From the "Airpower Summaries", released on USAF's public main website, for January 2009 I extracted and edited all available info related to A-10 Thunderbolt II combat missions in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). The mostly daily airpower summaries for OEF and OIF are provided by Combined Air and Space Operations Center (CAOC) officials at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. According to the sources, all of the listed missions were confirmed successful by on-scene joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs).
Jan. 1: In the vicinity of Monari and near Ghazni, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided armed aerial reconnaissance and armed overwatch for a coalition convoy traveling along a known enemy ambush route.
Jan. 2: No A-10 info
Jan. 3: No A-10 info
Jan. 4: Near Monari, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs performed shows of force expending flares and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy conducting operations in the area.
Jan. 5: Near Ghazni, an A-10 Thunderbolt II performed a show of force expending flares and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy conducting operations in the area.
Jan. 6: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped guided bomb unit-38s and fired cannon rounds against an anti-Afghan machine gun crew attacking coalition forces in the vicinity of Sheykhabad. In the vicinity of Nangalam and near Lashkar Gah, an A-10 and a Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet executed shows of force to deter enemy activity. Over the Ghazni area, an A-10 performed a show of force expending flares while providing aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy conducting a counter-improvised explosive device sweep.
Jan. 7: Near Nangalam an A-10 Thunderbolt II and F-15E Strike Eagle executed shows of force to deter enemy forces attacking a U.S. ground unit. In the Bagram area, an A-10 performed a show of force while providing aerial overwatch for a coalition unit clearing suspected enemy sites.
Jan. 8: An A-10 Thunderbolt II and a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet performed shows of force and expended flares to deter anti-Afghan forces from attacking coalition units in the vicinity of Ghazni. F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10s performed shows of force expending flares as a deterrent to anti-Afghan forces firing at coalition ground units near Sheykhabad. Additionally, F-15Es provided aerial overwatch of a landing zone as coalition helicopters picked up soldiers.
Jan. 9: An A-10 Thunderbolt II performed a show of force and expended flares to prevent anti-Afghan forces from attacking a coalition convoy in the vicinity of Ghazni.
Jan. 10: In the Worzhanah Kalay region, an A-10 Thunderbolt II conducted a show of force near a Coalition outpost to deter enemy activity.
Jan. 11: Near Nangalam, an A-10 Thunderbolt II destroyed anti-Afghan positions with general purpose 500-pound bombs, relieving an ambushed coalition vehicle patrol which had come under heavy enemy fire. The coalition patrol returned safely to base with the A-10 providing aerial escort. Near Musa Qala, an A-10 strafed a building containing enemy personnel firing RPGs and surface-to-air missiles at coalition forces. When the enemy continued to fire from the building, the A-10 destroyed it with a GBU-38. Nearby, an F/A18E Super Hornet performed a show of force in support of additional coalition operations in the area. Near Ghazni, an A-10 performed a show of force to discourage enemy activity in support of a coalition convoy on a goodwill mission to nearby villages.
Jan. 12: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs executed shows of force and expended flares near Bagram to prevent enemy action during a coalition operation. A-10s conducted shows of force and expended flares to deter enemy activity during aerial overwatch missions in the Ghazni, Shkin and Nangalam areas.
Jan. 13: No A-10 info
Jan. 14: No A-10 info
Jan. 15: No A-10 info
Jan. 16: Not released
Jan. 17: No A-10 info
Jan. 18: No A-10 info
Jan. 19: No A-10 info
Jan. 20: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and F-15E Strike Eagles targeted several enemy fighting positions and machine gun nests with rockets, general purpose 500-pound bombs and guided bomb unit-38s. The engagement supported a coalition ground force operating near Nangalam. Nearby, a Navy F/A-18C Hornet and an Air Force F-15E conducted shows of force to deter further enemy activity.
Jan. 21: Coalition aircraft supported ground operations near Nangalam. A-10 Thunderbolt IIs targeted several anti-Afghan force heavy machine positions with GBU-38s and general purpose 500-pound bombs and conducted shows of force in support of friendly patrols and convoys. Strike Eagles dropped GBU-12s on enemy forces during a running engagement, halting a failed ambush on a coalition patrol. MQ-1 Predators also provided tactical reconnaissance for ground units clearing enemy compounds in the area. F-15Es and an A-10 struck anti-Afghan units with guided bomb unit-12s and strafing attacks. The strikes took place after enemy forces and a coalition patrol engaged each other in the vicinity of Khowst. The A-10s also expended illumination flares to reveal and mark enemy positions.
Jan. 22: Near Bagram, an A-10 Thunderbolt II strafed a cave from which enemy gunmen had been firing at coalition troops. The A-10 also performed a show of force in the area to deter additional enemy activity. An A-10 flew an aerial escort mission for a coalition convoy near Ghazni. The Thunderbolt II conducted a show of force over the route to discourage enemy forces from engaging. A Thunderbolt II flew shows of force in the area around a Ghazni area settlement to deter enemy activity. Coalition forces met with local leaders in the village to increase cooperation and support.
Jan. 23: An A-10 Thunderbolt II flew a show of force along the route of a group of coalition helicopters to deter enemy hostilities.
Jan. 24: Near Mata Khan, an A-10 Thunderbolt II performed a show of force expending flares to deter enemy activity along the route of a coalition convoy. The A-10 provided security for the convoy as an aerial escort. In the Delaram region, an A-10 dropped illumination flares to increase visibility for a coalition patrol entering the area. The A-10 also executed a show of force to discourage enemy activity.
Jan. 25: No A-10 info
Jan. 26: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs destroyed anti-Afghan fighting positions with general purpose 500-pound bombs in the vicinity of Nangalam. The Thunderbolt IIs struck the targets at the request of a coalition convoy which had been receiving small arms fire from the enemy positions. An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle also executed a show of force in the area to deter enemy activity.
Jan. 27: In the vicinity of Garmser, an A-10 Thunderbolt II flew a show of force to deter enemy action. The Thunderbolt II also performed route surveillance to ensure the safe passage of a coalition convoy.
Jan. 28: In the vicinity of Qal-E-Naw, multiple Air Force aircraft including A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, B-1B Lancers and F-15E Strike Eagles conducted shows of force to disperse anti-Afghan personnel attacking coalition forces. The aircraft also helped friendly units locate enemy fighting positions while providing aerial overwatch. An A-10 flew a show of force over the Malek Din area to prevent enemy activity along the route of a coalition convoy.
Jan. 29: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and F-15E Strike Eagles executed multiple strikes near Nangalam, targeting enemy personnel using RPGs, mortars, automatic weapons and sniper fire against a coalition unit. After the Thunderbolt IIs relieved friendly forces under enemy fire using precision bombing, effectively ending the battle, the F-15Es remained on station to provide overwatch for coalition forces as they regrouped. In the vicinity of Khowst, an A-10 flew a show of force over a convoy patrol route to deter personnel from placing improvised explosive devices. Several suspected enemy personnel ran from the site immediately following the maneuver.
Jan. 30: No A-10 info
Jan. 31: An A-10 Thunderbolt II targeted anti-Afghan personnel with a 30mm cannon strafing pass after a coalition patrol discovered them preparing to fire mortars. The coalition was conducting its mission near Worzhanah Kalay when enemy forces began firing small-arms fire and readying their unsuccessful mortar attack. An A-10 destroyed enemy heavy machine gun emplacements near Nangalam using general purpose 500-pound bombs, ending heavy fire directed at a coalition convoy.
Because the A-10s for OEF are deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, please note the following info:
C-17 mishap closes Bagram base
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, February 1, 2009
A mishap involving a C-17 cargo plane has forced the U.S. military to close its key air base near Kabul, Afghanistan, "until further notice," officials said late Friday.
According to U.S. Forces Afghanistan, the C-17 landed at Bagram Airfield on Friday night without having its landing gear fully extended, "causing a small fire."
No injuries were reported in the incident, according to a short press release issued late Friday. An investigation team will be appointed to look into the incident. [...] Source
C-17 damaged in gear-up landing at Bagram
Air Force Times
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 3, 2009 7:20:40 EST
A C-17 Globemaster made a "gear up" landing at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan late Friday.
The crew got off the plane safely, but there was a small fire and extensive damage to plane's underside, according to Air Force reports.
The plane, assigned to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., was landing at Bagram around 10 p.m. when the accident occurred, reports said. The emergency resulted in the temporary closure of runway at the largest military airport in Afghanistan. Air operations resumed Saturday.
Accident and safety investigation boards are looking into what caused the accident.
Friday's accident was the second bad C-17 landing in Afghanistan during the past two months.
There were no injuries Dec. 23 when a C-17 from Charleston rolled off the runway at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan while trying to land at 6:20 a.m. Source
See also:
A-10 Afghanistan Combat Summary for December 2008
A-10 Afghanistan Combat Summary for November 2008
A-10 Afghanistan Combat Summary for October 2008
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