Day 39: 24 Feb 1991

24 February 1991 (Sunday): DAY 39

GENERAL:

v Coalition Ground Offensive begins at 04:00 am local (20:00 EST)

v the 100,000 VII Corps pushes northeast, Marines hit the KTO head-on

v thousands surrender (over 5500), resistence light

v Bush tells the nation "The liberation of Kuwait..."

v feints at Wadi al Batin and elsewhere with amphibious units

v (2) Marine Divisions and Arab forces attack towards Kuwait City

v XVIII Airborne Corps and VII Corps conduct wide encirclement

v the 2nd ACR is 45 kilometers inside Iraq by 5 pm local

v more than 300 attack and utility helos move the 101st Airborne

beyond 50 miles deep into Iraq

v the Kuwaiti Government moves to Dhahran, ready to move further

AIR WAR:

v A-10's are used to attack SCUD sites, radar sites, SAM positions,

and other "deeper targets" that eventually were critiqued by Gen

Horner as being a bad idea, just as insisting on the F-16's from

Syracuse using the 30mm gunpod was a bad idea.

F-117 HIGHLIGHTS (24Feb/Day 39):

v Day 39/Wave Two: 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 38/23rd to hit targets on Day 39/24th

- 1 x F-117 air aborted, the remaining 9 x reached their targets

- Scored 15 hits with 16 PGM attempts (94%), 2 no-drops

- Iraqi Intelligence & Special Operation Headquarters in Bagdad

v Day 39/Wave One: 2 x F-117's from the 416th TFS

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

- Takeoff during the p.m. of Day 38/23rd to hit targets on Day 39/24th

- All 6 x F-117's had etheir targets obscured by weather

- Scored 3 direct hits with 4 PGM attempts (83%), 8 no-drop

- A Radio Relay Stations at Ar Rumaylah, Az Zubayr, & Mufrash

v Day 40/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 39/24th to hit targets on Day 40/25th

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

- The Presidential Facility at Abu Ghurayb

- Possible Bomb Fuze Plant in Al Narawan

- Samarra Chemical Warfare Storage Facility

v Day 40/Wave Two: 8 x F-117's from the 416th TFS

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

- Takeoff during the p.m. of Day 39/24th to hit targets on Day 40/25th

- Scored 18 direct hits with 21 PGM attempts (83%), 7 no-drop

- Re-Visit the Presidential Facility at Abu Ghurayb

- Re-Visit the Possible Bomb Fuze Plant in Al Narawan

- The Special Security Services Facility in Bagdad

- An Ammunition Depot at Kirkut

LOSSES:

v (1) USMC Harrier AV-8B was reported lost....not verified

SCUDS:

v (2) SCUD launched at Riyadh, and (2) at Israel

Gulf War 1991 Chronology

Day 39: 24 Feb 1991