Friday, September 9
AIR SUPPORT ROUNDUP, WAR ON TERROR, 09-08-2005
| September 8, 2005 IRAQ: Coalition aircraft flew 50 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Sept. 8 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force F-16s provided close air support to Coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Hit. The F-16s expended one GBU-12, successfully destroying an enemy mortar position. U.S. Air Force F-16s and U.S. Navy F/A-18s provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities of Al Majarr Al Kabir, Qayyarah, Rawah, and Tuz Khurmatu. Eight 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 24 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. Sorties included Royal Air Force GR-7s that provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinity of Qalat. Seven U.S. Air Force and French Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. 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. Approximately 185 airlift sorties were flown, moving more than 350 short tons of cargo and nearly 4,280 passengers. Coalition C-130 crews from the United Kingdom and Australia flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On Sept. 7, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Singapore Air Force, and French Air Force tankers flew 39 sorties and offloaded more than 2.2 million pounds of fuel. |
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