Monday, September 19
AIR SUPPORT ROUNDUP, WAR ON TERROR, 09-18-2005
| IRAQ: Coalition aircraft flew 46 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Sept. 18 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Coalition aircraft also supported Iraqi and Coalition ground forces operations to create a secure environment for ongoing Transitional National Assembly meetings. Eight U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Royal Air Force 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 42 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to Coalition and Afghan troops, the parliamentary and provincial election process, and reconstruction activities, and providing presence route patrol. U.S. Air Force A-10s provided close air support to Coalition ground troops in contact with anti-Coalition militia in the vicinity of Bagram. The A-10s expended 630 30 mm cannon rounds and two rockets against an enemy firing position with successful effects. Other A-10s provided close air support to Coalition troops in contact with the enemy in the vicinity of Khowst. The A-10s expended 797 30 mm cannon rounds and three rockets against an enemy firing position with successful effects. Other sorties included U.S. Air Force A-10s and a B-52, Royal Air Force GR-7s, and French Air Force M-2000s provided close air support to Coalition troops in the vicinities Deh Rawood, Gereshk, Kandahar, Oruzgan, Qalat, and Tarin Kowt. Six U.S. 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 160 airlift sorties were flown, moving nearly 460 short tons of cargo, and about 2,660 passengers. Coalition C-130 crews from Japan flew in support of OIF. On Sept. 17, U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 36 sorties and offloaded more than 2.1 million pounds of fuel. Weblog LINK |
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