Changes

On March 19, 1988, Blinders were part of a major, two-stage attack on the oil facilities at [[Khark Island]].  The first wave, composed of Tu-22s supported by [[Dassault Mirage F1|F1 Mirages]], destroyed two [[supertanker]]s and got away clean.  By the time the second wave came around, however, the Iranian air force was alerted.  Two Blinders were shot down, one by an [[F-14 Tomcat]], one by an [[F-4 Phantom]], and the bombers failed to cause significant damage to the facility.<ref>''Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat'', by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop, Osprey Publishing, 2004</ref>  At least six Iraqi Tu-22s were lost in combat during the war, mostly to F-14s and [[AIM-54 Phoenix|Phoenix missiles]].

On March 19, 1988, Blinders were part of a major, two-stage attack on the oil facilities at [[Khark Island]].  The first wave, composed of Tu-22s supported by [[Dassault Mirage F1|F1 Mirages]], destroyed two [[supertanker]]s and got away clean.  By the time the second wave came around, however, the Iranian air force was alerted.  Two Blinders were shot down, one by an [[F-14 Tomcat]], one by an [[F-4 Phantom]], and the bombers failed to cause significant damage to the facility.<ref>''Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat'', by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop, Osprey Publishing, 2004</ref>  At least six Iraqi Tu-22s were lost in combat during the war, mostly to F-14s and [[AIM-54 Phoenix|Phoenix missiles]].

Iraq’s remaining Blinders were still operational during the [[Gulf War]], but none flew against the Coalition forces.  All were most likely destroyed during or soon after the war.

Iraq’s remaining Blinders were still operational during the [[Gulf War]], but none flew against the Coalition forces.  All were most likely destroyed during or soon after the war, although a few may have escaped to Iran.

==The Blinder in Literature==

==The Blinder in Popular Media==

In [[Tom Clancy]]’s [[World War III]] novel, ''Red Storm Rising'', Soviet Blinders based in occupied [[Norway]] undertook raids on RAF bases in [[Scotland]].

In [[Tom Clancy]]’s [[World War III]] novel, ''Red Storm Rising'', Soviet Blinders based in occupied [[Norway]] undertook raids on RAF bases in [[Scotland]].

==References==

==References==