{"id":31632957,"date":"2026-11-07T13:37:58","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T12:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/"},"modified":"2026-11-07T13:38:23","modified_gmt":"2026-11-07T12:38:23","slug":"sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/","title":{"rendered":"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of F-14 Pilot Slate 46 in 1991"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\r\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid #0F1720;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;transition:background .15s,color .15s}\r\n.mfsh-trigger:hover,.mfsh-trigger:focus-visible{background:#0F1720;color:#fff;outline:none}\r\n.mfsh-trigger svg{width:18px;height:18px;display:block;flex-shrink:0}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-bottom{margin:8px 0 28px}\r\n.mfsh-meta{position:relative;padding-right:190px}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta{position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;margin:0;height:30px;padding:0 8.9px;font-size:13px}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta svg{width:16px;height:16px}\r\n.mfsh-overlay{position:fixed;inset:0;background:rgba(15,23,32,.55);z-index:99999;display:flex;align-items:flex-end;justify-content:center;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s}\r\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}\r\n.mfsh-sheet{width:100%;max-width:520px;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;padding:18px 20px 28px;transform:translateY(24px);transition:transform .22s;box-shadow:0 12px 32px rgba(15,23,32,.25);font-family:inherit;max-height:92vh;overflow:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch}\r\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open .mfsh-sheet{transform:none}\r\n@media (min-width:640px){.mfsh-overlay{align-items:center}.mfsh-sheet{padding-bottom:20px}}\r\n.mfsh-head{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin:0 0 14px}\r\n.mfsh-head strong{font-size:18px;font-weight:800;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;line-height:1}\r\n.mfsh-head strong svg{width:18px;height:18px}\r\n.mfsh-close{background:none;border:0;padding:6px;margin:0;cursor:pointer;color:#0F1720;line-height:0;box-shadow:none}\r\n.mfsh-close svg{width:18px;height:18px}\r\n.mfsh-preview{display:grid;grid-template-columns:96px 1fr;gap:12px;border:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:#F5F7FB;padding:10px;margin:0 0 12px;align-items:center}\r\n.mfsh-preview img{width:96px;height:72px;object-fit:cover;display:block;margin:0}\r\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-kicker{font-size:10px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#5C91FF;margin:0 0 4px;line-height:1.2}\r\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-title{font-size:14px;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;margin:0;display:block}\r\n.mfsh-list{display:grid;margin:0;padding:0}\r\n.mfsh-item{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:14px;height:50px;width:100%;border:0;border-top:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:none;padding:0 4px;margin:0;text-align:left;font-family:inherit;font-size:15px;font-weight:600;color:#0F1720;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;line-height:1}\r\n.mfsh-item:hover,.mfsh-item:focus-visible{background:#F5F7FB;outline:none}\r\n.mfsh-item svg{width:20px;height:20px;color:#5C91FF;flex-shrink:0;display:block}\r\n.mfsh-item small{margin-left:auto;color:#5B6674;font-weight:500;font-size:12px}\r\n.mfsh-item.mfsh-done svg{color:#1E9E5A}\r\n.mfsh-toast{position:fixed;left:50%;bottom:32px;transform:translate(-50%,10px);background:#0F1720;color:#fff;padding:10px 16px;font-weight:700;font-size:13px;font-family:inherit;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s,transform .2s;z-index:100000}\r\n.mfsh-toast.mfsh-show{opacity:1;transform:translate(-50%,0)}\r\n@media (prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){.mfsh-overlay,.mfsh-sheet,.mfsh-toast,.mfsh-trigger{transition:none}}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<svg width=\"0\" height=\"0\" style=\"position:absolute\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-share\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M12 3v12M8 7l4-4 4 4M5 12v8h14v-8\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-close\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"m5 5 14 14M19 5 5 19\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-wa\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 0 0-8.6 15.1L2 22l5.1-1.3A10 10 0 1 0 12 2Zm0 1.8a8.2 8.2 0 1 1-4.2 15.3l-.3-.2-3 .8.8-2.9-.2-.3A8.2 8.2 0 0 1 12 3.8Zm-3 4.4c-.2 0-.5 0-.8.4-.3.3-1 1-1 2.4s1 2.8 1.2 3c.1.2 2 3.2 5 4.4 2.5 1 3 .8 3.5.7.5 0 1.7-.7 2-1.4.2-.7.2-1.3.1-1.4l-.5-.3-2-1c-.3 0-.5-.1-.7.2l-.9 1.1c-.2.2-.3.2-.6.1-.3-.2-1.3-.5-2.4-1.5-.9-.8-1.5-1.8-1.7-2-.2-.4 0-.5.2-.7l.4-.5.3-.5v-.5l-.9-2.2c-.2-.5-.4-.5-.6-.5H9Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-x\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M17.8 3h3l-6.7 7.7L22 21h-6.2l-4.8-6.3L5.4 21h-3l7.2-8.2L2 3h6.3l4.4 5.8L17.8 3Zm-1.1 16.2h1.7L7.4 4.7H5.6l11.1 14.5Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-fb\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M13.5 22v-8h2.7l.4-3.2h-3.1V8.8c0-.9.3-1.6 1.6-1.6h1.7V4.4c-.3 0-1.3-.1-2.5-.1-2.5 0-4.1 1.5-4.1 4.2v2.3H7.4V14h2.8v8h3.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-li\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.5 8.5H3V21h3.5V8.5ZM4.8 3a2 2 0 1 0 0 4 2 2 0 0 0 0-4ZM21 13.4c0-3.4-1.8-5.2-4.5-5.2-1.6 0-2.7.8-3.2 1.7V8.5H9.9V21h3.4v-6.4c0-1.7.6-2.8 2.1-2.8 1.4 0 2 1 2 2.8V21H21v-7.6Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-rd\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M22 12.1a2.4 2.4 0 0 0-4.1-1.7 11.7 11.7 0 0 0-5.5-1.7l1-4.5 3.1.7a1.7 1.7 0 1 0 .2-1l-3.6-.8a.5.5 0 0 0-.6.4l-1.1 5.2a11.8 11.8 0 0 0-5.8 1.7A2.4 2.4 0 1 0 3 14.3v.5c0 3.4 4 6.2 9 6.2s9-2.8 9-6.2v-.5a2.4 2.4 0 0 0 1-2.2ZM7.5 13.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 3.4 0 1.7 1.7 0 0 1-3.4 0Zm8.9 4.5c-1.2 1.2-3.4 1.3-4.4 1.3s-3.3-.1-4.4-1.3a.5.5 0 0 1 .7-.7c.7.8 2.4 1 3.7 1s2.9-.2 3.7-1a.5.5 0 0 1 .7.7Zm-.6-2.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 0-3.4 1.7 1.7 0 0 1 0 3.4Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-tg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M21.9 4.6 18.7 19.9c-.2 1-.9 1.3-1.7.8l-4.9-3.6-2.3 2.3c-.3.3-.5.5-1 .5l.4-5 9-8.2c.4-.3-.1-.5-.6-.2L6.4 13.5 1.6 12c-1-.3-1.1-1 .2-1.5l18.8-7.2c.9-.3 1.6.2 1.3 1.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-mail\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"M3 6h18v12H3z\"\/><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"m3 7 9 6 9-6\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-link\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M10 14a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 0l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-5.7-5.7l-1.5 1.5M14 10a4 4 0 0 0-5.7 0l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 5.7l1.5-1.5\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-more\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><circle cx=\"5\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"19\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n<\/svg>\r\n<span class=\"mfsh-top-slot\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger\" data-mfsh-placement=\"top\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button><\/span>\r\n<script>\r\n(function(){\r\n  if (window.__mfsh) return; window.__mfsh = true;\r\n  var SECTION = 'afterburner';\r\n  function meta(p){ var m=document.querySelector('meta[property=\"'+p+'\"]'); return m ? m.getAttribute('content') : ''; }\r\n  function pageUrl(){ var c=document.querySelector('link[rel=\"canonical\"]'); return (c && c.href) || (location.origin + location.pathname); }\r\n  function pageTitle(){ var h=document.querySelector('h1.entry-title'); return (h && h.textContent.trim()) || meta('og:title') || document.title; }\r\n  function slug(){ return location.pathname.replace(\/\\\/+$\/,'').split('\/').pop() || 'home'; }\r\n  function kicker(){ var c=document.querySelector('.et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category tag\"], .et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category\"], a[rel=\"category tag\"]'); return 'Afterburner' + (c && c.textContent.trim() ? ' \u00b7 ' + c.textContent.trim() : ''); }\r\n  function shareUrl(ch, placement){ return pageUrl() + '?utm_source=share&utm_medium=' + ch + '&utm_campaign=' + SECTION + '&utm_content=sheet_' + placement; }\r\n  function track(ch, placement, extra){\r\n    window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];\r\n    var ev = { event:'share', share_channel:ch, share_variant:'sheet', share_placement:placement, page_section:SECTION, content_id:slug() };\r\n    if (extra) for (var k in extra) ev[k]=extra[k];\r\n    window.dataLayer.push(ev);\r\n  }\r\n  var CH = [\r\n    ['whatsapp','WhatsApp','mfsh-i-wa',''],\r\n    ['x','X','mfsh-i-x',''],\r\n    ['facebook','Facebook','mfsh-i-fb',''],\r\n    ['linkedin','LinkedIn','mfsh-i-li',''],\r\n    ['reddit','Reddit','mfsh-i-rd','r\/aviation, r\/WarplanePorn'],\r\n    ['telegram','Telegram','mfsh-i-tg',''],\r\n    ['email','Email','mfsh-i-mail',''],\r\n    ['copy','Copy link','mfsh-i-link',''],\r\n    ['native','More','mfsh-i-more','Instagram, Signal, AirDrop']\r\n  ];\r\n  var overlay, toastEl, toastT, placement = 'top';\r\n  function build(){\r\n    overlay = document.createElement('div'); overlay.className = 'mfsh-overlay'; overlay.setAttribute('role','dialog'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-modal','true'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-label','Share');\r\n    var img = meta('og:image');\r\n    var items = CH.filter(function(c){ return c[0] !== 'native' || !!navigator.share; }).map(function(c){\r\n      return '<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-item\" data-mfsh-ch=\"'+c[0]+'\"><svg><use href=\"#'+c[2]+'\"\/><\/svg>'+c[1]+(c[3]?'<small>'+c[3]+'<\/small>':'')+'<\/button>';\r\n    }).join('');\r\n    overlay.innerHTML = '<div class=\"mfsh-sheet\"><div class=\"mfsh-head\"><strong><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share<\/strong><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-close\" aria-label=\"Close\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-close\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>'\r\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-preview\">' + (img ? '<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"'+img+'\" alt=\"\">' : '<span><\/span>') + '<div><div class=\"mfsh-kicker\">'+kicker()+'<\/div><span class=\"mfsh-title\">'+pageTitle()+'<\/span><\/div><\/div>'\r\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-list\">'+items+'<\/div><\/div>';\r\n    document.body.appendChild(overlay);\r\n    toastEl = document.createElement('div'); toastEl.className = 'mfsh-toast'; document.body.appendChild(toastEl);\r\n    overlay.addEventListener('click', function(e){\r\n      if (e.target === overlay || e.target.closest('.mfsh-close')) { close(); return; }\r\n      var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-item'); if (b) act(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-ch'), b);\r\n    });\r\n    document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e){ if (e.key === 'Escape') close(); });\r\n  }\r\n  function open(p){ placement = p || 'top'; if (!overlay) build(); overlay.classList.add('mfsh-open'); track('open', placement); }\r\n  function close(){ if (overlay) overlay.classList.remove('mfsh-open'); }\r\n  function toast(m){ toastEl.textContent = m; toastEl.classList.add('mfsh-show'); clearTimeout(toastT); toastT = setTimeout(function(){ toastEl.classList.remove('mfsh-show'); }, 1600); }\r\n  function act(ch, btn){\r\n    var url = shareUrl(ch, placement), t = pageTitle(), enc = encodeURIComponent;\r\n    if (ch === 'copy') {\r\n      var done = function(){ toast('Link copied'); btn.classList.add('mfsh-done'); setTimeout(function(){ btn.classList.remove('mfsh-done'); close(); }, 900); };\r\n      track(ch, placement);\r\n      if (navigator.clipboard && navigator.clipboard.writeText) navigator.clipboard.writeText(url).then(done, done); else done();\r\n      return;\r\n    }\r\n    if (ch === 'native') {\r\n      track(ch, placement, { share_result:'opened' });\r\n      navigator.share({ title:t, text:t, url:url }).then(function(){ track('native', placement, { share_result:'completed' }); close(); }).catch(function(){});\r\n      return;\r\n    }\r\n    var target = {\r\n      whatsapp: 'https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=' + enc(t + ' ' + url),\r\n      x:        'https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=' + enc(t) + '&url=' + enc(url) + '&via=MiGFlug',\r\n      facebook: 'https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=' + enc(url),\r\n      linkedin: 'https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=' + enc(url),\r\n      reddit:   'https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=' + enc(url) + '&title=' + enc(t),\r\n      telegram: 'https:\/\/t.me\/share\/url?url=' + enc(url) + '&text=' + enc(t),\r\n      email:    'mailto:?subject=' + enc(t) + '&body=' + enc('Thought you would like this, from Afterburner, MiGFlug\\'s magazine:\\n' + t + '\\n' + url)\r\n    }[ch];\r\n    track(ch, placement);\r\n    if (target) { if (ch === 'email') location.href = target; else window.open(target, '_blank', 'noopener,width=680,height=560'); }\r\n    close();\r\n  }\r\n  var mq = window.matchMedia('(min-width:981px)');\r\n  function place(){\r\n    var t = document.querySelector('.mfsh-trigger[data-mfsh-placement=\"top\"]'), slot = document.querySelector('.mfsh-top-slot');\r\n    var meta = [].slice.call(document.querySelectorAll('.et_pb_title_meta_container, .et_post_meta_wrapper .post-meta, .single .post-meta')).filter(function(m){ return m.offsetParent !== null; })[0];\r\n    if (!t || !slot) return;\r\n    if (meta && mq.matches) { meta.classList.add('mfsh-meta'); t.classList.add('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== meta) meta.appendChild(t); var a = meta.querySelector('a'); if (a) { var pr = document.createElement('span'); pr.style.cssText = 'display:inline-block;width:0;height:0;vertical-align:baseline'; a.appendChild(pr); var base = pr.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; pr.remove(); var fs = parseFloat(getComputedStyle(a).fontSize) || 14, mb = meta.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; t.style.bottom = Math.max(0, mb - (base + fs * 0.12)) + 'px'; } }\r\n    else { t.classList.remove('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== slot) slot.appendChild(t); }\r\n  }\r\n  if (document.readyState === 'loading') document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', place); else place(); window.addEventListener('load', place); if (document.fonts && document.fonts.ready) document.fonts.ready.then(place); window.addEventListener('resize', place);\r\n  if (mq.addEventListener) mq.addEventListener('change', place); else mq.addListener(place);\r\n  document.addEventListener('click', function(e){ var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-trigger'); if (b) { e.preventDefault(); open(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-placement') || 'top'); } });\r\n})();\r\n<\/script><!-- \/mfsh:top -->\r\n<p>Lieutenant Devon Jones had dug himself a hole in the Iraqi desert with his survival knife and pulled the landscape over the top. He was so well hidden that when an American <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/a-10-warthog\/\">A-10<\/a> thundered directly over him at about 300 feet, its pilot saw nothing at all. The Iraqis, though, were listening to the same radio Jones was using. And now a truck was coming.<\/p><p>Overhead, Captain Paul T. Johnson, call sign Sandy 57, had been airborne for hours, had refuelled three times and was deeper inside Iraq than any A-10 had ever flown. What he did next earned him the Air Force Cross, and it was the first combat rescue in the Warthog's history.<\/p>\r\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6f9;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:18px 22px;margin:8px 0 28px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117\">Quick Facts<\/p><ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px;line-height:1.7\"><li><strong>Date:<\/strong> 21 January 1991, day five of Desert Storm<\/li><li><strong>Rescue lead:<\/strong> Capt. Paul T. Johnson, Sandy 57, 353rd TFS \/ 354th TFW<\/li><li><strong>Wingman:<\/strong> Capt. Randy Goff, Sandy 58<\/li><li><strong>Survivor:<\/strong> Lt. Devon Jones, U.S. Navy, VF-103, call sign Slate 46<\/li><li><strong>Shot down:<\/strong> F-14 Tomcat hit by a surface-to-air missile<\/li><li><strong>Pick-up:<\/strong> MH-53J Pave Low Moccasin 05, Capt. Thomas J. Trask<\/li><li><strong>Navigation aids:<\/strong> Automatic Direction Finder and drifting inertial system<\/li><li><strong>Johnson's flight time:<\/strong> 8 h 45 min of combat time, four aerial refuellings<\/li><li><strong>Awards:<\/strong> Air Force Cross for Johnson; Mackay Trophy for the Pave Low crew<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The Farmer in the Warthog<\/h2><p>Paul Johnson was not supposed to be a fighter pilot. He grew up in the rural South, earned an agriculture degree from Murray State University in Kentucky in 1980 and started farming row crops and cattle. A neighbour, an Air National Guard lieutenant colonel named Elliot Lambert, talked him into trying the Air Force instead. Johnson entered pilot training at 27, four months short of being too old to qualify.<\/p><p>Training took him to <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-bases\/davis-monthan\/\">Davis-Monthan<\/a> in Arizona and the A-10 Thunderbolt II, which he summed up, in Walter J. Boyne's profile for Air & Space Forces Magazine, as a move from slopping hogs to flying hogs. He joined the 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, became an instructor and squadron weapons officer, then was pulled out just as the squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia, to attend the USAF Fighter Weapons School at <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-bases\/nellis\/\">Nellis<\/a>.<\/p><p>He caught up with the squadron at King Fahd in time for the war. The 353rd's A-10s were given a job most of their pilots did not want: sitting on combat search and rescue alert, as the Sandys who would escort rescue helicopters and protect downed airmen. In the first four days of Desert Storm, every American shot down had come down somewhere too dangerous to reach or had been captured almost at once.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991-1.jpg\" alt=\"A-10A Thunderbolt II with number 675 on its nose being marshalled to a stop by a ground crewman in desert uniform\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">A 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron A-10A, Johnson's squadron, arriving at King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield. Photo: U.S. Air Force, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Slate 46 Is Down<\/h2><p>On the night of 20 January 1991, an <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-14-tomcat\/\">F-14 Tomcat<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/united-states-naval-aviation\/\">U.S. Navy<\/a>'s VF-103, flying from USS Saratoga with the call sign Slate 46, was hit by a surface-to-air missile over western Iraq. The pilot, Lieutenant Devon Jones, and his radar intercept officer, Lieutenant Lawrence R. Slade, ejected. Jones managed to make radio contact with rescue coordinators. Nothing was heard from Slade.<\/p><p>Next morning, after a weather hold, Johnson took off from King Fahd for the alert site at King Khalid Military City as Sandy 57, with Captain Randy Goff as Sandy 58. An hour into the flight, ten minutes before landing, the pair were retasked: find Slate 46. Johnson was handed a tentative set of coordinates and the call signs of a <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/kc-10-extender\/\">KC-10<\/a> tanker and the MH-53J Pave Low rescue helicopter, and turned west.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991-2.jpg\" alt=\"Grey F-14B Tomcat fighter with wings swept forward flying over sandy desert, armed with missiles\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">An F-14B of VF-103, Devon Jones's squadron, over the desert on 4 February 1991, two weeks after Slate 46 was shot down. Photo: Senior Airman Chris Putnam, U.S. Air Force, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>He tanked, checked in with an <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/e-3-sentry\/\">E-3 AWACS<\/a>, and was immediately diverted. Scud hunting outranked almost everything that week, because coalition planners feared Iraqi missile attacks could pull Israel into the war, so the AWACS sent Sandy 57 to check a suspected Scud site. It was empty. Johnson refuelled again and was sent back to the original coordinates.<\/p><h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Hunting a Voice With a Needle<\/h2><p>Here the 1991 rescue starts to look like 1968. The tool Johnson had for finding a man on the ground was the A-10's Automatic Direction Finder, an instrument designed to point at a radio source. In Boyne's words it was imprecise, to say the least. Johnson flew east and could hear Jones on the radio, but the ADF needle would not move. He tried west, then north, and the voice grew louder.<\/p><p>The coordinates he had been given turned out to be wrong. By the time the needle finally swung, Sandy 57 was west of al Asad Air Base, about 60 miles north of the first position and, by the citation's account, deeper inside enemy territory than any A-10 had ever been. Flying under the cloud at around 300 feet according to Boyne, and at 500 feet according to the citation, he passed directly over Jones and still could not see him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><em>&ldquo;During the next six hours he would lead his flight through three aerial refuelings, one attack on a possible SCUD missile site, and three hours of intensive searching deeper inside enemy territory than any A-10 had ever been.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Air Force Cross citation<\/strong> &mdash; Citation for Capt. Paul T. Johnson, 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, as reproduced by Wikipedia<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>That left Johnson with a navigation problem. He memorised the terrain and stored a mark point in his inertial navigation system. But after about five hours of flying, the INS had drifted considerably. Any coordinates he read out to the Pave Lows would send them to the wrong patch of desert, and the helicopters, flying low, were too close to the ground for their own ADF to pick up Jones's signal.<\/p><p>The radio was another problem. By now two Pave Lows, the AWACS, the KC-10 and a flight of <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-15-eagle\/\">F-15 Eagles<\/a> were all on the rescue frequency, talking almost nonstop. Johnson cleared the channel, ordering everyone off it except the survivor, the A-10s and the Pave Lows.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jYTES85S1kI\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">Former F-14 RIO Ward Carroll tells the story of Slate 46 from the Tomcat side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Bingo, Tanker, Back Again<\/h2><p>Then the fuel ran out. Johnson was past bingo, the minimum needed to get home, and had to break the first rule of search and rescue: never leave the survivor. He told Slate 46 to stay put and headed south to the KC-10, whose crew had flown about 25 miles into Iraq at 15,000 feet to meet him.<\/p><p>Topped up, he came straight back and joined Moccasin 05, the Pave Low flown by Captain Thomas J. Trask with copilot Major Michael Homan. Using his mark point and the terrain he had memorised, Johnson led the helicopter to the area and got the ADF needle to swing again, pointing out Jones's position.<\/p><p>The Americans were not the only ones homing on that radio. Across the desert, trailing a plume of dust, an Iraqi military truck was heading for the survivor. Johnson still could not see Jones, so he asked him to describe where the truck was relative to his hole. Then Sandy 57 and Sandy 58 turned low over the desert to attack. They missed on the first pass, hauled round and came back.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #1565c0;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><em>&ldquo;I rolled in and finished it on my second pass. That truck was down there burning, orange flames and black smoke pouring out of it, and the [rescue helicopter] comes in and lands. Then, just 100 yards away from the burning truck, this guy jumps up out of his hole and runs to the helo.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Capt. Paul T. Johnson<\/strong> &mdash; Sandy 57, speaking to William L. Smallwood for the book Warthog, as quoted in Air & Space Forces Magazine, December 2010<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Jones went back to Saratoga. Slade was less lucky: he had been captured about four hours after ejecting, was paraded on Iraqi television on 25 January and released with other prisoners on 3 March.<\/p><h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The First A-10 Rescue<\/h2><p>Johnson's day was not over. He refuelled a fourth time, escorted the Pave Low until he was released, and flew back to King Fahd. Boyne puts his total for the day at eight hours and 45 minutes of combat flight time; speaking to Air Force Magazine in 2016, Johnson remembered nine hours in the air with Goff. The Air Force Cross citation called it the first rescue in the history of the A-10 weapons system, and Trask's Pave Low crew received the Mackay Trophy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991-3.jpg\" alt=\"Air Force pilot in a flight suit holding a small U.S. flag beside actress Brooke Shields in a parade car\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">Capt. Paul Johnson rides with actress Brooke Shields in New York's Desert Storm welcome-home parade on 10 June 1991. Photo: MSgt. Don Wetterman, U.S. Department of Defense, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A few days later Johnson's own jet was hit by ground fire while he tried to attack a missile site in bad weather. With one hydraulic system gone, a hole in the right wing's leading edge and a damaged engine still running, he refuelled the crippled A-10 in flight and landed it at King Khalid Military City. It was repaired in theatre and he flew it home after the war.<\/p><p>Twenty-five years later, by then a major general in the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/united-states-air-force\/\">U.S. Air Force<\/a>, Johnson said what stayed with him was not the shooting but the coordination: crews from different services, many of whom had never spoken to each other, all willing to do whatever it took for one Navy pilot in a hole.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><em>&ldquo;The thing that strikes me about it is how many people came together&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Maj. Gen. Paul T. Johnson<\/strong> &mdash; Speaking to Air Force Magazine on the 25th anniversary, January 2016<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The rescue also says something about how technology really works under pressure. The jet was a 1970s design, the direction finder would have been familiar to Vietnam-era Sandy pilots, and the inertial system had wandered off by miles. What closed the gap was a pilot who memorised a patch of empty desert, a tanker crew willing to fly into Iraq, and a helicopter crew who trusted both.<\/p><p>For the record, the A-10 was built to kill tanks. Its first rescue was won with a radio needle, a mental map, four tankings and one burning truck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/z1sbZ2qOZpI\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">Maj. Gen. Paul Johnson recalls the rescue in a full interview for the 25th anniversary of Desert Storm.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><em>Sources: Wikipedia (Paul Johnson, United States Air Force), Air & Space Forces Magazine (Walter J. Boyne, 'Hog Heaven', 2010; 'A Rescue Deep in Enemy Territory', 2016), Air Force Historical Foundation, William L. Smallwood, Warthog, Ward Carroll, Maxwell-Gunter AFB<\/em><\/p>\r\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\r\n\r\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What was the Slate 46 rescue?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Slate 46 rescue was the recovery of U.S. Navy F-14 pilot Lieutenant Devon Jones from Iraq on 21 January 1991, during Operation Desert Storm. Jones's Tomcat, call sign Slate 46, had been hit by a surface-to-air missile. An A-10 flight led by Captain Paul Johnson found him and an MH-53J Pave Low helicopter picked him up.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Who was Sandy 57?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Sandy 57 was the call sign of Captain Paul T. Johnson, an A-10 pilot of the 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying combat search and rescue alert in Desert Storm. With his wingman Captain Randy Goff as Sandy 58, he located downed pilot Devon Jones and guided the rescue helicopter to him.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How did the A-10 find Devon Jones?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Paul Johnson located Devon Jones by homing on the survivor's radio with the A-10's Automatic Direction Finder, which swung only once he was close. Jones was so well camouflaged that Johnson flew right over him without seeing him, so he stored a mark point in his inertial system and later led the Pave Low back to the spot.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why did Paul Johnson destroy an Iraqi truck during the rescue?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">During the Slate 46 rescue an Iraqi truck appeared to be heading towards Devon Jones's hiding place, apparently also homing on his radio. Paul Johnson had Jones describe its position, then he and wingman Randy Goff attacked it. Johnson destroyed it on his second pass, and the Pave Low landed nearby to collect Jones.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What happened to the F-14 crew of Slate 46?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Both F-14 crew members ejected after a surface-to-air missile hit their Tomcat. Pilot Lieutenant Devon Jones was rescued by an MH-53J Pave Low and returned to USS Saratoga. Radar intercept officer Lieutenant Lawrence Slade was captured about four hours after ejecting, appeared on Iraqi television, and was released on 3 March 1991.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What award did Paul Johnson receive for the A-10 rescue?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Paul Johnson received the Air Force Cross for the 21 January 1991 rescue, which his citation describes as the first in the history of the A-10 weapons system. The crew of Pave Low Moccasin 05, led by Captain Thomas J. Trask, received the Mackay Trophy. Johnson later retired from the Air Force as a major general.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What was the Slate 46 rescue?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Slate 46 rescue was the recovery of U.S. Navy F-14 pilot Lieutenant Devon Jones from Iraq on 21 January 1991, during Operation Desert Storm. Jones's Tomcat, call sign Slate 46, had been hit by a surface-to-air missile. An A-10 flight led by Captain Paul Johnson found him and an MH-53J Pave Low helicopter picked him up.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who was Sandy 57?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Sandy 57 was the call sign of Captain Paul T. Johnson, an A-10 pilot of the 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying combat search and rescue alert in Desert Storm. With his wingman Captain Randy Goff as Sandy 58, he located downed pilot Devon Jones and guided the rescue helicopter to him.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How did the A-10 find Devon Jones?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Paul Johnson located Devon Jones by homing on the survivor's radio with the A-10's Automatic Direction Finder, which swung only once he was close. Jones was so well camouflaged that Johnson flew right over him without seeing him, so he stored a mark point in his inertial system and later led the Pave Low back to the spot.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why did Paul Johnson destroy an Iraqi truck during the rescue?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"During the Slate 46 rescue an Iraqi truck appeared to be heading towards Devon Jones's hiding place, apparently also homing on his radio. Paul Johnson had Jones describe its position, then he and wingman Randy Goff attacked it. Johnson destroyed it on his second pass, and the Pave Low landed nearby to collect Jones.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What happened to the F-14 crew of Slate 46?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Both F-14 crew members ejected after a surface-to-air missile hit their Tomcat. Pilot Lieutenant Devon Jones was rescued by an MH-53J Pave Low and returned to USS Saratoga. Radar intercept officer Lieutenant Lawrence Slade was captured about four hours after ejecting, appeared on Iraqi television, and was released on 3 March 1991.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What award did Paul Johnson receive for the A-10 rescue?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Paul Johnson received the Air Force Cross for the 21 January 1991 rescue, which his citation describes as the first in the history of the A-10 weapons system. The crew of Pave Low Moccasin 05, led by Captain Thomas J. Trask, received the Mackay Trophy. Johnson later retired from the Air Force as a major general.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/scott-ogrady-basher-52-f-16-shot-down-bosnia-1995-rescue\/\">Scott O'Grady: Basher 52's Six Days Behind Serb Lines in 1995<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/bat-21-bravo-iceal-hambleton-rescue-1972-norris-kiet-golf-code\/\">Bat 21 Bravo: The Golf-Course Code That Saved Iceal Hambleton<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/a-1-skyraider-sandy-csar-vietnam-bernard-fisher\/\">He Landed in the Middle of a Battle<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/desert-storm-opening-night-f117-apache-air-campaign-1991\/\">The Night That Rewrote Air Warfare: Desert Storm's Opening 14 Hours<\/a><\/p><\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On 21 January 1991, Capt. Paul Johnson flew his A-10 farther into Iraq than any Warthog had been, found a hidden F-14 pilot with a wandering ADF needle and a drifting INS, and brought a Pave Low in to get him.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":31632883,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[666,664],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31632957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-and-legends","category-military-aviation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of Slate 46 in 1991 | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sandy 57: how A-10 pilot Paul Johnson found hidden F-14 pilot Devon Jones deep inside Iraq in 1991 and earned the Air Force Cross.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"it_IT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of Slate 46 in 1991 | MiGFlug\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Sandy 57: how A-10 pilot Paul Johnson found hidden F-14 pilot Devon Jones deep inside Iraq in 1991 and earned the Air Force Cross.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Afterburner - MiGFlug&#039;s Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-11-07T12:37:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-11-07T12:38:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"846\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Max Gr\u00fcnwald\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Max Gr\u00fcnwald\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Max Gr\u00fcnwald\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/da89e4a5834c9a932ee20751ed75569c\"},\"headline\":\"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of F-14 Pilot Slate 46 in 1991\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-07T12:37:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-07T12:38:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2183,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"History &amp; Legends\",\"Military Aviation\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/\",\"name\":\"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of Slate 46 in 1991 | MiGFlug\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-07T12:37:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-07T12:38:23+00:00\",\"description\":\"Sandy 57: how A-10 pilot Paul Johnson found hidden F-14 pilot Devon Jones deep inside Iraq in 1991 and earned the Air Force Cross.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":846,\"caption\":\"Photo: Tech. Sgt. Fernando Serna, U.S. Air Force, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Startseite\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of F-14 Pilot Slate 46 in 1991\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"name\":\"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine\",\"description\":\"for those interested in flying military jets and aviation related  topics\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"width\":897,\"height\":278,\"caption\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/MiGFlug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/migflug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/migflug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/MiGFlug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/migflug.com\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.ch\\\/migflug\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/da89e4a5834c9a932ee20751ed75569c\",\"name\":\"Max Gr\u00fcnwald\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4a7af37924a5c24d0712babd0e5eafec09d37b3a41831dd4c4ee30f54ebfc1a7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4a7af37924a5c24d0712babd0e5eafec09d37b3a41831dd4c4ee30f54ebfc1a7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4a7af37924a5c24d0712babd0e5eafec09d37b3a41831dd4c4ee30f54ebfc1a7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Max Gr\u00fcnwald\"},\"description\":\"Max Gr\u00fcnwald writes MiGFlug\u2019s technical deep-dives \u2014 engines, avionics and weapons systems, with every number checked twice.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/author\\\/maxgruenwald\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of Slate 46 in 1991 | MiGFlug","description":"Sandy 57: how A-10 pilot Paul Johnson found hidden F-14 pilot Devon Jones deep inside Iraq in 1991 and earned the Air Force Cross.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/","og_locale":"it_IT","og_type":"article","og_title":"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of Slate 46 in 1991 | MiGFlug","og_description":"Sandy 57: how A-10 pilot Paul Johnson found hidden F-14 pilot Devon Jones deep inside Iraq in 1991 and earned the Air Force Cross.","og_url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/","og_site_name":"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","article_published_time":"2026-11-07T12:37:58+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-11-07T12:38:23+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":846,"url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Max Gr\u00fcnwald","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@migflug","twitter_site":"@migflug","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Max Gr\u00fcnwald","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/"},"author":{"name":"Max Gr\u00fcnwald","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/da89e4a5834c9a932ee20751ed75569c"},"headline":"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of F-14 Pilot Slate 46 in 1991","datePublished":"2026-11-07T12:37:58+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-07T12:38:23+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/"},"wordCount":2183,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg","articleSection":["History &amp; Legends","Military Aviation"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/","name":"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of Slate 46 in 1991 | MiGFlug","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg","datePublished":"2026-11-07T12:37:58+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-07T12:38:23+00:00","description":"Sandy 57: how A-10 pilot Paul Johnson found hidden F-14 pilot Devon Jones deep inside Iraq in 1991 and earned the Air Force Cross.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991.jpg","width":1280,"height":846,"caption":"Photo: Tech. Sgt. Fernando Serna, U.S. Air Force, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/sandy-57-a-10-rescue-slate-46-f-14-devon-jones-desert-storm-1991\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Startseite","item":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Sandy 57: The A-10 Rescue of F-14 Pilot Slate 46 in 1991"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","name":"Afterburner - La rivista di MiGFlug","description":"Per chi \u00e8 interessato a pilotare aerei militari e argomenti correlati all&#039;aviazione.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization","name":"MiGFlug GmbH","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","width":897,"height":278,"caption":"MiGFlug GmbH"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","https:\/\/x.com\/migflug","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/migflug\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/MiGFlug","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/migflug.com\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.ch\/migflug\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/da89e4a5834c9a932ee20751ed75569c","name":"Max Gr\u00fcnwald","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4a7af37924a5c24d0712babd0e5eafec09d37b3a41831dd4c4ee30f54ebfc1a7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4a7af37924a5c24d0712babd0e5eafec09d37b3a41831dd4c4ee30f54ebfc1a7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4a7af37924a5c24d0712babd0e5eafec09d37b3a41831dd4c4ee30f54ebfc1a7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Max Gr\u00fcnwald"},"description":"Max Gr\u00fcnwald cura gli approfondimenti tecnici di MiGFlug, che spaziano dai motori all&#039;avionica e ai sistemi d&#039;arma, verificando ogni dato due volte.","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/author\/maxgruenwald\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31632957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31632957"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31632957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31633054,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31632957\/revisions\/31633054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31632883"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31632957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31632957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31632957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}