Is that a Pelican flying over Kandahar?

[J-RAD]

GeorgeM:

Do you fly Tomcats? If so, what squadron? Do you know any of the guys in VF-102 (Diamondbacks)...currently on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt and raining hell down on the Taliban and al-Qaida? Prior to Enduring Freedom they were assigned to the USS JFK as part of Southern Watch.

[jay castriotta]

Hey guys, I wonder if you need to careful about what kind of info (from a strategic point of view) you post on this thing. "Loose lips sink ships, " ya know, that sorta thing. Now about my latest conspiracy therory....

[pwd72s]

Jay...I felt comfortable talking about the bomb itself. Why? I watched our Secretary of Defense describe the guidance system in great detail to reporters attending a televised press conference. He said these bombs were accurate when delivered from altitudes too high for surface to air missiles to "within a few feet" of the intended target. When it comes to making gadgets of destruction, you have to admit, the USA is pretty damned awesome! As far as a carrier fleet goes? Gosh, I'd imagine they're pretty hard to hide. But boy, are they WELL protected!

[GeorgeM]

You'd be surprised. The open ocean is a big place.

[J P Stein]

Leland:
My son was recalled to active duty in the USAF.
He's a crewchief on a C-5A and flying all over Gods creation.
If you happen to come across Joe Stein, say " Howdy".
His old man is praying for both of you.

[Leland Pate]

Jay, I have been very careful with how I phrase things. Security is in fact my top concern. That's why in the picture you don't see any supply point/acct. numbers stenciled on the bomb, there is nothing that identifies the surrounding areas of the hanger, and we are not allowed to take pictures of aircraft tail numbers. Very important.
Just know that every word I write, I imagine that the Joint Chiefs of Staff is also browsing this forum.


Jp, will do. Even though if I did see him, I wouldn't be allowed to tell you since that would proove that heavy aircraft land at my location... that is the type of thing I was talking about...

Well I'm glad you all like the bomb.

[J P Stein]

I understand. I did my time, in my time.

This too will pass.

[RLJ]

Leland, that is one of the most touching Christmas presents I have ever received. The consideration for your fellow Pelicanites is just fantastic. You have in your own way given a very large gruppe of people a very fantastic and patriotic Christmas present. Probably set some kind of record of how many folks you could give one present to that they ALL would like. Also considering the price of that 2000# piece of jewelry divided by the number of the Pelicanites it the most expensive Christmas present I have ever received. I would also like to thank you for picking out something so GRAND for your friends, this is a Porsche board and we do demand Excellence!

Hey Wayne. If this impressed you, and you say that is hard to do then please make it into a tee shirt. I want one XL and one Large. Thanks.

Leland, again, thank you, be safe, and we will see you at Bogus Basin for the hill climb. I want to watch your eyes when you tell me the story of our"GIFT".

Randy Jones
1971 911

[Rufblackbird]

Ooooooh....I want one too. I'll take a XL.

[jay castriotta]

Put me down for 2 larges and one xl. Same goes for the SCWDP tee shirts! Thanks.

[Leland Pate]

Well, one quick call to PA and I got the “ok” to spill the beans. (These mission aren’t being flown any more so there is no security concern)

Mr. 2000lb Pelican bomb was on station 6 (right wing) of a F-16C. Our pilot, and another F-16, were holding at over 24,000 feet somewhere above the mountains of eastern Afghanistan. Several thousand feet below them there were two Navy F-18 Hornets that had spotted a concentration of over two-dozen Al-Kade-a bad guys around a cave entrance. They appeared to be downloading what looked to be supplies from a large truck. One of the -18s was “dry” so the other went in hot. He loosed a pair of CBUs full of BLU 97 cluster bombs right on top of one of the larger groups. For those of you who do not know what BLU 97s are… (Enter EOD speel) …97s are foot long cylindrical bomblets that have a dual-purpose warhead and one of the nastiest reputations around. There is a shaped charge effect for penetrating armor, and there is also a Frag sleeve, which surrounds the main charge. The Frag sleeve is lined with zirconium for a secondary incendiary effect. Very, very, very nasty little buggers.
That group of bad guys never even heard them coming… course…they may have wondered what that distant “pop” sound was…little did they know that that “pop” was the sound of linear detonating cord explosively opening the canisters several thousand feet above their head. I’d honestly say they wouldn’t have had much time to contemplate what exactly it was. “Boom.”
Meanwhile, about 500 meters away, there was another group of AK-47 totin’ bad guys who went diving behind one very large pile of boulders as soon as the cluster bombs hit; which I could only imagine, lighted up the valley in series of rapid flashes and ear splitting booms. I was told, from the attack angle of the first F-18, he could not see the second group. Unfortunately for them the second F-18 holding at a higher altitude did. He immediately called our friend, Mr. F-16 driver, and wingman, in for assistance.
Number 2 had been dropped earlier in the night, leaving our faithful number 6 on the right wing. Both –16s dropped one J-DAM (ours first incidentally), one right after the other.
Boom. …Boom.
The End.


Yes, I added a bit of a narrative twist, but most of this is straight out of the mouth of the pilot who is from my base back home. Good guy. He got a kick out of the fact that you guys were so eager to know the specifics.

[BenWillis]

Cool I was wondering what the story was behind that sucker!!!

-Ben

[pwd72s]

FANFREAKINTASTIC! Lee, did you get a copy of R Gruppe News by snail mail?

[clnilsen]

Leland!

Thanks for the update! I still think that is the coolest thing I've ever heard.

I hope you get home soon.. best wishes!

Now If I could just find a way to e-mail you a brew!

Chuck

[mattd]

Somehow I missed this thread before... suffice to say this picture is now hanging on my cubicle wall.

Thanks, Leland!! Rock on!

Matt

[orbmedia]

I am going to take an alternative viewpoint here.

I AM DISGUSTED.



Leland could have been more careful with his penmanship. The writing is crooked and not perfectly even.


FOOLED YA!

Great job Leland!

[Woody]

Thanks from Canada Leland
Give em hell from above
Kevin

[Moses]

Strap an E-RAM unit on that baby and watch the fireworks!

Yahooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[Leland Pate]

Again, glad you all liked it.

What prompted this was an ongoing conversatoion with John at Pelican parts. He had a problem with my billing phone number (it's been disconnected) and had been emailing me. He mentioned that "I was the guy who made the pelican bomb"... and added that he wanted to know what it "did" as well. So I made a few phone calls to make sure my bum was covered, and thought I'd just post it here for everyone.



...Orb...you scared me...."off center"???

[Paul Franssen]

Rather off-topic, no? Belongs in Buffalo Bills Wild West Show! Er, no, Wild Worldwide is more accurate.
No sympathy for the devil