Sept. 3 airpower summary: Pave Hawks provide rapid transport Published Sept. 8, 2009 SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 3, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon and coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces near Herat. Friendly ground forces reported receiving mortar and small-arms fire from an enemy compound position. Also, enemy forces were seen assembling at an unusual location within a town. Shows of force were requested to aid in dispersing the growing crowd and to assist the friendly ground forces to withdraw from the field of attack. The shows of force scattered the crowd and deterred enemy action while the withdrawal took place. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces near Lashkar Gah. The aircraft focused on suspicious activity and a show of force was requested to deter any enemy activity. The show of force successfully defused the situation. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 aircraft provide overwatch for friendly forces in Konduz. Friendly forces reported receiving small-arms fire from anti-coalition forces and requested air power to deter enemy action. The aircraft made several shows of force where flares were launched on some of them. The actions were successful. Also at Konduz, Air Force F-15Es responded to a request to destroy two trucks under anti-Afghan forces control. The precision-guided munitions were released and accurately struck intended targets, destroying them. There were Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets over Shindand providing overwatch when anti-coalition forces attacked a coalition convoy. Several shows of force were conducted to deter enemy aggression and the shows of force were deemed successful as the enemy fire ceased. Precision-guided munitions launched by Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets were used to destroy an enemy position near Soltani. The munitions made a direct hit on the position and were declared successful. Marine AV-8B Harriers in the air over Washir provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The ground forces reported taking enemy small-arms fire and requested a show of force. The Harriers provided a successful show of force, ending the enemy fire. F-16 aircraft were at Asmar providing armed interdiction for friendly forces when an enemy position was confirmed on a mountain side. Precision-guided munitions were employed and the threat to friendly forces and civilians was successfully eliminated. 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, 84 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols. In Iraq, a total of 26 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. Twenty-eight Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. In addition, two Air Force 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. Air Force airlift crews flew 141 airlift sorties, 598 short tons of cargo were delivered and about 3,800 passengers were transported. Airlift included about 75,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Sept. 2, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported 12 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 56 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.3 million pounds of fuel to 236 receiving aircraft.