The flight of ten B-52s was preceded by a flight of ten Korean Air Lines 747s that were modified to carry large amounts of chaff. They closed to within 100 miles of the coast and turned south, dispensing the chaff through specially rigged dispensers in their cargo holds. Upon completing their first run they doubled back and spread another layer. Once their task was complete, they all turned back toward Narita, Japan, their pilots relieved that they had not tangled with North Korean fighters and glad they had been allowed to take part.
The B-52 pilots were being fed information from a Navy E-2C Hawkeye loitering 150 miles off the North Korean coast. Passing through the chaff cloud the B-52s began launching cruise missiles. Once launched, the airplanes turned around and flew back through the chaff cloud. By now, the fighters were within seventy miles of the big bombers, closing rapidly. The lead pilot actually saw some of the missiles fly past on the way to their targets. He called out over the radio for his flights to close up and mete out revenge against the Americans. Immediately after his radio call, he and his MIG-21 were blotted from the sky.
Twenty F-14 Tomcats from VFA-25 off the carrier USS Ronald Reagan were waiting just inside the chaff cloud. They received the data link from the Hawkeye and waited until the bombers made their turns. The F-14 pilots then switched on their radars and let go with Phoenix missiles at a range of eighty miles. The old missiles streaked up to altitude and then plunged down on their targets. Out of the eighty missiles launched, sixty-eight found their target with only twelve being either double targeted or failing. The MIG-17s, 21s, and 23s fell from the sky. The rest watched in horror as the F-14s followed their missiles in and began closing rapidly. They were expecting bombers and possibly a few fighters, but these planes had already decimated their force and were coming in after them. Several of the remaining MIGs attempted to engage, but the Americans were in no mood to play. The highly maneuverable F-14 with its variable geometry wings began flying circles around the Koreans, and one by one the Koreans were shot down either with Sidewinders or guns. Soon the few remaining enemy aircraft turned and dashed for home. The F-14s did not follow.
The last to arrive in the area were the MIG-29s. All those aircraft came from the west coast of Korea and spent fuel to try and catch up to their comrades. They arrived to see a few MIGs heading home and the American fighters too far ahead to pursue. As they arrived at the east coast they searched for any additional targets out to sea, but none were sighted. That was when the second surprise hit them.
Forty F-4 Phantoms came streaking up the center of the peninsula hugging the ground. They turned to see the retreating MIGs above them. One flight pulled back on their sticks and hit the afterburners. Within seconds they heard the warble in their headsets letting them know they had a Sidewinder lock and let the missiles go. Only a single MIG-23 survived, damaged, to return home. The rest of the flight turned right and headed for the coast. Getting their cues from the Hawkeye, the Phantoms pulled up to find themselves behind the MIG-29s and let loose with more Sidewinders. Of the six available MIG-29s, five were destroyed with one so damaged the pilot left the area trailing smoke and maneuvering erratically. The Phantom pilots turned south again.
In the North Korean Battle Center Minister Nua was livid with rage. He was screaming at everyone present. “You are all incompetent! You allowed all of this to happen. All this time the people purchased these expensive aircraft and all you did was let them shoot you down! You told the people you could protect their borders and you failed!” he screamed. Calling the guards into the room he ordered all of the senior officers arrested. During the screaming the enlisted men receiving the reports from the field were too stunned to perform their jobs. They stood motionless as several of the senior officers struggled with the guards. One was shot when he tried to pull his service revolver. In the confusion the men failed to hear the reports of additional aircraft inbound. Not that it made any difference. The fighter protection for North Korea had practically ceased to exist.
The sixty Tomahawk cruise missiles from the B-52 raid descended unopposed to an altitude of 100 feet and flew to their targets — the remaining North Korean airfields. The information from two SR-71 flights had pinpointed exactly where the temporary airfields had been set up. Because of the EA-6B, communications that would warn of the missiles was disrupted and they were flying below the radars that were hastily set up.
At the largest of the airports were a large number of bombers and other attack aircraft being readied for missions against the South. Fueling had been completed except for some old Soviet IL-28 bombers that were being quickly refurbished on a far end of the field. Near the terminal, airborne troops were boarding several AN-24 transports getting ready to be dropped behind the lines. Everyone looked harried and a little nervous. The flight crews had worked feverishly to ready as many aircraft as possible, repairing several from parts salvaged from damaged aircraft. The morning launch of their fighter aircraft had been a wake up to the men that the war was on its way. Most had confidence that their fighters would be able to protect them. Some of the attack aircraft were starting their engines when a strange popping noise was heard.
Like the first night, the first of the Tomahawks began dispensing sub-munitions along the runway, spreading them nearly half way along its entire length before pulling up, stalling and falling back, crashing into the ground and adding to the destruction. As the munitions approached the ground, the shaped charges in the munitions exploded downward with great force, gouging holes in the pavement and sending shrapnel flying in all directions. The second Tomahawk slammed into the control tower. The third and fourth spread their sub-munitions along the ramp directly over the fueled and armed aircraft, transports, and men.
The aircraft went up in great plumes of flame as the fuel tanks were punctured and ignited. The heat became so intense the paint on the nearby buildings began to burn and the aluminum skin of the aircraft caught fire. Soon the ordnance on the airplanes baked off, adding to the carnage. The transports became pyres as the men were trapped inside. The few still outside the aircraft fared no better. Most were doused with flaming fuel, some running for over 100 meters before succumbing to the burns being inflicted. Trucks that just finished fueling the airplanes also went up. Nothing was spared.
Across the field the men working on the old bombers watched in horror as the airport was hit repeatedly. For a while it seemed that the opposite side of the airport had become a volcano. The heat seared the men’s clothing and forced several to seek shelter in the air raid trenches. Debris from the explosions rained down on the old bombers. In one case a large door from one of the transports had come down through a wing. Every time the men came out it seemed another bomb would bake off, sending them back into their trench. It took an hour before the explosions finally ceased and the fires died down.
When the mechanics ventured out of their trenches, nothing remained that was recognizable. The terminal building was gone — burned to cinders with only a few metal ribs giving evidence it was ever there. The hangars were blasted apart from within. The thin sheet metal on the walls had been blown outward. Only a skeleton remained. Of the aircraft, only bits and pieces remained. Not a single airplane was untouched. Even the row of attack helicopters was gone. Interestingly, the rotors of the helicopters remained in position lying on the concrete of the ramp. They appeared centered on a pile of cinders and burned metal. What few men who remained didn’t even have a place to sleep. They gathered near one of the old bombers and wondered what to do next.