Day 33: 18 Feb 1991

18 February 1991 (Monday): DAY 33

GENERAL:

v Iraqi General Ayad KHALIFA, Commander of the Republican Guards, said that the

US has not harmed the combat effectiveness of him units.

- after the war, in June 1991, KHALIFA was appointed Chief of the General Staff

after the fourth shake-up of the Hussein government

v USS Tripoli and Princeton hit by mines, effectively ends any realistic idea of an

amphibious invasion, but the deception continues

v General Horner escorts 4 x US Senators to Khamis Mushaif to visit the 37th TFW

Sam Nunn (D-Georgia), John Warner (R-Virginia), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), and

Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)

AIR WAR:

v Sorties total over 80,000

- 2400 sorties today

- 870 against KTO

- 100 against the Republican Guard

- 130 against SCUD's

v Saudi's have flown 5000 sorties

Kuwaiti Air Force 560 sorties

Bahrain Air Force 205 sorties

Qatar Air Force 43 sorties

v USAF SAR helicopter rescues US pilot in Kuwait, 40 miles north of Saudi border

v UAE AF flew first Mirage 2000 sorties against logistics bases in the KTO

v 1 x USN A-6E destroyed (5) Iraqi Aircraft on the ground

v UK Tornado's destroyed highway and rail bridges across the Euphrates

F-117 HIGHLIGHTS (18Feb/Day 33):

v Day 33/Wave Three: 5 x F-117's from the 416th TFS

5 x F-117's from the 415th TFS

- takeoff during the p.m. of Day 32/17th to hit targets on Day 33/18th

- 1 x aircraft air aborted, 9 x continued to target

- Scored 14 hits with 18 PGM attempts (78%)

- SCUD Production Plant at Taji

- A Solid Propellant Plant at Latifiya

- A probable SCUD Production Plant at Fallujah

v Day 34/Wave One: 6 x F-117's from the 416th TFS

4 x F-117's from the 415th TFS

- takeoff during the p.m. of Day 33/18th to hit targets on Day 34/19th

- Scored 19 direct hits with 20 PGM attempts (95%)

- Bagdad Nuclear Research Facility (415th TFS, obscured by Weather)

- alternate targets on road bridges & Karbala Ammumition Factory

- 416th TFS re-attacked the Bagdad Nuclear Research Facility (9 out of 10)

- Karbala Ammunition Storage Facility (2 out of 2)

v Day 34/Wave Two: 6 x F-117's from the 416th TFS

8 x F-117's from the 415th TFS

- takeoff during the p.m. of Day 33/18th to hit targets on Day 34/19th

- Scored 26 direct hits with 28 PGM attempts (93%)

- Aircraft Hangers at Bagdad Muthenna Airfield

- Ammunition Storage Dump at Karbala

- New Air Force Headquarters Facility in Bagdad

SCUDS:

v SCUD TOLL: 35 against Israel, 2 KIA and 230 injured

Gulf War 1991 Chronology

Day 33: 18 Feb 1991