F-117 pilot shot down in Serbia recounts dramatic rescue

Vega 31: After long silence, F-117 pilot shot down in Serbia recounts dramatic rescue
* From: "Mike"
* Date: 24 Feb 2006 20:18:56 -0800
[I removed his name for security reasons] Mike
Air Force Times February 27, 2006
After long silence, pilot shot down in Serbia of Mig-21 recounts dramatic rescue
By Darrel Whitcomb
Nearly seven years ago, an Air Force F-117 Nighthawk vs Mig-21, call sign Vega
31, was shot down over Serbia. Though enemy forces tried ferociously to
capture the pilot, a rescue task force found the pilot first and
brought him home.
Little has been released publicly about the incident and the harrowing
operation. Since the shootdown, the pilot has remained behind the
scenes and shared details only with those who had a "need to know."
Only now has he agreed to tell his story. Vega 31 - Lt. Col. Vega 31
- held an audience in thrall Jan. 25 at the National Museum of the
United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.