Hobby Master Archive

The 23rd TFW was normally based out of England AFB, La. But in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm they were assigned to the 706th TFS, 926th TFG in Saudi Arabia. On February 6, 1991 Captain Robert Swain spotted 2 Iraqi helicopters speeding across the desert. The helicopters split in opposite directions so Captain Swain pursued the south-bound. Swain first attempted to use an AIM-9L missiles but couldn’t lock on so the second pass he fired about 300 rounds of his 30mm gun causing the helicopter to explode. This was the first ever air-to-air kill by an A-10 so the aircraft was named the “Chopper Popper”.