2 May 19998:39 reconstruction2K views

“Start finding me, boys” — USAF F 16 Shot Down Over Serbia

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The Rescue After the F-16 Was Shot Down

On May 2, 1999, during NATO’s Operation Allied Force, a U.S. Air Force F-16CG Fighting Falcon was struck by a Serbian surface-to-air missile over western Serbia. The pilot, then-Lieutenant Colonel David Goldfein, was flying with the 555th Fighter Squadron from Aviano Air Base in Italy. The damaged fighter remained airborne long enough for Goldfein to attempt to turn back toward friendly territory before he was forced to eject.

The Mission Over Serbia

Contemporary and later military accounts identify the aircraft as tail number 88-0550 and Goldfein’s callsign as Hammer 34. The 555th Fighter Squadron was conducting missions designed to suppress Serbian air defenses. Air Force Times reported that Serbian forces had moved missile batteries from expected locations, increasing the threat to coalition aircraft.

The Missile Strike

Air Force Times reported that a surface-to-air missile struck the aft portion of Goldfein’s F-16. The aircraft was badly damaged, with smoke and fumes entering the cockpit. Goldfein initially believed he might be able to keep the aircraft airborne. He turned west and attempted to communicate his situation and heading to the other aircraft in the formation.

A Fighter Becomes a Glider

The engine subsequently failed. Goldfein continued to glide while preparing for the possibility of ejection. The cockpit recording later became one of the best-known recordings associated with the rescue. CBS reported that the recording captured the pilot’s voice from the beginning of the emergency through the ejection sequence.

Rescue Behind Enemy Lines

Goldfein ejected over Serbian-controlled territory. A combat-search-and-rescue force launched to recover him, involving special-operations airmen and helicopters. Later Air Force accounts describe the rescue as a high-risk operation conducted while Serbian forces were searching for the downed pilot. Goldfein was successfully recovered and returned to friendly forces.

The Rescue

The cockpit recording, Air Force histories and contemporary reports agree on the essential sequence: missile strike, aircraft damage, engine failure, ejection, evasion on the ground and successful recovery. Later accounts differ on some tactical details of the rescue.

The U.S. Air Force’s later account records the final radio call: start finding me boys. It became the defining line of a rescue that began while the damaged fighter was still airborne and continued after the pilot ejected behind enemy lines.

The rescue force

“start finding me boys.”

Accident Facts

Date
May 2, 1999
Aircraft
F-16
Registration
F-16CG
Event
Start Finding Me, Boys — F-16 Shot Down Over Serbia
Category
Incident / Emergency
Timeline
May 2, 1999 —
Goldfein departed Aviano on a combat mission during Operation Allied Force.
1.
Over western Serbia —
A Serbian surface-to-air missile struck his F-16.
2.
After the strike —
Goldfein attempted to turn toward friendly territory while the damaged aircraft remained airborne.
3.
Later —
The engine failed and Goldfein continued gliding.
4.
Over hostile territory —
Goldfein ejected from the F-16.
5.
Shortly afterward —
U.S. combat-search-and-rescue forces recovered him.
6.

Sources

Audio from the original air traffic control recording, sourced from public recordings and released investigation records. The reconstruction, animation and written account are our own.
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