I was at the receiving end of this at the time - living in Belgrade, Serbia. I remember having a huge framed poster of F-14 VF-32 in my room . I would have never ever imagined that my beloved Tomcat would come to bomb ME! I remember my mother telling me after the first few days of the war: 'Take it down NOW.' :-))) .I really LOVE your channel and stories...but this one really sends the shivers down my spine. All the best from Belgrade!

"As a strike lead it was something I impressed on all of the aviators in my ready room to say you actually own the weapon regardless of what the orders are. You have to be responsible for where that weapon goes." Sir. + salutes +

These are important and fascinating stories. Thank you for this gentleman.

Discretion is the better part of valor. Amen! A salute to VADM Carter for such keen discretion exercised with innocent lives in the line of fire.

This might be my favorite episode of your channel, sir. The nightvision goggles and blacked out flight description gives me chills. Choosing to hold the LANTERN lock and ignoring the SA-6's...heroic. But of everything here, the decision to spare the bridge jammed with civilians demands utmost respect. That was absolutely the right call to make, and it's heartening to know the man who made that decision was a man of not only character, but also considerable influence. May his mindset and heart continue through the generations of our armed forces.

Wonderful anecdote. "Slapshot" knowing that a particular Tomcat, due to its tail design, would probably be more visible from the ground (and therefore more vulnerable to surface-to-air ordnance), said that he, the squadron boss, will fly that aircraft. Admiral Carter, sir, you truly led from the front!

I'm not a pilot, and have never been in the military. This might be the best description of pre-mission preparation and then the mission envelope that follows for carrier aircraft that I've come across, and I've been watching and reading about it for half a century. My Dad was an F6F pilot in the Pacific in 1944, and this provides a good bit of the flavor of what that might have been like, even with the huge differences in technology. As they say in the Navy: "Well done."

A friend of mine fought in Kosovo in the French air force flying a Sepecat Jaguar. He was fired at, got damaged and managed to limp back across the Adriatic to Italy. He barely made it back, his plane was more like a sieve. He told me he preferred to eject over water and drift for days in a raft to being taken as a POW by the Serbian militias.

I served as an AT on the flight deck of Forrestal, Saratoga and Independence and on one of those, saw " Hoot Foote" painted below the canopy. That was a long time ago but It is unforgettable. Thanks for an outstanding video.

It is a very good day when there is a new video from you.

Its not just "flying" . . . . Your stories help others understand and appreciate the big picture, the planning and how air warriors overcome adversity. Navy as an expeditionary force is not sufficiently well known among civilians and your stories exclamate that point.

I don't know if it was him, but I attended Aviation Challenge in my teens and I remember talking to a Vietnam era A-6 pilot named "Hoot". He had incredible stories, our team was rightly in awe of the guy.

These stories are great, my dad was on the enterprise during this particular conflict, it's cool hearing from different perspectives what was happening, my dad was an electrician, but all intents and purposes i had no clue what he was doing when i was 10 years old and he'd go out to sea but it's cool hearing from a different perspective what he was apart of 👍🏾👍🏾

I love hearing the human aspect of events like this, not only the things that go right but what happens when things go sideways and how they are dealt with. Slapshot's personality is great for telling these stories and his explanations are easily understandable, even when he uses military jargon, acronyms, ands phrases. Thanks so much for videos like this, Mooch!

I worked with a guy who was a WO/nuclear tech at Norfolk and worked on the Roosevelt's power plant when she came back to port after that deployment. According to him that 4-day trip put a lot of mileage on her power plant. He said the SRA following that deployment saw every guy Westinghouse(?) could spare on site to make sure there was no damage to the plant. Edit: @36:11, "You actually own that weapon regardless of what the orders are. You have to be responsible for where that weapon goes." That really impressed me. I play DCS and one of my first times playing multiplayer I had a blue-on-blue incident with a Fox-3. From then on I always had the mental phrase of "They are pedestrians in Cambridge" as part of my "Fence In Checklist". That being a reference to people walking in a particular suburb of Boston who unpredictably wander into the street while transfixed on their cell phones.

It's a pleasure to listen to two guys so thoroughly versed in communicating detailed information give us the skinny on a moment in History from a unique perspective. Thanks, Gentlemen.

Amazing stories. As a boy I was enthralled by the idea of piloting a fighter and shooting down an enemy while being so sure I could stand up to the rigors of combat but Listening to the living version of air combat I am more certain I would have melted down under the pressure. Thanks for your sacrifices.

Great video. I don't think the majority of us, even we veterans, realize how busy naval aviation is with "real world" missions. I suppose it's a bit like Special Operations in the way that 90% of what you guys do is never released to the public and therefore never even talked about. Outside of the relevant community, that is. Keep up the good work.

Slapshot's interviews are just utterly amazing. It also boggles the mind how we get such top-notch qualified individuals in positions of military command (squadron commander, CARRIER SKIPPER!), and then our elected representatives are an utter circus. To me, it feels like people like VADM Carter and friends should come up with a syllabus for would-be elected officials, and some basic prerequisites of competency before being allowed to hold office. Imagine how much better off we'd be. In any case, the man's stories are just phenomenal. Talk about one absolutely legendary individual.

That was a great interview. I am an Army vet, and after I was medically discharged I became a DA civilian employee working in social services in Germany. Part of my job was working with the family support services with the families of the soldiers in a a couple of armor battalions that were about to deploy to Kosovo after the Navy and Air Force carried out the bombing missions you talked about here. On the eve of the deployment there was still a question as to whether the units would deploy into combat or arrive as a peace keeping mission. I attended one of the battalion commander's briefings to the soldiers and their families. It was a somber briefing, with the soldiers and families wondering if they would be in combat and the very real possibility that some of them might not come back alive. Thanks to the missions that you talked about here, when the ground forces deployed to Kosovo, there was no combat, the Kosovo forces had been bombed into submission and the the ground troops entered the country as peace keepers. I want to thank the admiral and all of you Naval aviators, as well as the Air Forces for doing a commendable job and for saving the lives of the ground troops that didn't have to fire any shots in anger a the enemy forces. After 9/11, I had changed jobs and worked at the US Army Europe HQ, in logistics and I was involved in the planning and execution of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. The months of balls to the wall planning, revising plans on the fly, multi service coordination, the hours of big picture briefings, and endless meticulous details down in the weeds until the beginning of the combat phase was hard, hard work. Again, the work of the Navy and Air Force aviators destroying the enemy infrastructure and fighting forces minimized the casualties of the ground forces. There is a lot of inter service rivalry and good natured ribbing. But when the rubber meets the road, and things get real, the job gets done and done well. Having the birds eye view at a major HQ, of planning and executing a war was an incredible experience that I will never forget. Again, my heart felt thanks for all that you do.

Thanks Ward for introducing many of us to so many great aviators and leaders who those of us in the civilian world may never cross paths with. Love your channel for many reasons, but interviews like this are some of what make it stand out as more than just an aviation fan channel for those of us who love the Tomcat. Please keep sharing your experiences and the experiences of those you have contact with.

1:24 I did three deployments on board CVN-69 as part of VFA-103. 4-5 was the standard for us during operation enduring freedom around in 2010-2013.

Great video Ward! Most of what happens directly before a unit meets combat is done by the maintenance crews on the aircraft to be used. The pilots/aircrew have done workups for years prior the conflict and they've either done the right training or they haven't and very little can be done just prior to the opening shots of a conflict. Changes in configuration and making sure all the systems are working as well as could be checked on the ground are worked right up until the pilots come out for their sortie. Aircraft can break just sitting on the ground or right on startup and it's only through the maintenance crews doing what they do are those aircraft turned from big, expensive paper-weights (a broke jet) into a working jet fighter. Air power is achieved through your maintenance crews and pilots without a working jet are pedestrians wearing expensive sun glasses and cool jackets.

I just Love listening to you 2. Can y’all make this like a Monthly thing? I wish when my grandpa and his buddies ( one was a retired Army BG) would tell their stories from the Second World War, I wish we had the technology then to record them. Thank you all for sharing these experiences and , again, thank you both for such a wonderful service to defending our freedom. 🇺🇸🇺🇸

I am not inclined to like military officers with high command, but I do like Ted Carter for owning the weapons he dropped, a man of integrity.

But for the internet, we would never be able to share such valuable content. I imagine this might be of particular help to students considering their career path. Whilst you can never fully appreciate things second hand. Content like this is as near as most of us will ever get to flying. Never mind combat flying. Never mind combat flying in fast jets, off carriers. For those wondering if they have what it takes. I think that this content is incredibly valuable. Especially when you consider that our time on earth is a one shot deal and is the most precious gift we'll ever receive.

I knew I was going to enjoy this video as soon as I saw the huge Tophatters patch on Slapshot's jacket. My father was with that squadron during their deployment in support of combat operations in Vietnam in '66. Thanks for another great video Ward.

My having been in Marine Infantry when I had started my career in the Corps, and then HQMC having moved me into Naval Aviation's green side, Marine Helicopters. So yes, I do know first hand what it is to say that Naval Aviation, both Blue and Green, always gets the job done, regardless of the task(s) placed before us. Your program is great Ward, thank you for pursuing Naval Aviation to this present end, as well as Military Aviation in general. During this segment of your broadcast, the Admiral mention a Marine one star named *Boomer*. I have known Boomer (Cobra Pilot) since he had been a 2ndLt, back in the day, HMA-169 Vipers, at DetMag-16 aboard MCAS El Toro's Aux Airfield, at MCB Camp Pendleton.

@wardcarroll I'm a former Air Force maintainer. In 2006 I was assigned to Langley when we received a new Airmen. As his supervise I start asking him all the new guy questions. When I asked about his accent and to my surprise he was born in Belgrade and his family had immigrated to the US in early 2001. When I asked him about 1999 his stories were quite frank including watching Tomahawk fly down his street over the buildings on thier way down town. Truly put a person spin on a conflict I help generate air power for.

Greetings from Finland! Extremely good video as always

Great interview! Really enjoy hearing about all aspects of flight operations and planning. This emphasizes the amazing degree of intellectual ability, training and skill that aviators must master in order to perform their jobs, let alone be good at it. Kudos to the sailors that keep them in the air as well! Thanks for bringing these stories to us!

A young guy up my street was from a Serbian Nationalist Family ...he was into BMX ... redbull in the early 90,s sort of thing ... they sent him to war ... he came back with stories that would make your blood curdle ... .

To this day I like to play this old 1998 DID (digital Image Design) Total Air War flight simulator. With it you can go on campaign with a F22. Its such a treat to hear real stories on this channel about the daily life of pilots in such war situations. Thx Ward for making it possible to share all these flight crew experiences with us.

Always a pleasure to catch Slapshot detailing mission objectives and results. His decision to nix the bridge attack shows that humans need to perform over robotics! This is Good stuff.

Great story about Ted Carter! Usually, stories about University Presidents are boring-but not this one! Loved the mention of his “Husker tie”! The University of Nebraska is fortunate to have President Carter!

Who's video do I want to watch when talking about taking the F-14 to war? The Navy/F-14 vet with the word WAR literally in his name.. Great video WARd.

Such respect for VAdmiral Slapshot Carter, his leadership was epic, no less than you would expect from an experienced Navy flight officer. Easy to see you sensing and relating to every moment he described in an almost matter-of-fact manner. Navy aviators; why expect anything less! Such a superb, revealing interview! As he described so wonderfully, time slowed down, seconds seemed like minutes. His performance under dynamic, ever changing rules of engagement were historic. Especially to note the final release decisions that had to be made under extreme circumstances, the burden was his and his alone to prevent the loss of life of innocent civilians in harm's way. The performance of all Navy aviators, pilot's, and RIO's is why the USN remains the best in the world. Always trained for the mission, always prepared to make the difficult decisions when faced with the unexpected. Mooch, many thanks & much respect for providing "the rest of the story." A historic mission , and certainly a historic interview! Go, Navy!

4 days! Wow. Those rods were pulled out and you guys were really boiling some water! For those who've never seen a carrier at sea cutting through the water, other ships can roughly estimate the speed by looking at the bow wake. We called it the "dog bone" when the whitewater would come up to the bottom of the anchors. That meant it was probably pushing 35kts or so...in other words, really hauling azz! So far as the "time expansion". Basically what happens is this; Think of your brain as a camera with a shutter. Normally it's running at 720fps but under duress it goes to 1280 so the slowing down of time is really your brain speeding up it's processing and you're left "looking" at a high speed camera running at regular speed. If that makes sense. Like using high speed photography to see very minute changes in things.

Great stories, and clear understanding to bring a non-pilot into the cockpit. I served in a P-3 squadron in the late 70s based in Moffett Field Naval Air Station. These stories bring the real Navy to life for those of us that served in less turbulent times. Thanks, and keep them coming.

I could say that this video was fascinating but that doesn't even begin to describe the awe I felt when I viewed this.

If you ever visit Lincoln, Nebraska, please look me up. A UNL grad, ER provider and guitar player for a band called Malpractice. My oldest is studying engineering at UNL. Mr Carter is a great leader

Thanks again Mooch! I'm really enjoying these interviews with Slapshot 👍

Wow! Wow! Wow! Leaves me speechless. Thanks Mooch and Slapshot .

Man, I could listen to these stories over and over!

Love the Slapshot videos!

26:15 So Slapshot flew that part of the mission under true IFR conditions (I follow roads). 😄

Much thanks and appreciation to you both!

So so wonderful that he takes the time for you/us. Thank you/

Thank you from Croatia, unlike the EU, the US was the factor that made all the difference. I still remember the tanker station tracks over the Adriatice, and being buzzed on a boat by a 40 ft. alt flying hornet flying (probably) from Aviano. Great channel you are running, love the stories and great interviews. While at Google in Mountain View I met and chatted about technology with the secnavy.

Mooch - what a video! These war stories from the people who were there are so insightful and intriguing. TY for all your efforts to produce high quality interviews like this. Keep up the great work!

Great episode! I really love the interaction you and the Admiral have when he is sharing his combat stories and you are making sure the viewers understand as much as possible about what is covered. Always entertaining and educational! Thanks for another great episode Mooch!!’

I've read several books and articles by pilots/RIO's/and others who flew combat during this period. I had also been reading for years through publications like Aviation Week, etc., about all of the technology that was used in that conflict such as the FLIR, LANTIRN, and other items. Having been a maintainer on the Ike in the '80s gives me a deep appreciation for what those maintainers had to go through to keep jets in the air. This video ties all of that together in a nice package with a bow on top. Thank you Commander Carroll for another out of the park video.

Tophatters Rock! My first and only fighter squadron VF-14 '86-'87.

Thanks for bringing Slapshot in for another super informative piece of history; he's great to listen to

Great video. I was the 6th Fleet Air Officer during Kosovo and spent the early part of the conflict in the CAOC (Combined Air Operations Center) in Vincenza, briefing Air Force LtGen Short on carrier and air wing capabilities.

Really enjoyed this interview. Thank you!

Just another outstanding interview! There is an excellent pattern with these and your other videos. Thank you for continuing to bring Naval Aviation to the fore! Also LOVED the interview with "Slammer!" Semper Fi!

CDR Carroll, Great Story as Always! Keep them coming! As an aside I served with your Father-in-Law CAPT Hoot Foote, he was the CVW-8 CAG Aboard NIMITZ, Plankowner like my self! met him several times! I am sorry to hear of his passing! ABH2 Murph

It is nice to know people like The Admiral exist. Respect to both of you.

No doubt, one of your best interviews! Fascinating inside stories!

Holy Guacamole! The Night 1 Kosovo story was crazy cool!

This is the best video I have ever seen on KZfaq. Thank you both for your service. Thank you for the videos, and please keep them coming. Cheers !

I remember how time slowed down doing our lowlevels in VT10 - the longest 30 minutes ever !!!!

I rarely watch video's much longer than 20 or so minutes. But I watched all of this - and it was time very well spent. Thank you both!!

What a legend, great stories. I grew up reading stories on books, social media has been a great platform to watch and listen these stories. Thanks for organising the interview and all the work that you do. God bless!

Incredible details and the Balls of you and all the aviators are second to none-Thanks for sharing this incredible story!

Great interviews with Slapshot really enjoyed them.

Worth the price of admission Ward. Thanks Admiral- great details.

I did the math on that atlantic crossing... that really put the "+" in the OFFICIAL "30+ knot top speed" of a nuke carrier...

Great content. really good to see some of the details that are experienced with deployments that can be so unpredictable for or serving heroes…

This was f'n fantastic! Amazing the clarity of detail recalled without any stutters, stammers, "Uhs", "ums", etc. You are both wonderful speakers - yes, I know you have the ability to edit video, but Slapshot is brilliant and a rockstar. Like you!

Great interview, Ward!!

Mooch, Fantastic interview with VADM Carter, particularly his description of the last-minute pull-off of a target to protect innocent lives. Nothing trains a warrior for that, it comes from his soul.

VF-41 was deployed on the Nimitz in 81 and one cartwheeled down the Deck. We flew out from NAS JAX on my first rescue mission that night after recently completing SAR school, also the first time I saw carnage on the flight deck.

Mooch man thanks so much for throwing this video and bringing us a up close look at combat aviation in the tomcat. As a history lover, dcs player, and huge tomcat fan, this content is solid gold for me. These stories from Slapshot will be the inspiration for DCS missions with my tomcat squad. Try to get him on again to tell more Kosovo stories!

“Sporty times”. Understatement. Love it

Really enjoyed the subject, the Admiral, and how you engage each other Mooch. Cant wait to see more.

Thanks so much for this Ward, thankyou.

Great stuff, the candor and the story telling is like listening to an audio book. I put my headphones 🎧 on and step away but can still enjoy the interview with you and the Admiral. Just fascinating and leaves me wanting to hear more. The details almost place you directly inside the cockpit. Thanks Ward you're truly a gifted and talented story teller, I truly appreciate your dedication to getting these unknown stories into the public. As a retired infantry Marine and combat veteran, I appreciate the way you bring the aviation world to ground level and explain the naval aviation piece in a way that brings it together in a way not known by many of us. It's easy to think or believe it's all fun and games coming from the air side, your stories and your guests brings it into a perspective that is appreciated by all! I am fascinated with Naval Aviation and look forward to more of your amazing stories and insights! Semper Fidelis Sailor!

Outstanding interview. Thank you very much.

Another excellent presentation Ward!

He there I remember your father-in-law. I served with him on USS EL PASO while she was in the yards in Chester, PA.

Great video keep up the good work Ward! Great guest concise, detailed, great poise under pressure

Absolutely amazing stuff gentleman. The level of responsibility and discipline that goes into a job like that boggles the mind. Much respect and thanks for sharing.

Thanks for pulling the curtain back and giving us all a look. The mechanics of Navy life is fascinating.

Fantastic stuff, Thanks Guys! You both are great in many ways and many of us love you for what you have done. Rock on,

Love the channel. My father was Canadian naval attache' at the Pentagon in the late 80's. I played hockey against the Academy on occassion as well. Good times. Thanks Mooch!

Awesome stories. The 8G split S to avoid the SA-6 was amazing

Another great video in naval aviation, leadership...and Johnny on the spot moment run with the ball & GO! Not a dull moment Mooch!

Thank you for continuing to bring these fascinating "behind the scenes" accounts to us, Ward. What a phenomenal group of warfighters we have! You, sir, are doing all of them proud by highlighting for the rest of us how selfless their dedication is. These are the stories that need to be told but often are not. Thank you again!

This was an awsome episode thankyou for doing this and thanks to all for their service

Awesome story as always, Ward! Man I LOVE your channel (civilian here); please keep up the terrific work.

I really enjoyed this video. As a career aircraft maintainer, from the guy who humps the lead tech's toolbox, up through the Maint Control job, it's interesting to hear the operational side. I've spent many 12+ hour shifts prepping aircraft for missions, then watched the plane disappear down the catapult track, hopefully reappearing on glide slope after the mission. I spent my entire career in the A-6 community, Admiral Carter notes that his predecessor had gotten some A-6 folks into the squadron to use their experience in the air to mud role. Good thinking! Probably the best Mooch video I have seen.

Fantastic video! Thank you. And exceptionally detailed and informative look at what carrier operations are all about!

Wow. - - Scooter's "split S" maneuver and pulling 8G's headed down saved the day. What a great interview with 'Slapshot'!

Amazing interview, well done guys

Wonderful description......Thank You Sir.....

Ward You and Ted warm my heart with your stories. God bless you I thank you for your service and inspiration.

Great video Mooch!

Always insightful, thank you for sharing Admiral.