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Thunderbolts Surge
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Aug. 18, 2006 Six U.S. and coalition troops peer out from a remote position on a ridge top in Afghanistan. At sunset on the third day of their vigil, a large force of Taliban extremists carrying heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades surround and pin down the team. By design, an Air Force joint tactical air controller is with the team. His job is to direct strike aircraft to targets on the ground. The situation on the ridgeline is desperate until an Air Force pilot flying an A-10 Thunderbolt II in the vicinity contacts him.  Helping the A-10 pilot find and target his attackers on the ground, the air controller stays in radio contact, except when forced to pick up his weapon and fire at the enemy closing in. The A-10 and its pilot hammer at the enemy with bombs and the planes massive gun. Fifty minutes later the remaining enemy retreated and (the JTAC) and his team walked off that ridge to re-supply and fight again the next day, said Air Force Lt. Col. Keith McBride, commander of the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed here. McBride, an A-10 pilot, uses this real-life story to illustrate his point that the A-10 is saving lives in Afghanistan. There have been numerous occasions where our troops have been taking heavy fire and we show up, and either our presence ends the engagement or we employ against enemy positions and end the engagement, said Air Force Col. Tony Johnson, the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group commander and an A-10 pilot. More at link Posted by: Bobby 2006-08-23 |
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