CENTAF releases combined airpower summary Published March 6, 2006 SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for March 4 to 6. Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 5 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Hawijah, Baghdad and Tikrit. In addition, 13 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Also, Air Force fighter aircraft flew in a non-traditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 6 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and presence route patrols. An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Orgun-E. Three Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intratheater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 160 airlift sorties, transported 2,670 passengers and delivered 310 tons of cargo including 8,000 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada and South Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On March 4 Air Force and RAF tankers flew 29 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.4 million pounds of fuel. Coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air-support missions March 4 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Air Force F-16s provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad. An F-16 successfully expended a precision-guided munition against an enemy weapons cache. Air Force F-16s provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Abu Ghraib prison and Al Miqdadiyah. In addition, 12 Air Force, Navy and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 15 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and presence route patrols. An Air Force B-52 and RAF Harrier GR-7s provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Qalat. Four Air Force and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intratheater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 175 airlift sorties, transported 2,240 passengers and delivered 600 tons of cargo including 20,000 pounds of emergency relief and 8,000 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On March 3 Air Force tankers flew 28 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.3 million pounds of fuel. Coalition aircraft flew 52 close-air-support missions March 3 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. Air Force F-16s and Navy F/A-18s provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Iskandariyah, Al Mahmudiyah and Tikrit. In addition, 13 Air Force, Navy and Royal Australian Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 14 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and presence route patrols. Four Air Force and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intratheater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 180 airlift sorties, delivered 455 tons of cargo and transported 3,130 passengers. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On March 2 Air Force and RAF tankers flew 32 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.7 million pounds of fuel.