F-16 assists in search, recovery of helicopter crew Published May 31, 2005 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon provided close air support to ground troops fighting to recover two slain helicopter crewmen in the vicinity of Baquba, Iraq, recently, officials said.The ground troops had to battle terrorist insurgents while performing search-and-recovery operations. The F-16 suppressed enemy small-arms fire by dropping a laser-guided bomb, officials said.An Air Force joint terminal attack controller embedded with the Army ground troops communicated with the F-16, ultimately directing the pilot to the target, officials said.An MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle also provided full-motion video surveillance of the area and ongoing operations."Supporting coalition forces on the ground is our No. 1 priority," said British Royal air force Air Commodore Simon Bryant, Combined Air Operations Center director."On any given day, the coalition air component flies more than 100 sorties,” he said. “(The component) provides any mix of close air support, intra-theater airlift, tanker missions and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance -- all in support of ground operations." (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)