 On 8 August 1987, the first shots by the U.S. at Iranian forces took place when two VF-21 F-14As from opened fire on two Iranian F-4s that flew toward an American P-3C reconnaissance plane.The U.S. pilots observed two of the three AIM-7 Sparrows that were launched guiding toward one of the F-4s.The F-14 flight leader ordered an egress from the area after seeing one of the missiles explode but before any of the American aircrew could confirm whether the F-4 was actually shot down.