On April 7, 2003 the US Army's 3rd Infantry Division was engaged with dug in Iraqi Republican Guard tanks and troops while trying to cross and secure the North Baghdad Bridge across the Tigris River. CPT Kim Campbell was flying her A-10 Thunderbolt on a mission attacking Iraqi tanks in another part of Baghdad when ground forces called for immediate close air support. The task went to Campbell and her wingman.
As they approached the bridge "We could see the Iraqi troops firing RPGs, or rocket propelled grenades, into our guys," she said. "It was definitely a high threat situation, but within minutes my flight lead was employing his 30 mm Gatling gun on the enemy location." The two-ship formation of A-10s then made several passes over the enemy location, employing 30 mm bullets and high explosive rockets. After her last rocket pass, CPT Campbell was maneuvering off target when she felt and heard a large explosion at the back of the aircraft. "There was no question in my mind," she said. "I knew I had been hit by enemy fire."
The jet rolled violently left and down, and wasn't responding to CPT Campbell’s control inputs. After realizing both of her hydraulics systems were impaired, CPT Campbell said she had to revert to "manual reversion" (a system of cranks and cables that allow the pilot to fly the aircraft under mechanical control). "It was my last chance to try and recover the aircraft or I would be riding a parachute down into central Baghdad," she said. Luckily, the jet responded and started climbing out and away from Baghdad. Not wanting to eject over Baghdad, the two-ships maneuvered south to get out of the city. Anti-aircraft artillery fired at the jets from every direction. "Amazingly we made it out of Baghdad and above the clouds with no further battle damage."
Due to the design of the A-10, CPT Campbell could not see the damage to her jet, even with the use of her cockpit mirrors. Her flight lead flew closely beside her and performed an initial battle damage check. He told her she had hundreds of small holes in the fuselage and tail section on the right side as well as a football sized hole on the right horizontal stabilizer. She then ran several emergency checklists and knew she had a decision to make. "I could stay with the jet and try to land it, or get to friendly territory and eject," she said. She decided to continue the flight and attempt a high-risk landing with no hydraulics. Campbell expertly landed her fighter plane safely and without further incident.
CPT Campbell flew another combat mission into Baghdad the next day supporting a search and rescue mission for another downed A-10 pilot. CPT Campbell went on the fly over 375 combat flight hours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Cache is an ammo can hidden just off the Saline Ford Trail.