Hobby Master Archive

In 1999 NATO was involved in an effort to drive the invading Serbian forces out of Kosovo. Using bases in Italy the unit flew over 1,400 missions in support of bombing sorties to destroy the Serbian military infrastructure. The 81st Fighter Squadron led two successful search and rescue task force missions that saw the safe recovery of a pilot from a downed F-117 and another from an F-16. During the ten week conflict NATO aircraft carried out over 38,000 combat missions.