5/10/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.
Coalition aircraft flew 58 close-air-support missions May 9 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.
Air Force F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons and Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Hawijah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Mahmudiyah, Baghdad and Hawijah.
In addition, 14 Air Force, Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Navy fighter aircraft flew in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.
In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 18 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and presence route patrols.
Six Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.
Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intratheater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 170 airlift sorties, delivered 450 tons of cargo and transported 3,250 passengers.
Coalition C-130 crews from Canada and South Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF.
On May 8, Air Force and RAF tankers flew 34 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel.
