US Airpower Summary; Nov. 1, 2008: A-10s Deter Enemy Activities

An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from Bagram Air Field in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The nose art on the plane signifies that this A-10 is part of the "Flying Tigers" legacy dating back to the World War II era. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Nov. 1, 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 31, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft dropped guided bomb unit-38s and fired rockets onto enemy positions on a ridgeline in the vicinity of Qalat. The mission was confirmed a success by an on-scene joint terminal attack controller.

In the vicinity of Bari Kowt and Soltani, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles conducted shows of force to provide armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy moving from one forward operating base to another. The JTACs reported the missions successful.

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and F-15Es performed multi-flight shows of force to deter enemy activities and provide armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy in the vicinity of Jalalabad. The mission was declared a success by a JTAC.

In the vicinity of Monari, A-10s performed shows of force to deter enemy activities and provide armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy that had struck an IED. The missions was confirmed a success by a JTAC.

Coalition aircraft conducted shows of force to deter anti-Afghan activity in the vicinity of Farah. A JTAC reported the mission successful.

In total, 54 close-air-support missions were flown as part of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

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

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 47 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.

Thirty Air Force, Navy and coalition ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. Additionally, three Air Force and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

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 140 airlift sorties were flown, nearly 600 tons of cargo delivered and more than 3,200 passengers were transported. This included approximately 72,000 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in Afghanistan.

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

On Oct. 30, Air Force and coalition tanker crews flew 49 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.5 million pounds of fuel to 264 receiving aircraft.

(Report from a U.S. Air Force news release.)

Tags: DOD, Military, War, United States, U.S., al Qaeda, al Qaida, GWOT, terrorism, Taliban, Open Thread, Wire, Headlines, Dispatches from the Front
Global Tags: Washington DC, News and Politics, News, Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Life, Culture, Buzz, Tension