F-16 Pilot’s Daring Maneuvers: How One Pilot Evaded Six Surface-to-Air Missiles in Desert Storm
Early in Operation Desert Storm, on January 19, 1991, U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot Maj. Emmett Tullia performed one of the most remarkable escapes of the Gulf War, successfully evading six surface-to-air missiles over Baghdad. This incident remains one of the defining moments of the conflict.
Operation Desert Storm, launched on January 16, 1991, by President George H.W. Bush, aimed to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. The coalition assembled a formidable air force, with over 2,400 aircraft, including 1,300 from the United States. The air campaign focused on degrading Iraq’s air defenses and paving the way for ground operations.
Baghdad was heavily defended by a Soviet-style air defense network. The coalition began its campaign with stealth F-117 Nighthawk bombers, but by the third day, the largest F-16 strike mission, Package Q, was underway. This mission involved 72 F-16 Fighting Falcons carrying two 2,000-pound Mk 84 bombs each, targeting key sites including government buildings and the Tuwaitha nuclear reactor. The strike force was protected by eight F-15s, eight F-4G Wild Weasels for SAM suppression, and two EF-111s for radar jamming.
However, complications quickly arose. Bad weather disrupted refueling, leaving the Wild Weasels unable to neutralize SAM sites and exposing the F-16s to intense anti-aircraft fire. The EF-111s struggled to jam the enemy radar, further endangering the strike force.
As the F-16s approached their targets, the sky erupted with enemy fire. Maj. Tullia, flying one of the F-16s, faced a barrage of SAMs. Despite flares and chaff failing to deploy, Tullia executed sharp turns and evasive maneuvers to avoid six missiles. Reflecting on his experience, he noted, “They knew we were coming, and as we were getting closer to the target area, the triple-A came up the 35 mm stuff.”
Tullia’s training and experience were crucial in his survival. He recalled, “When the thing moved, I could see that then the missile corrected – and then on top of that, you could see that the missile is pointing at me, the missile is pointing in front of me. It was like: Wow, all this textbook knowledge comes right back into focus.” Over the next seven minutes, he performed hard turns to dodge missiles, jettisoned external fuel tanks to increase speed, and managed to drop his bombs on the target before beginning his escape.
Descending to lower altitudes, Tullia also faced anti-aircraft artillery and narrowly missed a Soviet-made SA-6 missile. He described the close encounter: “I turned and this thing is right on me. Every time I turn, the response is really quick. I was getting a fairly strong RAW [Radar Warning Receiver] indication on this thing. I was just turning as best I could. I go: Well, I’m just going to do what I can do on this thing. That thing came so close, I could hear the rocket motor as it went by – that was a little unnerving.”
Tullia’s skill and determination allowed him to evade all six missiles and return safely to base. However, not all pilots were as fortunate. Capt. Mike Roberts and Maj. Jeffrey Tice were shot down, captured, tortured, and eventually released in March 1991.
Reflecting on the leadership and training that prepared him, Tullia said, “In the Air Force, we get all this leadership stuff jammed down our throats, and until I saw it in action, I was just another one of that ‘Good grief, we have to listen to this crap again’ type of guys. When I saw actual leadership in action, it made a huge difference. It was amazing.”
Maj. Emmett Tullia’s evasion of six SAMs during Operation Desert Storm remains a testament to the bravery and professionalism of U.S. fighter pilots operating under extreme conditions.
