Day 35: 20 Feb 1991

20 February 1991 (Wednesday): DAY 35

GENERAL:

AIR WAR:

v 2800 sorties flown

v No combat losses from the 3500 sorties flown out of Incirlik

- runway is damaged from high usage

v No Iraqi fixed wing sorties in 9 days

v No Iraqi Air Combat Sorties in three weeks

v Experienced pilots are tasked with "Fast Fac" responsibilities to work in pre-

designated "Boxes" in order to keep pressure on the Iraqi Ground Forces

v US aircraft are called against a 300 vehicle convoy 60 miles into Kuwait

(28) tanks are accounted for with other stuff

v 2 x A-10's spotted a SCUD on a TEL and killed it

v 2 x F-15E's destroyed 4 x mobile TEL's

v US helo's strike deep destroying over 15 bunkers. 450-500 Iraqi's surrender

to the OH-58 Kiowa and AH-64 Apache

v 2 x AH-64 Apache Helos and their (2) OH-58D Kiowa scouts from the 102st

Airborne Division, spotted a network of bunkers at Thaqb al Hajj, 40 miles north of

the Kuwaiti border. With supporting A-10's they attacked these bunkers for four

hours. An Airborne Company landed nearby with a three man psyops team who

broadcasted surender appeals. 435 x Iraqi soldiers from the 45th Division poured out

of their holes and surrendered with their Batalion Commander deep behind the lines at

another bunker complex. Chinooks took the prisoners back to US lines. Press accounts

of the incident showed US troops with 101st patches leaving Schwarzkopf to think that

his radical movement of forces might have been compromised.

v LtCol Ralph Hayes, commander of an Apache Batalion, was relieved from duty

after he was deemed responsible for the fratricide that cost (2) friendly lives

v Hard evidence surfaced that Chemical ammunition has been distributed to Iraq

artillery batteries in Kuwait and Southern Iraq.

F-117 HIGHLIGHTS (20Feb/Day 35):

v Day 35/Wave Two: 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 34/19th to hit targets on Day 35/20th

- all 10 x aircraft air aborted due to very bad weather

- Scored 0 hits with 0 PGM attempts (0%)

- Jalibah Southwest Airfield was the sole target

v Day 36/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 13 direct hits with 20 PGM attempts (65%)

- Strategic Railroad Bridges at Umm Al Wasum & Al Haqlaniyah

(416th tragets scoring 9 out of 10 bombs, 2 x F117's at Al Qaim missed)

- A Superphosphate Fertilizer Plant (Chemical Weapons Capable) at Al Qaim

(4 x F-117's of the 415th TFS put 8 x Bombs directly into it)

KILLS: None Recorded

LOSSES:

v 1 x F-16C from the 401st TFW is reported lost in Turkey

- 86-0329, 5C435, Blk 30E, non-combat

- 3rd stage of the GE engine came apart at around 18,000 feet

- returned to Turkish airspace, pilot ejected OK

- aircraft crashed short of an emergency airfield, suspect engine failed

- 6th non-combat loss, 3 in combat

v 1 x OH-58 Kiowa

- CWO Hal H. Reichely (27) of Marietta, Georgia...........KIA

- SPC Michael D. Daniels (20) of Fort Leavenworth...KIA

SCUDS:

v 36th SCUD fired at Israel in the 15th Attack

v todate 68 SCUD's have been fired, 33 at Saudi, 35 at Israel

Gulf War 1991 Chronology

Day 35: 20 Feb 1991