Squadron Signal 1115 F-117A Stealth

By Jim Goodall
Color By Don Greer
Illustrated by Joe Sewell
in action
Aircraft Number 115
squadron/signal publications
Author's Note
One of the problems in researching military weapons systems is the availability of
publicinformation.Whenyou're dealingwith aclassified program such as theF-117; the
task is even more difficult. Rumors surfaced about a Lockheed Stealth program during
mid-1977. John Andrews (of Testors Corporation) and I heard that something was flying
in Nevada with the name Have Blue, which was the code name for the Stealth prototype.
On 5 May 1978, a Las Vegas paperreported the loss ofa secret aircraftflown by Lock-
heed TestPilot, Bill Park. All that was said was thatthe aircraft had aproblem, he ejected
andwas severelyinjured.With thatnews article, I starteddigging and since itwas a Lock-
heed program, I knew it was Black; that is, highly classified.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, pieces of information kept surfacing. A lot was
accurate, butitwas like a blind man describinganelephant.The partswere right but not
in thecorrectorder. AformerLockheed pilotstated he sawa drawingwhich looked like a
Douglas F4D Skyray with Packard grills for air intakes.
I have spent a total of fifteen days at the northern fence line of the Tonopah Test
Range Facility. Some ofthe first photographs ofthe F-117 to appear in print were either
mine ormygood friend,Tony Landis, and we havebothenjoyed a lot ofattention byhav-
ing the first photos of the Stealth.
Millions of people have had the opportunity to view the F-117 since its 21 April 1990
public debutand ithas been the starattraction atdozens ofairshows; although thepilots
never talk about its capability. They will say, "It is an all Black single seat aircraft,
powered by twin General Electric engines. It was builtby Lockheed and is flown by the
37th TFW at Tonopah, Nevada. There were fifty-nine built." That is as far as they'll go;
any other questions get an, "I'm sorry, its classified" or "No comment" This book will
2 hopefully answer some ofthe questions on the F-117.
COPYRIGHT ® 1991 SQUADRON/SIGNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC.
1115 CROWLEY DRIVE CARROLLTON, TEXAS 75011-5010
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form by any means electrical, mechanical or otherwise, without written permis-
sion of the publisher.
ISBN 0-89747-259-4
If you have any photographs of the aircraft, armor, soldiers or ships of any nation, particularly wartime
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Dedication:
In memory of two F-117A pilots who lost their lives in service to their country: MAJ
Ross E. Mulhare, USAF and MAJ Michael C. Stewart. USAF, both of the 4450th TG.
Acknowledgements:
There are hundreds ofpeople that I should thank, but that would take some forty or
fifty pages. The followingpeople deserve special thanks. Firstand foremost this book is a
reality because of the organization headed by (now retired) Ben R. Rich, President of
Lockheed Skunk Works from 1975 until 17 January 1991. Second, my righthand during
the writing of this book, Debilee Anderson of Minneapolis; I thank her with all my heart.
And to Terry and Carol Love, who's kindness and friendship was like a port in a
very bad storm.
Photo Credits
An F-117A files over the Salton Sea near Palm Springs, California. The aircraft has its UHF
communication antenna extended and is carrying a removable anti-collision beacon on the
port side of the upper fuselage. (Eric Schulzinger)
Shelley J. Goodall Terry Love
John Andrews, Testors Corp Jay Miller, Aerofax
Joel Putman Nick Benfatto
Robert Arance Chuck Mayer
Kevin Patrick James Eastman
Mick Roth James P. Stevenson
C O L Sconyers, HQ/TAC/PA LTC Weber, HQ/TAC/PA
Eric Schulzinger, Lockheed Richard Stadler
General Electric C O L Ken Dyson, USAF Ret.
C O L Tony Tolin, 37th T F W / C C T S G T Bobby Sheldon, 37th TFW/PA
John Lear Mike Dornheim, Aviation Week
Tom Rosquin, Thomas Aviation Tony Landis
Pete Eames, Security/Special Projects Ben R. Rich, Lockheed A D P
Bill Sweetman - Janes Bill Park, Lockheed
Miss Edwards, 57th FWW/PA Jim Mesko
C O L Knox Bishop MAJ Greg Kreis, 57th FWW/PAO
Alan Welch
A pair of F-117As of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing attack targets in Iraq on the night of 16
January 1991. The wing was led by COL Al Whitley, who had assumed command only a few
days before the wing deployed two squadrons of F-117As to Saudi Arabia.
Introduction
The Lockheed Advanced Development Projects (ADP), better known by its nick-
name — the Skunk Works, has over the years built an aerospace design team capable of
achieving what can truly be called incredible feats of aircraft design and d...