8
US and coalition forces continue to search out pockets of resistance in Afghanistan and maintain combat air patrols in the States. Seeking Terrorists AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2002 40
US and coalition forces continue to search out pockets ofresistance in Afghanistan and maintain combat air patrols inthe States.
Seeking TerroristsNighttime, covert insertion and extraction of special operations units are thespecialty of these MH-53J Pave Low helicopters, which have crisscrossedAfghanistan in the past few months. They fly lights-out, as seen in this nightvision view from the gunner door of another Pave Low.
US
AF
ph
oto
by
TS
gt.
Ma
nu
el
Tre
jo
AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2002 41AIR FORCE Magazine / February 200240
Photography by USAF photographers
US and coalition forces continue to search out pockets ofresistance in Afghanistan and maintain combat air patrols inthe States.
Seeking TerroristsNighttime, covert insertion and extraction of special operations units are thespecialty of these MH-53J Pave Low helicopters, which have crisscrossedAfghanistan in the past few months. They fly lights-out, as seen in this nightvision view from the gunner door of another Pave Low.
US
AF
ph
oto
by
TS
gt.
Ma
nu
el
Tre
jo
AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2002 41AIR FORCE Magazine / February 200240
Photography by USAF photographers
AIR FORCE Magazine / February 200242
Airborne Warning and ControlSystem aircraft crew members, suchas these two at right with the 405thAir Expeditionary Wing, have thecritical job of managing the airspaceover the battlefield. Fourteen-hourdays are typical, as there are neverenough AWACS aircraft to goaround.
As can be seen here, even onintelligence, surveillance, andreconnaissance “heavies,” crews flywithout name tags and patches—justin case.
An MC-130 lowers the refuelingdrogue for a hookup with a PaveLow. The MC-130s perform manyclassified missions besides refuelingspecial operations choppers. At left,a gunner at the rear of an MH-53.Pave Low crews routinely land in“hot” areas and must be prepared todefend themselves.
US
AF
ph
ot o
by
TS
gt .
Ce
dri
c H
. R
ud
isill
US
AF
ph
oto
s b
y T
Sg
t. S
cott
Re
ed
A Pave Low takes on fuel from aspecial ops MC-130 Combat Talon.Besides serving as transportation forspecial ops troops, pararescuemen,and combat air controllers, PaveLows sometimes conduct surveil-lance with their sophisticated nightvision gear.
To reduce the need for refueling andto expand speed and capability, theAir Force hopes to replace the MH-53J with the tilt-rotor CV-22 some-time this decade.
US
AF
ph
ot o
by
TS
gt .
Ma
nu
el
Tre
jo
AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2002 43
The EC-130E Commando Solo, withits distinctive pods and antennas, isoperated only by the PennsylvaniaAir National Guard. The aircraft is aflying TV and radio station broad-casting the real story of what’shappening to anyone in range. Italso serves as a listening post in thesky.
Above, crews work their electronicmagic from the “capsule” in the EC-130’s cargo bay. In the first threemonths of Enduring Freedom,Commando Solo crews broadcastmore than 1,100 hours over Afghani-stan.
At right, gassing up behind a tanker.
US
AF
ph
ot o
s b
y T
Sg
t . J
ack
Bra
de
n
AIR FORCE Magazine / February 200244
When a B-1B went down in theIndian Ocean, rescue crews jumpedinto action. At right, the medicalelement discusses their part beforeheading out to USS Russell, whichpicked up the downed fliers.
Below, two of the four rescued crewmembers—all were safely recov-ered—get a medical check.
US
AF
ph
ot o
by
SS
gt .
Sh
an
e C
uo
mo
US
AF
ph
ot o
by
TS
gt .
Ce
dri
c H
. R
ud
isill
Loss of the B-1 was due to malfunc-tions, but officials deemed nogrounding was necessary and theother B-1Bs continued to fly.
A captured Taliban or al Qaedafighter is strip-searched by two UStroops. With several prisoneruprisings resulting in NorthernAlliance and American deaths,prisoners are treated with the utmostcaution. Although complaints weremade about the shackling andrestraint of prisoners flown toGuantanamo Bay, Cuba, USAF Gen.Richard B. Myers, Joint Chiefs ofStaff Chairman, noted one uprisingwhere a prisoner used a grenade orother explosive to blow himself up,taking anyone nearby. He said,“These are very, very dangerouspeople, and that’s how they’re beingtreated.”
US
AF
ph
oto
by
SS
gt.
Sh
an
e C
uo
mo
US
AF
ph
ot o
by
TS
gt .
Ce
dri
c H
. R
ud
isill
AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2002 45
Where there’s an airfield, there’s away: Mighty C-5 Galaxys delivertroops, equipment, vehicles, andhumanitarian aid to Afghanistan viaKyrgyzstan. Operating out of formerSoviet republics has helped buildnew friendships in the region.
Note the all-terrain vehicles andhumvees being shipped in for use byspecial forces. Afghanistan hassome extremely rough terrain andoften quite a harsh climate.
While the C-17 has often grabbed theairlift spotlight in Operation Endur-ing Freedom, the C-5s—from bothactive and Air Force ReserveCommand units—have been pullingtheir share of the load.
US
AF
ph
ot o
US
AF
ph
ot o
s b
y T
Sg
t . E
f ra
in G
on
zale
z
AIR FORCE Magazine / February 200246
Mail call has a decidedly differentflavor nowadays. In previous wars,families might wait anxiously forweeks without word from theirtroops at the front, but thanks to theInternet, many now stay in dailycontact. E-mail stations provide away to stay in touch with home whilehalf a world away.
US
AF
ph
ot o
by
Sco
t t H
. S
pit
zer
US
AF
ph
ot o
by
TS
gt .
Ja
ck B
rad
en
US
AF
ph
oto
by
TS
gt.
Mic
ha
el
R.
Nix
on
RED HORSE civil engineering unitshave been busy improving austerelocations. Often they must usewhatever is at hand, for instancematerials bought on the localeconomy or recycled items such aspacking crates. Their ingenuity ismatched only by their hard work.
Meanwhile on the home front, activeand reserve units routinely flyCombat Air Patrol over dozens ofAmerican cities for Operation NobleEagle. The flights are intended todissuade further air attacks likethose on Sept. 11 and to provide aquick response if a threat material-izes.
US
AF
ph
oto
by
MS
gt.
Bla
ke R
. B
ors
ic
AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2002 47
Operation Enduring Freedombrought the first sustained combatfor the B-1B in its 15-year career.The success of the missions showthat long training has paid off inreliable strikes across a wide rangeof targets. The Air Force insists thatit still wants to reduce the size of theB-1B fleet, but Congress has orderedfurther review of the plan, especiallyin light of the aircraft’s operationalsuccess.
At left, the crew discusses last-minute details before a sortie. Theround-trip from Diego Garcia totargets in Afghanistan lasts aboutsix hours.
US
AF
ph
ot o
s b
y S
Sg
t . S
ha
ne
Cu
om
o
At left, a crew chief watches as “his”airplane, lent to the flight crew, taxistoward takeoff.
Air Force personnel are now de-ployed in nearly a dozen countriessupporting Enduring Freedom andare committed to getting the jobdone. ■
![Tutorial (departamentos)[1] yessica chavez trejo y equipo](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/559a00581a28ab0e098b4851/tutorial-departamentos1-yessica-chavez-trejo-y-equipo.jpg)
