Friday, September 9
AIR SUPPORT ROUNDUP, WAR ON TERROR, 09-07-2005
| September 7, 2005 IRAQ: Coalition aircraft flew 54 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Sept. 7 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force F-16s performed a strike in the vicinity of Al Qaim. The F-16s successfully expended two GBU-38s against anti-Iraqi forces. Other U.S. Air Force F-16s and a Predator provided close air support to Coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinities of Ad Duluiyah and Baquba. Additional sorties included U.S. Air Force F-16s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Mosul, Tuz Khurmata, and Samarra. Ten U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. AFGHANISTAN: Coalition aircraft flew 16 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition and Afghan troops, support to the parliamentary and provincial election process, and providing presence route patrol to include border security and reconstruction activities. Other sorties included U.S. Air Force A-10s and B-52s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Qalat and Shkin. Seven U.S. Air Force and French Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role. U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. About 150 airlift sorties were flown, moving more than 280 short tons of cargo and more than 3,475 passengers. Coalition C-130 crews from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the Republic of Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On Sept. 6, U.S. Air Force and British Air Force tankers flew 31 sorties and offloaded nearly 2 million pounds of fuel. |
Story LINK
