Wednesday, September 14
AIR SUPPORT ROUNDUP, WAR ON TERROR: 09-10-2005
IRAQ: — Coalition aircraft flew 48 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Sept. 10 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. U.S. Air Force F-16s performed a pre-planned strike against an anti-Iraqi forces staging area in the vicinity of Samarra, expending one GBU-38. A U.S. Air Force Predator expended one Hellfire missile in the vicinity of Tall Afar, successfully destroying a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Other sorties included U.S. Air Force F-16s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Al Mansuriyah. 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 21 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included supporting Coalition and Afghan troops, the parliamentary and provincial election process, and reconstruction activities, and providing presence route patrol. U.S. Air Force A-10s, a B-52, and a Predator provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Kowst, Qalat, and Qal’eh-Ye Gaz. Seven U.S. Air Force and French Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Royal Air Force 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. Nearly 170 airlift sorties were flown, moving nearly 490 short tons of cargo, and more than 3,700 passengers. This included approximately 12,300 pounds of troop re-supply airdropped in Southeastern Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Republic of Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On Sept. 9, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Singapore Air Force, and French Air Force tankers flew 43 sorties and offloaded more than 2.2 million pounds of fuel. |
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