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CTF- 57 Aircraft, Crews Pass 10K Mark

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030925-14 Release Date: 9/26/2003 12:07:00 AM

By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Dennis J. Herring, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Coalition maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft squadrons operating in the Persian Gulf under Commander Task Force (CTF) 57 recently reached 10,000 hours flight time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

The squadrons have performed their missions over Iraq and throughout the Persian Gulf since OIF began in March. The squadrons' two primary missions are supporting ground troops in Iraq and performing OIF maritime interception operations (MIO) as part of the coalition's effort to stop illegal smuggling of oil.

"The P-3 overland mission has evolved over the last 10 years from counter-narcotics flights in the Caribbean to overland patrol in Bosnia and Kosovo," said Capt. David M. Mitchell, deputy commander, CTF-57. "Since Sept. 11, we have been flying over Afghanistan and Iraq."

"Our overland mission has been primarily in support of Marine Corps troops on the ground, but also Army," Mitchell said. "During these missions, we usually have one of their officers ride along and communicate with the troops on the ground. Using the plane's cameras, the rider can tell the troops what is happening around them, like a possible ambush. It has become a great value for forces on the ground."

"The camera operators on the P-3 have the ability to watch ground operations, and relay information to the troops about activity in the area," said Air Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class (NAC) Cheryl L. Campbell. "The crew can watch for cars moving in the area and snipers hiding on rooftops, all while keeping an eye on the target."

During one flight, the crew watched troops as they entered a house when a car stopped in the street down from the house.

"The driver got out and ran away," said Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class (NAC) James K. Brown. "The Marines didn't know what the guy was doing, but with our ability to watch from overhead, we could give them his movements."

"Another night we had 'eyes' on a raid," Campbell said. "Later, we found out two detainees picked up in that raid were on the Iraqi "Most Wanted" deck of cards. After that mission, we realized how flying high above the action plays a different, but equally important role in OIF."

The second P-3 mission is watching for corrupt shipping merchants trying to smuggle illegal oil using Iraq's many inland waterways.

"Our mission over the waterways is to provide surveillance in order to deter potential oil smugglers," said Lt. Peter H. Thrift, Patrol Squadron 40, Combat Aircrew (CAC) 10, airplane and mission commander. "With our cameras, we can find smugglers and keep eyes on their vessels until coalition forces are able to intercept them. We can send pictures of the ships back in real-time."

Coalition leadership is committed to returning economic stability to Iraq, including deterring the smuggling of oil that rightfully belongs to the Iraqi people.

"Everything the guys on the ground or in the ships can see around them is a very narrow picture of what is happening," said Lt. j.g. Tony J. Jungblut, CAC 10 pilot. "We can broaden the spectrum of what they see, and with our cameras we can provide it to them in real-time. It's like the police helicopter flying over a crime scene."