3E-West Pacific Operations (1994-2001)

While the Pacific region was relatively calm regarding military action, a few notable incidents occurred during my time in service. This collection features aircraft involved in these incidents.

KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS (1994)
North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1993 and denied IAEA inspectors access to a key radiochemical facility used for fuel reprocessing. In June 1994, the United States prepared for military action to prevent North Korea from advancing its nuclear weapons program. My PACAF Detachment at King Salmon, Alaska, was on alert, preparing to deploy as the base was in the process of closing. The planned strike would have involved F-117 aircraft and cruise missiles targeting North Korea’s nuclear facilities. However, former President Jimmy Carter brokered the Agreed Framework with North Korea, in which they agreed to freeze their nuclear weapons program in exchange for nuclear power technology—an agreement they later violated. Also in 1994, North Korea shot down a US Army OH-58 Kiowa helicopter that had inadvertently strayed across the border, increasing tensions between the two nations.
• F-15C Eagle (US Air Force)
• F-117A Nighthawk (US Air Force)
• B-52H Stratofortress (US Air Force)
• RGM-109E/UGM-109E Tomahawk (US Navy)
• OH-58D Kiowa (US Army)

CHINA INCIDENTS (1994-2001)
After the potential military action against North Korea was called off, the USS Kitty Hawk carrier group sailed into the South China Sea. While tracking a Chinese Han-class nuclear submarine, a US Navy S-3B Viking ASW aircraft was intercepted by two Chinese J-6 fighters about 50 miles off China’s coast. The incident angered Chinese officials, who issued threats to shoot down US Navy aircraft engaged in surveillance of Chinese vessels, despite the fact that the US was operating well outside of China’s internationally recognized 12-mile territorial waters. From that point on, Chinese Air Force pilots became increasingly aggressive, culminating in the 2001 Hainan Island incident, where a Chinese J-8II fighter collided with a US Navy EP-3E Aries II reconnaissance aircraft.
• S-3B Viking (US Navy)
- EP-3E ARIES II (US Navy)

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