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CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 14
You gotta love close air support by a B-1. And by the French.In Afghanistan Dec. 13, an Air Force B-1B Lancer conducted a strike against Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The B-1B expended guided bomb unit-38s.

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1B provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Now Zad. The A-10s expended cannon rounds on enemy positions.

An Air Force B-1B provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Now Zad. The B-1B expended GBU-31s and GBU-38s on enemy positions.

French M-2000D Mirages provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Kabul. The M2000Ds expended GBU-12s on enemy positions.

Air Force A-10s and French M-2000Ds provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Orgun-E.

In total, 24 close-air-support missions were flown in support of ISAF and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Additionally, eight Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan .

In Iraq, U.S. Marine F/A-18 Hornets and AV-8B Harriers conducted strikes against anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Ramadi. The F/A-18s and the AV-8Bs expended rockets on enemy positions.

Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Hawijah.

Navy F/A-18s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 48 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, 18 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq . Navy fighter aircraft performed in non-traditional ISR roles with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

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. Approximately 130 airlift sorties were flown; about 530 tons of cargo was delivered, and more than 2,300 passengers were transported. This included more than 37,500 pounds of troop re-supply air-dropped in eastern Afghanistan.

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

On Dec. 11, Air Force, RAF and French tankers flew 33 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.3 million pounds of fuel.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2006-12-14
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=175089