CENTAF releases combined airpower summary Published March 21, 2006 SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 20 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. In addition, 14 Air Force, Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Also, Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 19 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Farah and Orgun-E. Five Air Force and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 175 airlift sorties, delivered 435 tons of cargo and transported 2,250 passengers. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia and the South Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On March 19 Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 32 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.3 million pounds of fuel. March 19Coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Air Force F-16s and Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornados provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Balad and Tikrit. In addition, 13 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Also, Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 14 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols. Five Air Force and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 170 airlift sorties, delivered 415 tons of cargo and transported 2,494 passengers.Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada and South Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On March 18 Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 31 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.2 million pounds of fuel. March 18In Operation Iraq Freedom March 18, U.S. Air Force F-15s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Al Taji. On that day in Operation Iraqi Freedom, coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air support missions. In eight of those, Air Force F-16s and F-15s provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Taji, Balad, Tikrit and Ramadi. Other OIF missions were airpower operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities, provide infrastructure protection and support reconstruction activities. In addition, 16 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in overall support of operations in Iraq.In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew a total of 20 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols. Five Air Force and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada and South Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain OIF and OEF operations throughout Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as providing military and humanitarian support in the Horn of Africa. They flew 170 airlift sorties, delivered 545 tons of cargo and transported 2,612 passengers. On March 16 Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 31 sorties and off-loaded more than 2 million pounds of fuel. March 17 In Operation Iraq Freedom Air Force F-15 Eagles provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Al Taji. Also, in OIF, coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air-support missions. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. In addition, 13 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in overall support of operations in Iraq. An Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a non-traditional ISR role with its electro-optical and infrared sensors. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Ghazni. Coalition aircraft flew 18 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols. Four Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Canada and South Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain OIF and OEF operations throughout Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as providing military and humanitarian support in the Horn of Africa. They flew 190 airlift sorties, delivered 480 tons of cargo and transported 3,330 passengers. On March 17 Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 28 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.4 million pounds of fuel. March 16 Air Force C-130s and C-17s continue to provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. Approximately 195 airlift sorties were flown, almost 650 tons of cargo were delivered, and close to 3,250 passengers were transported. Also in Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 20 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols. Air Force A-10s, B-52 Stratofortresses and Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Orgun-E, Tarin Kowt and Qalat. Four Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Coalition aircraft flew 36 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. Air Force F-15s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Tikrit. In addition, 14 Air Force, Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Japan and the Republic of Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On March 15 Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 29 sorties and off-loaded more than 2 million pounds of fuel.