Sept. 30 airpower summary: 'Guardian Angel' teams perform vital rescue mission

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 30, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft provided overwatch for friendly forces in the Moqor area. A show of force was requested when suspicious activity and vehicles were seen around a mortar position. A request for a show of force was made that was successful in deterring any potential enemy action.

At Lashkar Gah, an MQ-9A Reaper aircraft was providing armed overwatch for friendly ground forces in their search for an enemy sniper. The ground forces observed threatening activity, passed target coordinates and requested support. A missile was fired on the target and the potential threat was eliminated.  Also, coalition aircraft providing overwatch for friendly forces there received target coordinates and then destroyed several enemy positions with precision guided munitions.

At Surkhabad, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were providing armed overwatch for friendly forces on patrol. The patrol sent a request for support when they arrived at an improvised explosive device site that had recently been evacuated. Left behind were IED materials and a hole in the ground near a known enemy attack point. Suspicious activity was noted at the enemy position and the coordinates for the enemy target were passed. Precision-guided munitions were deployed on the target site with good results as an apparent enemy weapons cache was destroyed when secondary explosions destroyed the enemy position.

Coalition and A-10 aircraft were in the vicinity of Shurakian providing armed overwatch for friendly forces and a large convoy. A request for a show of force was issued when friendly forces observed suspicious activity near the route of the convoy. The shows of force were conducted and declared successful when the convoy passed by unimpeded. Another show of force was requested when friendly forces suffered an IED strike and wanted to deter a possible second attack. The show of force was successful in deterring any secondary enemy action.

There were Navy F/A18C Hornets in the area of Chahar Bagh providing overwatch for coalition forces on patrol. When the coalition forces reported receiving enemy fire the aircraft performed a show of force over the coalition forces that was successful in deterring the enemy fire.

In Iraq, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons were in action at Tall Afar providing overwatch for friendly forces. The aircraft provided shows of force that were declared successful.

Thirty Air Force, Navy and coalition intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. In addition, two Navy aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In total, 83 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, 27 Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations. In addition, two Air Force aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In total, 24 close-air-support missions were flown in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt hostile activities.

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.

Air Force airlift crews flew 150 airlift sorties, delivered 368 short tons of cargo and transported about 3,700 passengers. Airlift included about 160,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan.

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

On Sept. 29, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported seven patients to coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan.  Pararescue team members aboard the helicopters located, rescued and began treatment to stabilize patients in the battlefield. The Pave Hawks transported these patients to field hospitals in less time than it takes for a civilian patient to reach emergency care by ambulance in most major cities.

Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 50 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.3 million pounds of fuel to 249 receiving aircraft.