On November 10, 1988, the announcement was made. Pentagon spokesman Dan Howard admitted that the stealth fighter did exist and that its official designation was the F-117A. He stated: 'It has been operational since October 1983 and is assigned to the 4450th Tactical Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The aircraft is based at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada.' The press release contained the facts that the first flight had been made in June 1981, that three had crashed, and that fifty-two had been delivered out of a total of fifty-nine ordered from Lockheed. A single photo was also released. The angular shape came as a surprise, as did the out-of-sequence 'century-series' designation. The photo showed the plane in a slight turn and gave no clue as to size. (In fact, the photo had been electronically altered.) No information was given out as to the F-117A's dimensions, cost, range, or speed.[478]
Where facts were lacking, the press was quick to speculate. Three-view drawings were published, showing a plane that was shorter, with much less wing sweep than the actual F-117A. Photocopies of the drawing were handed out to F-117 pilots. Some of the pilots, 'laughed so hard that they started to cry.'[479] It was suggested that the plane was supersonic, and that the air speed probes might be 'gun barrels.'[480]
The F-117A now began daylight flights, and the sightings also began. On April 12, 1989, ten F-117As were seen flying near Mojave, California, at about 5:30 P.M. They were heading east, flying about eight minutes apart.
Between 10:30 and 11:30 P.M. that night, another group of at least six planes was spotted flying the same route. On April 18, two similar waves of F-117As were also seen. Other sightings were made at TTR, where camera-equipped observers photographed the planes as they made takeoffs and landings.
Despite the F-117As coming out of the Black, speculation about the aircraft continued. It was reported, for example, that the F-117A had 'a distinctive, although faint engine whine' — a claim that amazed Tom Morgenfeld, a Lockheed test pilot who had flown the F-117A since the early 1980s. He had 'never heard anything more than the standard GE F404 engine noise.'[482] Two different 'sizes' of F-117AS were also reported. People began watching the skies, looking and listening for 'other' Black airplanes — the ones that were still being kept secret.[483]
With the disclosure of the F-117A, the 5540th Tactical Group underwent a name change. It became the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing. This was the former designation of the F-4G Wild Weasel unit. The 4450th, 4453d, and 4452d Squadrons became the 415th 'Nightstalkers,' the 416th 'Ghost-riders,' and 417th 'Bandits' Tactical Fighter Squadrons (TFS). These had been the designations of the first U.S. night-fighter squadrons during World War II.[484]
Thirteen months after it came 'out of the Black,' the F-117A flew its first combat mission.
PANAMA
During this time, relations with Panama were deteriorating. In early 1988, Panama's military dictator, Gen. Manuel Noriega, had been indicted by two Florida grand juries on charges of laundering drug money. He laughed off the charges and dismissed Panama's president in February.
During the May 1989 presidential election campaign, Noriega's 'Dignity Battalion' goon squad beat up opposition candidate Guillermo Endara.
Endara won the election, but on October 1, Noriega prevented him from taking office. Two days later, a coup attempt was made but collapsed when loyalist Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) rescued Noriega. The coup leaders were executed the following day. On December 15, Noriega declared a state of war between the United States and Panama. The following evening, PDF soldiers killed a marine lieutenant and arrested a navy lieutenant and his wife who had witnessed the shooting. The officer was beaten and his wife was threatened with sexual abuse.[485]
In response to these events, President George Bush issued orders to invade Panama. The attack was to strike PDF forces, capture Noriega, and rescue political prisoners. One of the targets was the Battalian 2000 barracks at Rio Hato. United States Army Rangers were to be dropped at the adjoining airfield. The PDF troops would have to be neutralized before the airdrop. Army Lt. Gen. Carl W. Stiner, the XVIII Airborne Corps commander, requested F-117As be used. They would not bomb the two barracks, but rather the 2,000-pound LBGs with time- delay fuzes would be directed to aim points near the buildings. They would act as 'a giant stun grenade,' to confuse the PDF troops without killing them. The use of F-117As was based on their night-bombing accuracy, rather than stealth, as the PDF lacked heavy air defenses.[486]
On the night of December 19, 1989, six F-117As from the 415th TFS took off from TTR. The flight would require five in-flight refuelings. Two of the planes were targeted on Rio Hato, two more were to provide support for an attempt to capture Noriega, and the final pair were in-flight spares should any of the others suffer malfunctions.
As the planes neared Panama, the attempt to capture Noriega was called off because he was not at any of the potential targets. Two of the F-117As continued on to Rio Hato. While they were in flight, the first problem occurred. Three hours before the invasion was to start, the PDF was tipped off to the coming U.S. attack (possibly due to American press reports). By H hour, 1:00 A.M. December 20, they had already occupied the airfield.[487]
As the two F-117As approached the release point, a moment of confusion occurred that would mar their debut. The original plan was for the lead plane to drop its bomb in a field near the barracks on the left, while his wingman would drop his bomb in a field near a barracks on the right. Just before the drop, the wind direction changed. The lead pilot, Maj. Gregory A. Feest, responded by telling his wingman to switch targets with him. At the drop point, however, the lead pilot bombed his original aim point. The wingman adjusted his aim point even farther to the left, following the changed plan.[488] One bomb, intended to land about 100 yards from the 7th Company barracks, actually landed 260 yards away. This was only 18 yards from the 6th Company barracks, which was too close. The other bomb impacted near a basketball court, about 40 yards farther from the barracks than intended.[489]
Despite these problems, the explosions caused the desired confusion.
Initial reports spoke of PDF soldiers running around in their underwear, while others threw down their weapons. Several Rangers were killed in the subsequent firefight, but the airfield was taken and U.S. aircraft were landing within two hours.[490] In the confusion the miss was not immediately noticed. Defense Secretary Richard B. Cheney was advised both bombs hit their targets. He later spoke of the attack's pinpoint accuracy.
'Operation Just Cause,' as the invasion was code-named, was effectively completed by the afternoon of December 20. The following days saw the running down of scattered snipers and a prolonged hunt for Noriega. The controversy over the invasion was more prolonged. Representative Charles B. Rangel (D-New York) said, 'I strongly believe the invasion was totally illegal.'[491] Former Attorney General Ramsey Clark claimed two thousand to four thousand Panamanians had been killed and secretly buried. His unsubstantiated claims were later repeated on
Particularly vitriolic attacks were directed against the use of the F-117A.
It was not until April 1990 that word was published about the miss.
Headlines such as 'Stealth error kept under wraps' and 'General didn't report Stealth flaws in Panama' were used.[494] The press had its 'cover-up' story, and the usefulness of the F- 117A was further questioned.
