MiG-25E FOXBAT piece from OIF

[mvmhm]

This piece came in Tuesday - part of the nose frame from an Iraqi Mig-25E.  You've probably seen the photos from 2003 when the Army and Air Force were digging planes out after they'd been buried in the desert. The most publicized one shows another FOXBAT being recovered, minus the wings - that one is now at the National Museum of the United States Air Force being restored. Another team from the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) here at Wright-Patterson were searching for a complete example and found one. But, a soldier climbed into the cockpit to look around or get his photo taken or ???..any-hoo, as he climbed out his LBE got caught and he accidentally pulled the ejection handle. The seat misfired and his legs were burned...but it started a fire which burned from the cockpit all the way back to the tail. The only thing that survived was the nose with the radar, which is really what they were after. 

 

That part was sent back to NASIC for evaluation...the remaining frame was stripped (de-skinned) for souvenirs and the frame destined for the garbage. The NASIC Historian said he'd like it so it went into the bed of his truck. Fast forward to now, and his wife had grown weary of his chouce of lawn decor (it was sitting in their back yard), so he brought it to us (along with a WWII trench art lamp and a 1956 dated Czech helmet in near mint condition).

 

This piece is about 4 feet long, three feet tall and weighs maybe 25 pounds. There's still a few Cyrillic marking inside too. It's definitely an eye catcher. The square piece in the last photo has shock absorbers in each corner. The pink stuff is a(still pliable) rubberized seal.

 

Mark sends 

[dhcoleterracina]

Very cool.

[gwb123]

On 1/28/2022 at 9:33 PM, mvmhm said:

This piece came in Tuesday - part of the nose frame from an Iraqi Mig-25E.  You've probably seen the photos from 2003 when the Army and Air Force were digging planes out after they'd been buried in the desert. The most publicized one shows another FOXBAT being recovered, minus the wings - that one is now at the National Museum of the United States Air Force being restored. Another team from the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) here at Wright-Patterson were searching for a complete example and found one. But, a soldier climbed into the cockpit to look around or get his photo taken or ???..any-hoo, as he climbed out his LBE got caught and he accidentally pulled the ejection handle. The seat misfired and his legs were burned...but it started a fire which burned from the cockpit all the way back to the tail. The only thing that survived was the nose with the radar, which is really what they were after. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is why they tell the troops "Don't touch it until EOD clears it....".  And why wear LBE in a cockpit to begin with.  Well, at least he has a story to tell the grandchildren.

 

[Brian Keith]

Great item!

Thanks for posting it.

BKW

[muddyboots]

AWESOME!!!!

[BEAST]

On 1/29/2022 at 11:48 PM, gwb123 said:

 

And this is why they tell the troops "Don't touch it until EOD clears it....".  And why wear LBE in a cockpit to begin with.  Well, at least he has a story to tell the grandchildren.

 

Wonder if he received a Purple Heart as his wound was inflicted by an enemy aircraft.

[268th C.A.]

Probably a courts martial....

Reminds me of my Dad telling me about when he was 17 a recruit, the Sgt. ask him could he drive, of course he answered. Well Dad had never driven more than a bicycle. The 2 1/2 ton truck was loaded with pipes. Dad jumped in and backed into an oak tree bending all the pipes in the rear.  He pulled the truck around to where it was supposed to be moved. and quickly left. Later his Sgt. asked him what he knew about it. He said he knew nothing of it....luckily there were no witnesses.  Govt property destroyed. I think the statute of limitations has since past from 1940.  I still laugh..