March 5 airpower: Pave Hawks fly rescue missions

  • Published
  • By U.S. Central Command Air Forces
  • Combined Air Operations Center
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNEWS) --  U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for March 5.

In Afghanistan yesterday, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-31s on a building near Sangin containing anti-coalition insurgents. A joint terminal attack controller confirmed a direct hit. The B-1B also provided two shows of force, releasing multiple flares and bundles of chaff in the same area with successful results reported by the JTAC.

U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets conducted air reconnaissance for suspicious vehicle convoys and groups of personnel near Now Zad.

Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided surveillance of an enemy compound and known enemy firing positions near Sangin.

In total, 37 close-air-support missions were flown in support of Afghan and International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Eleven Air Force and RAF intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan . U.S. Navy fighter aircraft performed in non-traditional ISR roles with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

In Iraq, an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon dropped a GBU-38, destroying a concrete building near Baghdad known to contain a weapons cache. The F-16 pilot also watched over a coalition convoy and searched for individuals placing improvised explosive devices in the same area.

An F-16 pilot watched over an explosive ordnance disposal team investigating an IED near Baghdad .

Other F-16 pilots were informed of a vehicle IED detonation and looked for enemy forces near the explosion in the vicinity of Baghdad . The F-16 pilots also provided reconnaissance in the same area. 

RAF GR-4 Tornados conducted a search on multiple routes near Basrah. The pilots reported two hotspots and suspicious vehicles and individuals.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 46 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Additionally, 15 Air Force, Navy and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq . An Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a non-traditional ISR role with electro-optical and infrared sensors.

On March 4, Air Force rescue and medical crews on an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter flew a medical evacuation mission in support of OEF. One coalition force troop with a gun shot wound to the hand was evacuated as a result of this mission.

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan , Iraq and the Horn of Africa. More than 160 airlift sorties were flown; approximately 450 tons of cargo were delivered, and approximately 3,735 passengers were transported.

Coalition C-130 crews from Canada , Australia and South Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF.

On March 2, Air Force and RAF tankers flew 35 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.4 million pounds of fuel which is the equivalent of nearly 60 full Air Force fuel trucks.