Aug. 8 airpower summary: C-130s transport troops, supplies

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were providing armed overwatch near Asmar when they were requested to eliminate enemy positions engaging friendly forces with small-arms fire. The enemy positions were destroyed by precision-guided munitions.

Near Asadabad, coalition aircraft were providing armed overwatch when friendly forces requested a show of force. Small-arms fire had broken out and was subdued with the positive show of force.

At Kandahar, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs were providing armed overwatch when friendly forces requested air support against anti-Afghan forces after small-arms fire broke out. The A-10s executed a successful show of force on the enemy fighting position momentarily ending the threat. The A-10s were called back when small-arms fire resumed from a confirmed enemy position and they made several strafing runs with cannon fire. They then released precision-guided munitions on the enemy position and destroyed it. Enemy fire then broke out from a tree-line position and the A-10s stopped that enemy fire with a strafe of cannon fire.

Coalition aircraft at Sangin were providing armed overwatch when friendly forces requested several shows of force after small-arms fire had broken out. These shows of force allowed the friendly forces to relocate to other positions and evade the enemy fire.

Asmar saw coalition aircraft provided a successful strafe of cannon fire to deter potential enemy small-arms fire after confirmation of enemy massing on side of road. The aircraft then continued to provide armed overwatch.

In the vicinity of Chahar Bagh, A-10s providing armed overwatch of friendly forces were tasked with several shows of force to deter enemy aggression. The shows of force were deemed successful after the release of numerous flares.

Joint terminal attack controllers assigned to coalition units verified the success of these missions.

Twenty-nine Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan.

In total, 62 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 26 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 hostile activities.

Twenty-five 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.

Approximately 150 airlift sorties were flown, 600 short tons of cargo were delivered and about 2,300 passengers were transported. Airlift included about 100,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan.

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

On Aug. 7, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported eight 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 Hawk helicopters 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 58 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.1 million pounds of fuel to 234 receiving aircraft.