page_title: General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: English: A US Air Force EF-111 Raven deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, from the 429th Electronic Combat Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, NM, flies over the Alps of Northern Italy while on a mission. The EF-111 Raven is designed to provide electronic countermeasures support for tactical air forces and will detect, sort, identify and nullify different enemy radar systems in support of the NATO enforcement of the no fly zone over Bosnia. (Exact date unknown)
context_page_description: The General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven is an electronic-warfare aircraft designed to replace the EB-66 Destroyer in the United States Air Force. Its crews and maintainers often called it the "Spark-Vark", a play on the F-111's "Aardvark" nickname.
  The USAF contracted with Grumman in 1974 to convert some existing General Dynamics F-111As into electronic warfare/electronic countermeasures aircraft. The USAF had considered the Navy / Marine Corps Grumman EA-6B Prowler, but desired a penetrating aircraft with supersonic speed. The EF-111 entered service in 1983 and served until its retirement in 1998.
context_section_description: The EF-111A achieved initial operational capability in 1983.  The EF-111A received the official popular name Raven, although in service it acquired the nickname "Spark 'Vark".  EF-111s first saw combat use with the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Upper Heyford during Operation El Dorado Canyon against Libya in 1986, and Operation Just Cause in Panama during late 1989.
  The Raven served in the Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. On 17 January 1991, a USAF EF-111 crew of Captain James Denton and Captain Brent Brandon achieved an unofficial kill against an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1, which they managed to maneuver into the ground, making it the only member of the F-111/FB-111/EF-111 family to achieve an aerial victory over another aircraft. However, a recent article has cast doubt on this as the only Iraqi Mirage F1 in the air that night returned safely to base and its pilot reported that he shot down the EF-111.
  On 13 February 1991, EF-111A, AF Ser. No. 66-0023, call sign Ratchet 75, crashed into terrain while maneuvering to evade a missile fired by an enemy Mirage F1 fighter killing the pilot, Capt Douglas L. Bradt, and the EWO, Capt Paul R. Eichenlaub. It was the only EF-111A lost during combat, the only loss killing its crew, and one of just three EF-111s lost during the aircraft's service.  However, it is disputed whether there was an enemy present at the time, as two F-15Es watched Ratchet 75 make violent evasive maneuvers and crash into the ground, with no hostile aircraft in the area.
caption: An EF-111 flies over the Alps during Operation Deny Flight
exif: {}