TR Planes Pound Northern Iraq
Navy NewStand
Story Number: NNS030401-04
Release Date: 4/1/2003 12:28:00 PM
By Chief Jounalist (SW) Aaron Strickland, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
ABOARD USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, At Sea (NNS) -- Fighter and strike fighter aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 8, deployed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), pounded positions in northern Iraq for most of the night March 31, the longest night of flights and sorties since the war began March 19.
Pilots flew nearly 50 sorties on sites, including artillery installations, a barracks and a surface-to-air-missile (SAM) installation in northern Iraq.
Pilots from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 201 talked early April 1 about their more intensive missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"We want to give the best support we can to the troops on the ground," said Lt. Cmdr. Steve O'Bryan, a pilot with VFA-201. "We're picking up the pace because we want to help out the ground forces."
He said the missions were designed to pick up the pressure on ground forces and support the newly-arriving 173rd Army Airborne Brigade.
TR Commanding Officer Capt. Rich O'Hanlon said when ground forces needed support, Air Wing 8 planes answered the call.
"Our pilots delivered weapons that stopped the enemy from advancing on our troops," he said.
Cmdr. Sean Clark, another pilot with VFA-201, noted there is much more activity on the northern front than in previous missions.
"Lots of our targets were artillery and (other sites) to impede Iraqi ground force progress," he said. "We have a lot more ground forces to support with our strikes."
Clark also pointed to waning Iraqi resistance. He said Iraqis are "starting to feel the heat" from coalition air strikes.
One reason for the success of the strikes undoubtedly is training and experience, especially with VFA-201, which boasts an unusually senior pilot cadre.
"It's like being on an all-star team," said Cmdr. Doug Beale of VFA-201.
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