Aug. 19 airpower summary: Globemasters on the go

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II dropped a guided bomb unit-12 on an enemy position in the vicinity of Jalalabad.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided overwatch for convoys and a ground commander.  The aircrews also searched a compound for signs of an explosion near Gereshk.
 
Another F-15E provided a show of force to inform enemies an airpower presence was in the area around Ghazni.

In total, 47 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Nine Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, an Air Force B-1B Lancer destroyed three buildings in Baghdad with GBU-31s.

Also in Baghdad, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10s conducted overwatch and reconnaissance.

Other F-16s dropped GBU-12s and fired cannon rounds at snipers in Baghdad and Iskandariyah. The snipers were firing at a convoy moving through the area. The pilots stayed with the vehicles until they reached their final location.

More F-16s provided overwatch for medical evacuation helicopters near Salman Pak.

Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided overwatch and monitored suspicious activities around Samarra.

Also in Samarra, another F/A-18 conducted a successful show of force over a building during a coalition raid.

An F-16 provided a show of force with flares to deter enemies from firing at a small group of Humvees moving near Balad. The convoy did not experience any more attacks after the fighters passed over.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 68 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions supported coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided over watch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Seventeen Air Force, Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Additionally, seven Navy, Air Force and RAF aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Some 156 airlift sorties were flown, 787 tons of cargo were delivered and 3,271 passengers were transported.

Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Iraq and Korea flew in support of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On August 18, Air Force, French and RAF tankers flew 56 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.1 million pounds of fuel to 268 receiving aircraft.