CENTAF releases airpower summaries for Sept. 16-18 Published Sept. 19, 2006 By CENTAF public affairs SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summaries for Sept. 16 through 18. Sept. 16 In Afghanistan Sept. 15, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Khowst. Marine Corps AV-8Bs and Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The AV-8Bs expended a Guided Bomb Unit-12 and a GBU-38 on enemy locations, ending the engagement. The following close-air support requests supported NATO forces operating as the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, in Afghanistan. Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Sangin. The GR-7s made passes and expended rockets on enemy locations, ending the engagement. Additionally, four Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. In total, coalition aircraft flew 48 close-air support missions in support of OEF or ISAF. These missions included support to coalition, Afghan and ISAF troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols. In Iraq, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Mosul, and Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles provided close-air support to troops in contact near Samarra and Balad. Additionally, 16 Air Force, Navy and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. In total, coalition aircraft flew 40 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 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 183 airlift sorties, delivered 410 tons of cargo and transported 4,400 passengers. This included more than 27,700 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada and Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF. On Sept. 14, U.S., French and RAF tankers flew 40 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel. Sept. 17 In Afghanistan Sept. 16, an Air Force B-1 conducted a precision strike against a Taliban extremist target near Gereshk. The B-1 expended GBU-38s, destroying the target. Air Force A-10s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Jalalabad. The following close-air support requests supported NATO forces operating as the ISAF in Afghanistan. RAF GR-7s and an Air Force B-1 provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Lashkar Gah. The GR-7s expended a general-purpose 540-pound bomb and an enhanced Paveway II munition, and the B-1 expended GBU-38s and a GBU-31 on enemy locations. Navy F/A-18s provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Sangin. Navy F/A-18s also provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. Additionally, 5 Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. In total, coalition aircraft flew 46 close-air support missions in support of OEF or ISAF. These missions included support to coalition, Afghan and ISAF troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols. In Iraq, Marine Corps AV-8Bs conducted a strike against anti-Iraqi forces placing an improvised explosive device near Ar Ramadi. The aircraft expended cannon rounds stopping the emplacement. Air Force F-16s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Diwaniyah, and Air Force F-16s, Marine Corps F/A-18s and RAF Tornado GR-4s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad. Additionally, 14 Air Force, Navy, Army and Royal Australian Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. In total, coalition aircraft flew 42 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 C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 165 airlift sorties, delivered 500 short tons of cargo and transported 3,500 passengers. This included more than 27,000 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia and Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF. On Sept. 15, U.S., French and RAF tankers flew 41 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.4 million pounds of fuel. Sept. 18 In Afghanistan Sept. 17, Air Force A-10s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Orgun-E and Jalalabad. Air Force A-10s and Marine Corps AV-8Bs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Deh Rawod. The following close-air-support requests supported NATO forces operating as the ISAF in Afghanistan. Navy F/A-18s provided close-air support to ISAF troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. Additionally, four Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. In total, coalition aircraft flew 54 close-air-support missions in support of OEF or ISAF. These missions included support to coalition, Afghan and ISAF troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols. In Iraq, Air Force F-16s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Kirkuk and Baghdad. Marine Corps F/A-18s provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Hillah and Basrah. Additionally, 18 Air Force, Navy, Army and RAF ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. In total, coalition aircraft flew 40 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. On Sept. 16, Air Force rescue and medical crews on HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters flew a medical evacuation mission in support of OEF. A coalition military member with injuries requiring urgent care was evacuated as a result of this mission. 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 480 tons of cargo and transported 4,400 passengers. This included about 43,000 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in eastern Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada and Korea flew in support of OIF or OEF. On Sept. 16, U.S., RAF and Singapore Air Force tankers flew 40 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.4 million pounds of fuel.