Operation: Crossbow, also known as the Defense of Valais Air Base, was a last-ditch operation performed by the Allied Forces to prevent their last base in Ustio from being taken over, as part of the Belkan War.
Prelude
Following the beginning of the Belkan War, the Belkan military initiated an unstoppable approach to Ustio territory, which had been Belkan soil in the past. 70% of Ustio's air force was annihilated during their advance, taking out many important bases in the process. Once almost the entirety of Ustio had fallen to the Belkans, the remaining forces retreated to Valais Air Base, located in the south-east of Ustio. The Belkans decided to stamp out Ustio once and for all by taking out Valais AB.
Summary
On April 2, 1995, a major squadron of Belkan bombers (consisting of B-52H Stratofortress and BM-335) was sent to eradicate Valais. At this time, Valais scrambled its remaining aircraft to intercept the bombers. Included in those launched was the mercenary 66th Air Force Unit "Galm", which then comprised of "Solo Wing" Pixy and Cipher, two mercenaries with previous flight experience (Pixy himself was very well-known among the other mercenaries for his completing a mission and landing safely with one of his plane's wings missing, earning him the title "Solo Wing").
Quite surpising to the bombers, the mercenaries were taking them down without a problem. Pixy took out most of the escorts while Cipher engaged the bombers, with the other mercenaries providing back-up where they could so Pixy wasn't getting all of the reward money. Soon enough, the entire bomber force was destroyed, and Valais lived to see another day.
Result
Given this small victory, the Allied Forces were able to take a short breather and hopefully start a counter-attack. They still had very little land left in Ustio, so they had to start getting some land back.
Trivia
- One of the B-52s had lost IFF functionality and attempted to escape the combat area. Accounts vary, where some say that the bomber successfully retreated, while others say that Cipher shot him down regardless.