CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 1

Posted on: Sep. 1st, 2006 || Source: AFPN | E-mail Article | Print Article

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 1.

In Afghanistan Aug. 31, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and a RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft provided close-air support for search and recovery missions responding to the crash of a NATO F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to support the International Security Assistance Force in the vicinity west of Ghazni.

Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Now Zad. The GR-7s conducted passes, expending rockets on enemy mortar positions, ending the engagement.

An Air Force B-1 Lancer provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The aircraft expended Guided Bomb Unit-38s on an enemy location, ending the engagement.

In a separate engagement near Musah Qal'eh, a B-1 provided close-air support to coalition forces in contact with Taliban extremists by expending a GBU-31 on the extremists' position. RAF GR-7s also provided close-air support near Musah Qal'eh.

A-10s provided close-air support to coalition forces in contact with Taliban extremists near Jalalabad.

Additionally, six U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 24 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Hawijah.

Additionally, 16 U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq .

In total, coalition aircraft flew 41 close-air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

On Aug. 30, a U.S. Air Force rescue and medical crew on a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter flew one medical evacuation mission in support of OEF. One enemy detainee with injuries requiring urgent care was evacuated as a result of this mission.

Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 160 airlift sorties, delivered 370 tons of cargo and transported 2,770 passengers. This included more than 18,000 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Japan and Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF.

On Aug. 30, U.S., French and Royal Air Force tankers flew 36 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.3 million pounds of fuel.
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