carried out by eight Falcons flown by elite pilots.  The target was destroyed without any hits on the bombers or their escorts, and it was one of the most successful bombing missions in aviation history.  After the attack, Israel was thought to have used guided munitions because the strikes were so accurate.  In fact, the strike had been carried out with unguided bombs.  The skill of the pilots, and the sophistication of the F-16s’ targeting computers, was that good.

Israel acquired F-16s for its air force in 1978, and their most well-known combat mission was the raid on the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981, carried out by eight Falcons flown by elite pilots.  The target was destroyed without any hits on the bombers or their escorts, and it was one of the most successful bombing missions in aviation history.  After the attack, Israel was thought to have used guided munitions because the strikes were so accurate.  In fact, the strike had been carried out with unguided bombs.  The skill of the pilots, and the sophistication of the F-16s’ targeting computers, was that good.

The very first time the F-16 saw combat, however, was earlier in that year.  On April 28, 1981, F-16s downed two [[Syria]]n Mi-8 helicopters over [[Lebanon]].<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html F-16.net: Israel]</ref>  The first fighter kill was in July 14, 1981, when Amir Nachumi, one of the pilots in the Osirak attack, splashed a Syrian Mig-21.  Nachumi would go on to score six more victories in the Falcon.  In 1982, Israeli Falcons were involved in the aerial fighting with the Syrian air force over the Bekaa Valley, scoring a total of 44 aerial victories for no losses.

The very first time the F-16 saw combat, however, was earlier in that year.  On April 28, 1981, F-16s downed two [[Syria]]n Mi-8 helicopters over [[Lebanon]].<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html F-16.net: Israel]</ref>  The first fighter kill was in July 14, 1981, when Amir Nachumi, one of the pilots in the Osirak attack, splashed a Syrian MiG-21.  Nachumi would go on to score six more victories in the Falcon.  In 1982, Israeli Falcons were involved in the aerial fighting with the Syrian air force over the Bekaa Valley, scoring a total of 44 aerial victories for no losses.

F-16s have since formed the backbone of Israel’s striking power.  Falcons were active in the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], and many of these were the new F-16I, a variant designed specifically for [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Force]] needs.  One F-16I was lost in an accident during the conflict.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=740395 IDF Fighter Jet Crashes During Take-off]</ref>  On September 6, 2007, F-16Is also helped carry out Operation Orchard, an attack on a suspected Syrian nuclear plant.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/sep/16/iran.israel Was Israeli Raid a Dry Run For Attack on Iran?]</ref>

F-16s have since formed the backbone of Israel’s striking power.  Falcons were active in the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], and many of these were the new F-16I, a variant designed specifically for [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Force]] needs.  One F-16I was lost in an accident during the conflict.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=740395 IDF Fighter Jet Crashes During Take-off]</ref>  On September 6, 2007, F-16Is also helped carry out Operation Orchard, an attack on a suspected Syrian nuclear plant.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/sep/16/iran.israel Was Israeli Raid a Dry Run For Attack on Iran?]</ref>

On June 2, 1995, Captains Wright and O’Grady were airborne again, patrolling the no-fly zone near Banja Luka, when O’Grady’s plane was locked on by an SA-6 missile and shot down.  He safely ejected, and spent six days evading Serbian forces before he was rescued.  His safe return made international headlines.<ref>''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  

On June 2, 1995, Captains Wright and O’Grady were airborne again, patrolling the no-fly zone near Banja Luka, when O’Grady’s plane was locked on by an SA-6 missile and shot down.  He safely ejected, and spent six days evading Serbian forces before he was rescued.  His safe return made international headlines.<ref>''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  

On March 24, 1999, at the beginning of the [[Kosovo War]] (Operation Allied Force), a Dutch F-16 based in southern [[Italy]] shot down a Yugoslav Mig-29 with an AMRAAM missile, the first air-to-air victory of the operation, and the first for the Dutch military since World War II.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article8.html F-16 Users: The Netherlands]</ref>  NATO Falcons executed a large portion of the airstrikes in the war, and on May 1, an American F-16 was shot down by an SA-3 missile while on a mission over Serbia.<ref>http://www.f-16.net/f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-2787.html</ref>  The pilot was recovered safely.  [http://www.f-16.net/news_article2167.html]  A few days later, near [[Belgrade]], another Mig-29 fell to a USAF F-16 of the 78th Fighter Squadron.<ref>[http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/1999/articles/jul_99/jul2_p.html Operation Allied Force in Code One Magazine]</ref>

On March 24, 1999, at the beginning of the [[Kosovo War]] (Operation Allied Force), a Dutch F-16 based in southern [[Italy]] shot down a Yugoslav [[MiG-29]] with an AMRAAM missile, the first air-to-air victory of the operation, and the first for the Dutch military since World War II.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article8.html F-16 Users: The Netherlands]</ref>  NATO Falcons executed a large portion of the airstrikes in the war, and on May 1, an American F-16 was shot down by an SA-3 missile while on a mission over Serbia.<ref>http://www.f-16.net/f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-2787.html</ref>  The pilot was recovered safely.  [http://www.f-16.net/news_article2167.html]  A few days later, near [[Belgrade]], another MiG-29 fell to a USAF F-16 of the 78th Fighter Squadron.<ref>[http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/1999/articles/jul_99/jul2_p.html Operation Allied Force in Code One Magazine]</ref>

===War in Afghanistan===

===War in Afghanistan===