Photo Essay : Hostile Skies in the Gulf

High-tech and airborne terror characterized the Gulf War’s opening days.

U.S. and allied pilots--the sky jockeys--sent their smart bombs hurtling from thousands of feet overhead into the command and control centers of Iraq’s generals. Cruise missiles fired from far offshore entered Baghdad like tourists, flying so low one was spotted from a 10th floor hotel room as it followed city streets to its target.

But Iraqi Scud and other missiles that escaped the first strike took their toll as well--if only on the nerves of the Israelis and Saudis and others who knew by the frequent sirens that they had become targets. By week’s end, an anti-missile missile called Patriot was proving the allies most effective Scud antidote.