Courtesy Photo | Persian Gulf, Oct. 15, 2005 -- Aviation Ordnancemen upload ordnance to an F/A-18C...... read more read more
By Air Force Master Sgt. Sean E. Cobb
U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward Public Affairs
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, the Arabian Gulf - In an increase from recent aircraft carrier gulf deployments, this ship's naval aviators have flown more than 250 air missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since their flying mission began Oct. 6.
Supporting ground operations leading up to the Iraqi constitutional referendum is a major reason for the expanded naval air presence, said Navy Capt. Bill Sizemore, Carrier Air Wing Eight commander. The wing is embarked to the Persian Gulf aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Naval aviators from the carrier's two F-14 squadrons and two F/A-18 squadrons fly a range of mission types, including close air support; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; infrastructure protection; convoy support and counter-mortar missions, Captain Sizemore said.
"We came in immediately during escalated operations for the referendum," Captain Sizemore said. "We trained hard to come in and fly these missions -- we want to do the best job we can. The frequency of these missions got us off on the right track."
The wing also actively pursues air taskings from the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Robert Pieroni, the wing's air war officer. The center is responsible for coordinating Coalition airpower over Afghanistan, Iraq and other U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility.
"We let the CAOC know on a daily basis what we can provide to the air war - so far we've been very well utilized," Lieutenant Commander Pieroni said.
With the wing flying more than 6,000 flight hours in support of OIF so far, the Navy presence makes up about 40 percent of the air strike assets over Iraq at any given time, Lieutenant Commander Pieroni said.
Logging all those flight hours means working closely with other Coalition aircrews - especially the air refuelers who help keep Coalition aircraft in the Iraqi skies. "This is nothing new - flying in a Coalition environment," Captain Sizemore said.
"We fly regularly [in training] with Air Force tankers and we work with other [Armed] Services airframes," he said.
Aboard the aircraft carrier, approximately 5,500 Sailors work around-the-clock operations to keep the wing airborne.
"Although we are out here in the Gulf, it's all about supporting the ground forces," Lieutenant Commander Pieroni said from the carrier air wing's operations center, situated along one of the aircraft carrier's nearly five miles of passageways.
"[Shipboard Sailors] try and make things run smoothly for the air wing so they can better support the troops on the grounds," he said.
Several stories above the operations center, on the carrier's flight deck, between hissing steam from catapulting aircraft and searing jet blasts, a Sailor echoes the sentiment of support for fellow servicemembers in Iraq.
"Every time I load ordnance, I'm hoping they drop it," said VF-213 Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Robert Massard.
Petty Officer Massard's eyes narrow and he takes a calculating look around at the red-shirted ordnancemen working in crews of four to six, loading precision-guided bombs and missiles on naval fighter aircraft bound for Iraq.
His tone turns serious. "To me, every bomb we load and they drop means lives are saved," Massard added.
In addition to flying missions over Iraq, naval aviators from the aircraft carrier's eight flying squadrons conduct maritime security operations, including oil platform security and patrols to deny terrorist organizations access to Arabian Gulf waterways, Captain Sizemore said.
| Date Taken: | 10.31.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 10.31.2005 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 3534 |
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| Web Views: | 173 |
| Downloads: | 48 |
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