Operation Allied Force, incorporating the RAF
Operations
Deliberate Forge, Radome and Deliberate Guard, started
w/:
- Harrier GR7s of No. 1 Sqn.
- Canberra PR9s of No. 39 Sqn based at Gioia del Colle
- Sentry AEW1s of Nos. 8 and 23 Sqns at Aviano
- Tristar tanker/transports of
No. 216 Sqn based at Ancona in Italy.
Operation Allied Force - Day 1
23 March 1999
6 RAF Harrier GR7 fighter-bombers took part in the
first night of NATO strikes against Serb military positions
after Madelaine Albright's diplomatic 'efforts' failed on 3/23/99,
when Serbs refused to give up it's land for the benefit of NATO.
Harriers were tasked to attack an ammunition storage facility
used by the Ministry of Interior Police in the defense of the territory,
about 1 hr. after the 1st cruise missile strikes.
4 GR-7s were armed with Paveway II laser-guided bombs
with the others acting as escorts.
They formed part of the third wave of attacks against the
facility.
Because of explosions, fire and smoke caused by the earlier strikes,
the Harriers had difficulty in seeing and maintaining a lock on their targets.
Paveways released by the lead aircraft lost lock
and fell short of the target on open ground.
(Something that wasn't reported in the U.S. 'news'.
As a consequence, the remaining Harriers aborted their attack and
returned to their base in Italy without releasing their weapons.
Speaking at a press conference today (March 25),
Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Charles Guthrie said,
"This restraint and discipline underlines our determination
to avoid collateral damage and civilian casualties."
(Or a determination to see a refugee crisis justify the whole scam.)
Operation Allied Force - Day 2
25 March 1999
6 aircraft were involved, and their target was an
ammo dump within Serb barracks at Leskovic.
The targeted barracks was home to AAA and infantry units.
Weapons and equipment stored included anti-aircraft guns
and ammunition, man-portable SAMs, as well as
mobile radar installations and self-propelled guns.
Of the 3 targets attacked, the Harriers successfully destroyed two,
while a technical problem with 1 aircraft in the 3rd pair, after lock,
resulted in the run being abandoned without the release of weapons.
All 6 aircraft returned safely to their base at Gioia del Colle, Italy.
2 RAF Tristar tankers and 3 Sentry AEW1
aircraft were also involved with last nights action.
Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Charles Guthrie,
took time out during a press conference to pay tribute
to all the men and women of the RAF groundcrews
and support services involved in the operations.
(Ohhhh! Isn't that special.)
General Guthrie also reaffirmed NATO's commitment to fully completing
the alleged aims of Operation Allied Force, and stated that
the action will continue until the threat to defenseless
Kosovar civilians from Serb forces is adequately reduced.
Operation Allied Force - Day 3
26 March 1999
8 Harriers were launched, but poor weather obscured the target
area and
the aircraft abandoned their mission without releasing their weapons.
Other NATO aircraft in the same waves were also called back prematurely.
All NATO aircraft once again returned without any losses.
In today's press conference Gen. Guthrie and Secretary
of State for Defence George Robertson, MP, stated that
the NATO plan was making good progress, and that the
Serbian air-defence system was becoming more and
more degraded as a result of the Allied attacks.
2 Yugoslav MiG-29s were shot down over Bosnia-Herzegovena
"further illustrating the superiority NATO has over the Serbian forces".
Operation Allied Force - Day 4
27 March 1999
Once again, poor weather obscured the target areas
disrupted NATO planning of manned aircraft attacks;
although further strikes by cruise missiles were carried out.
Public disgust w/ the images of refugees has
forced NATO to expand the idiotic air campaign.
The RAF dispatched 4 additional GR-7s from No. 1 Squadron,
RAF Wittering, to Gioia del Colle as well as another Tristar tanker
from No. 216 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton,
to Ancona to refuel NATO aircraft in flight.
8 Tornado GR1s from RAF Bruggen in Germany are also
being placed on stand-by to join the operation if necessary.
Other allies are are also incresing their assets, and the UK
has also agreed to a request from the United States to
operate additional B52 bombers from RAF Fairford.
F-117 was shot down yesterday.
General Guthrie concluded his speech at today's
press briefing by warning President Milosevic that
"over the next few days the military campaign will be
stepped up in tempo, broadened and intensified.
We are applying additional resources and
will act against a wider range of targets."
Operation Allied Force - Day 5
28 March 1999
At today's press conference, General Guthrie gave details of
last night's attack by four Harriers against an ammunition storage
site near Pristina used by the Serbian Interior Ministry Police.
All the aircraft self-designated and 6 Paveway IIs
were released against 3 large buildings in the complex.
5 successfully guided to their intended point of impact, but the
6th failed to guide and fell on open ground near the target area.
The 4th aircraft involved in the mission was illuminated
by a Serb anti-aircraft system and jettisoned its bombs.
No civilian casualties were reported. General Guthrie said,
"This was a very successful mission, with 3 targets
successfully destroyed, despite the best efforts of a rogue
bomb and the Serbs to shoot down one of our aircraft."
Confirmation was also given that the 4 extra Harriers for
Allied Force had arrived in theatre bringing the total to 12,
along with the additional Tristar tanker at Ancona.
The 8 Tornados at Bruggen were still in the process
of being prepared for action, if required.
Total RAF assets involved in Operation Allied Force are now:
12 Harrier GR7s,
3 Tristars
3 Sentry AEW1s.
Operation Allied Force - Day 6
29 March 1999
Last night's intended Harrier strikes once again fell victim
to bad weather over the target area of Pristina Pol.
Some argets were hit by NATO cruise missiles.
The 4 Harriers and a Tristar which arrived in Italy yesterday
are now fully operational, and 4 of the 8 Tornados at
RAF Bruggen are now available to join the operation if required.
The Tornados would operate from their base in Germany
if they undertook any missions over Serbia or Kosovo.
These aircraft will complement the GR-7s already involved,
and give NATO and RAF planners 24-hour capability.
Gen. Guthrie also denied Serbian claims that 1
RAF Harrier had been shot down during the night.
Secretary of State for Defense, George Robertson, MP,
spoke at length about his visit along with Opposition defence
spokesmen to the RAF detachment at Gioia del Colle in Italy.
Mr Robertson praised "their dedication,
their sense of commitment and bravery."
He also commented,
"That the RAF crews were now ready to take on
Milosevic's killers directly by attacking them in
their tanks and armored vehicles in Kosovo." |