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Nellis pilot delivers close-air-support in decisive battle

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Gregoire
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Nellis pilot Maj. Clinton Eichelberger took part in the decisive battle of An Najaf Jan. 28, contributing to the more than 200 enemy insurgents killed and 100 gunmen captured.

The Air Force's 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, the unit to which the A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot is deployed, provided close air support in the joint, combined effort to route the enemy in battle.

The 332nd AEW's F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10s answered ground forces' call for close air support after insurgents attacked them with small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades. They dropped more than 3.5 tons of precision munitions, and shot 1,200 rounds of 20mm and 1,100 rounds of 30mm cannon rounds in an area of about five square miles.

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Buzzards; 14th EFS Fighting Samurais; and 332nd EFS Red Devils, based out of Balad AB, as well as A-10s from the geographically separated 74th EFS Flying Tigers at Al Asad Air Base, all participated.

The 36-hour action was the first time all the wing's fighter aircraft have simultaneously employed ordnance in a single operation. Two of the squadrons, the 14th and 74th EFS, joined the wing's ranks just last month.

Talking directly to pilots during the mission was a joint terminal attack controller, an Airman embedded with Army ground forces, said Lt. Col. Bob Winkler, an F-16 pilot assigned to the 510th EFS.

Army ground liaison officers routinely coordinate with these Airmen for mission-specific details to better prepare pilots before missions.

"Initially, we weren't involved in Najaf since ground forces hadn't yet requested air support," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Levern Randall, 332nd AEW ground liaison noncommissioned officer. "Once airpower was requested, we supported the recovery operations of the downed helicopter."

Capt. Jeffrey Lederhouse, an A-10 pilot who diverted from another mission with Maj. Clinton Eichelberger, 74th EFS, Al-Asad AB, helped control the airspace. Captain Lederhouse acted as on-scene commander for the airspace to help manage the J-TAC's burden by directing aircraft to refuel and helping direct support to ground forces.

Major Eichelberger, an A-10 instructor pilot at his home station, noted the mission was almost identical to a recent training scenario. A-10s can traditionally stay in the target area for a longer period of time to drop their precision-guided weapons.

"We're here for that young troop on the ground every day making a difference in Iraq. We want them to go home safely--that's our priority up here," said Major Eichelberger.

For more information and F-16/A-10 mission video, go to: www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123039922

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