bobdina
08-26-2009, 09:01 AM
Record sorties support Afghanistan voting
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff Writer
Posted : Tuesday Aug 25, 2009 18:42:54 EDT
A record number of close-air support missions were flown over Afghanistan as voters cast ballots Aug. 20, Air Forces Central Command said Tuesday.
Overall, 101 sorties were flown by Air Force and Navy warplanes. The previous high was 94 sorties flown Aug. 19, the day before voting began.
During one mission, F-16 and F-15E fighters used bombs and strafing runs to target enemy sniper positions that were firing on a convoy carrying election ballots. On another mission, F/A-18s targeted insurgents who were gathering to ambush an election convoy.
Coalition planes also flew 36 reconnaissance sorties above Afghanistan.
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff Writer
Posted : Tuesday Aug 25, 2009 18:42:54 EDT
A record number of close-air support missions were flown over Afghanistan as voters cast ballots Aug. 20, Air Forces Central Command said Tuesday.
Overall, 101 sorties were flown by Air Force and Navy warplanes. The previous high was 94 sorties flown Aug. 19, the day before voting began.
During one mission, F-16 and F-15E fighters used bombs and strafing runs to target enemy sniper positions that were firing on a convoy carrying election ballots. On another mission, F/A-18s targeted insurgents who were gathering to ambush an election convoy.
Coalition planes also flew 36 reconnaissance sorties above Afghanistan.