In March of 1999, Captain Jeff “Claw” Hwang achieved a remarkable feat of aerial combat when he successfully shot down two MiG-29 fighters while piloting his F-15C, with the tail number 86-0156.
The incident occurred during the NATO intervention in the Kosovo conflict, which saw the alliance carry out a series of air strikes against Serbian forces supporting Kosovo Albanians seeking independence.
Capt. Hwang was part of an F-15C
detachment from the 493rd Fighter Squadron headquartered at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom. He and his wingman were on a routine combat air patrol over Kosovo on March 26 when they became aware of the presence of two MiG-29s in the vicinity.
The Serbian fighters were also on a mission to intercept the NATO aircraft. As per the museum’s account of Hwang’s mission, he detected only one radar signal when the American pilot approached the Bosnian/Serbian border.
As Hwang and his wingman monitored the radar signal, they realized that it was actually two targets positioned together.
Col. Jeff Hwang, 142nd Fighter Wing Vice Commander, pauses on the ladder of his F-15C Eagle following his ‘Fini Flight’ with the Oregon Air National Guard, September 19, 2014, Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore. Painted on the Eagle are two green stars, which were added to his aircraft for his final flight in the Air Force, and reference the two Mikoyan MiG-29’s that he shot down over Kosovo on March 26, 1999.
Just 90 seconds after detecting the second aircraft, Hwang fired two AIM-120 missiles in quick succession from a range of 16 miles, and he successfully shot down both the MiG-29 Fulcrum planes in a single engagement, which was a first for the F-15.
The shootdown of two MiG-29s by Hwang was a significant achievement in the history of aerial combat. In recognition of his heroic actions, Hwang was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the highest honors for military aviators in the United Stat