US Airpower Summary; Oct. 17, 2008: Tankers Continue to Fuel the Fight

A KC-135 Stratotanker sits on the flightline at a base in Southwest Asia. Air Force and coalition tankers flew 53 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.3 million pounds of fuel Oct.15. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Paul Clifford.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 17, 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fired cannon rounds and rockets onto enemy fighters who were attacking coalition forces with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades near Kabul. An on-scene joint terminal attack controller declared the mission successful.

In the vicinity of Lashkar Gah, coalition aircraft dropped a guided bomb unit-12 onto enemy fighters firing upon friendly forces with small arms fire. The mission was confirmed successful by a JTAC.

Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets fired cannon rounds and dropped a GBU-12 and GBU-38s onto a compound containing enemies of Afghanistan. A JTAC reported the mission successful.

A-10s performed shows of force to deter enemy activities near Kabul. The mission was declared successful by a JTAC.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles conducted shows of force to deter enemy activities near Kabul. The JTACs confirmed the missions successful.

Coalition aircraft performed a show of force to deter enemy activities in the vicinity of Lashkar Gah. The mission was reported successful by a JTAC.

Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets conducted a show of force to deter enemy activities in the vicinity of Lashkar Gah. A JTAC declared the mission successful.

Navy F/A-18C Hornets performed a show of force to deter enemy activities in the vicinity of Sangin. The mission was confirmed successful by a JTAC.

In total, 72 close-air-support missions were flown as part of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Fourteen Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, four Navy and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft performed shows of force to deter enemy activities in the vicinity of Baqubah. A JTAC confirmed the mission successful.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 27 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Twenty-seven Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq.

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Approximately 115 airlift sorties were flown, 683 tons of cargo delivered and 2,564 passengers were transported. This included approximately 28,210 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On Oct. 15, Air Force and coalition tanker crews flew 53 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.3 million pounds of fuel to 246 receiving aircraft.

(From a U.S. Air Force news release.)

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