Day 44 - Day 75: 1 March - 1 April 1991

01 March 1991 (Friday): DAY 44

GENERAL:

v Open Revolt starts against Saddam Hussein remaining forces

v UK, France, & Canada reopen Embassy's

v 82nd Airborne takes 1000 EPW's

v More Americans died on US highways in January then did during SHIELD/STORM

v Oil price at $19.38 and the DOW ends at 2909

v retreating Iraqi force engages US forces and loose 104 armoured vehicles, US none

v UNSC adapts Resolution 686, suspension of Offensive Conflict

v (2) Iraqi Brigades are moved from the Turkish border to Bagdad

LOSSES: 1 x CH-47 Chinook

CWO Robert Hughes Maj Marie T. Rossie

Sp William C. Brace SSgt Mike A. Garrett

03 March 1991 (Sunday): DAY 46

GENERAL:

v Iraqi Generals Salah Abud Mahmud (CinC of the III Corps) and LtGen Sultan

Hashim Ahmad (Chief of Operations from the Iraqi MoD) meets Swartzkopf and Saudi

LtGen Khalid bin Sultan, the Saudi Forces Commander, to arrange the Cease Fire. Met

at Safwan, Iraq

v Marines land on Faylaka Island and capture 1405 Iraqi's

v Soviets and Indians reject sanctuary for Saddam Hussein

AIR WAR:

v at the captured Talil Air Base, US Forces found

- 5 x F-1 Mirages

- 6 x MiG-21's

- 1 x Su-22

- 8 x Helicopters

04 March 1991 (Monday): DAY 47

v Ten Allied POW's are returned, 6 are Americans

v Sheikh Saad al Abdullah al Sabalm, the Crown Prince, return to Kuwait

v Kurdish Military Uprising in the North starts

v Saudi's are producing 8.4 million barrels of oil per day

05 March 1991 (Tuesday): DAY 48

v Egypt and Syria agree to keep 50,000 men in Saudi Arabia

v US casualties are listed as 115 KIA, 330 WIA, 35 MIA, and 6 POW

v Estimates are that Iraq blewup 535 Kuwaiti Oil Wells. A total of 800 of

Kuwait's 1080 Wells (74&) were torched

v Japan raises its contribution to $13 billion

v 35 coalition POW's are returned

v 8 Arab Nations meet in Damascus to organize a Gulf Peacekeeping Force

06 March 1991 (Wednesday): DAY 49

v 294 Iraqi POW's are moved from Hafr al Batin to Bagdad

v 101st Air Assault Division pulls back into Saudi territory

v Saddam's "cousin", General Ali Hassan Al Majid, the Butcher of Kurdistan, becomes

the new Iraqi Interior Minister and head of the Interal Security Forces

- his first job is to send out all foreign journalists

LOSSES:

v Two Marine Hornets collided in flight during an air-intercept mission.

Both pilots ejected successfully and were picked up in the Gulf. Hornets were

from the Hawaii Marine Brigade attached to MAG-11 at Shika Isa

- 2 x F/A-18C. (FMFPAC) VMFA-235

- Source: NWMB Nr. Week of 3 - 9 Mar 91 NMB 10-91

07 March 1991 (Thursday): DAY 50

v 4000 US Troops are sent home

v The Iraqi Gov't acknowledges for the first time that it is facing an internal revolt at

Basra in the south and with Kurdish enclaves in the north.

08 March 1991 (Friday): DAY 51

v Iraq's 7th Division joind rebel forces

v US warns Iraq not to use chemical weapons against the rebels

09 March 1991 (Saturday): DAY 52

v 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, and 27th Iraqi Infantry Divisions are disbanded

10 March 1991 (Sunday): DAY 53

v 20 former POW's arrive in Washington

v 21 Iraqi opposition groups meet to plot strategies against Saddam

11 March 1991 (Monday): DAY 54

The Final Tally on Combat/Non-Combat Losses:

v Total Allied Tactical Fixed Wing Combat Losses as a Group:

7 x Tornado

1 x F-5E

1 x A-4K

4 x AV-8B

1 x F/A-18

1 x F-14A+

4 x A-6E

4 x F-16A/C

2 x F-15E

1 x F-4G

5 x A-10A

2 x OV-10

----------

v Of the 34 x fixed wing losses, 25 were dual engine and 9 single engine

13 March 1991 (Wednesday): DAY 56

LOSSES:

v 1 x F-16 C from the 388TFW out of Hill AFB

- aircraft 88-0423, 1C55, Blk 40C

- airframe inflight fire that caused loss of hydraulics

- post takeoff electrical/hydraulic chafing problem

- pilot ejected OK

- 7th non-combat loss, still 4 in combat

15 March 1991 (Friday): DAY 58

GENERAL:

v 52 TFW from Spangdahlem AB, FRG

v 15 Mar 91, aircraft started returning from Saudi Arabia

v mixed contingent of (28) total

- 14 x F-4G and 14 x F-16C from the 23rd TFS

v called their participation Operation "Proven Force" at Incirlik, Turkey

v (590) F-16C combat sorties were flown

v 23rd TFS F-16's flew a greater variety of missions than any other F-16 Wing

Normal A/G was augmented with Wild Weasel and CAP missions

AIR WAR:

v 52 TFW from Spangdahlem AB, FRG

- 15 Mar 91, aircraft started returning from Saudi Arabia

- mixed contingent of (28) total, (14) F-4G and (14) F-16C

from the 23rd TFS

- called their participation Operation "Proven Force"

- (590) F-16C combat sorties were flown

- 23rd TFS F-16's flew a greater variety of missions than any other F-16 Wing

Normal A/G was augmented with Wild Weasel and CAP missions

18 March 1991 (Monday): DAY 61

GENERAL:

v Iraqi Troops fired FROG 7 Rockets at insurgent positions

v 500 Iraqi POW's were sent home

v Egypt announced that Iraq recruited 200 Egyptians to start assassination

terror in Egypt

19 March 1991 (Tuesday): DAY 62

GENERAL;

v 500 Iraqi POW's sent home

v Kurds meet with State Department, but US does not agree with their national

aspirations

LOSSES:

v A USMC Harrier AV-8B crashed into the Red Sea at night on a training mission

The aircraft was base on the USS Nassau, pilot ejected and was recovered.

(AFM, Jun91, pg59)

20 March 1991 (Wednesday): DAY 63

GENERAL:

v Senate witholds $55 million in foreign aid to Jordan for its support of Iraq

v Kurds capture Kirkuk, Iraq rushes forces north

KILLS:

v 2 x F-15C's chase Su-22's over Tikrit, one is downed and the second one lands

- 1 x Su-22 Fitter H downed by (1) F-15C from 36th TFW/525th TFS

... Capt John T. Doneski

... 1 x AIM-9 HIT and KILL

... Tail-On Day Shot

... Kill verified by CENTCOM Awards Message to TAC

- it was interesting that this kill was reported in the European Press as being from an F-16C

21 March 1991 (Thursday): DAY 64

GENERAL:

v Iraq released 1150 Kuwaiti POW's

v Saudi C-130 crashes killing 90 Senegalese troops on board

v Iraqi Helicopters near Kirkuk were pouring Sulphuric Acid on crowds to

disperse them

v (24) F-16C's from the 421st TFS of the 388th TFW from Hill AFB stopped at

Moody AFB enroute home. LtCol Rackley said that the GE engine enabled them to

climb to 47,000 feet with (4) CBU and tanks. FltLt Ed Smith (RAF

exchange) with experience in F-4, hawk, and Tornado A/C was with the 4th

TFS but traveling with the 421st. Pilots averaged 30-34 missions.

22 March 1991 (Friday): DAY 65

AIRWAR:

v Iraq violates the UN order not to fly any aircraft

KILLS:

v 1 x Su-22 was downed by an F-15C near Kirkuk using an AIM-9 Sidweinder.

...1 x Su-22 Fitter H downed by an F-15C from the 36th TFW/53rd TFS

... assigned to the 4th TFW(p) at Al Karj

... Aircraft 84-0010 with the engagement logged at 11:45 local

... Capt Thomas N. "Vegas" Dietz

... 1 x AIM-9M HIT and KILL, Tail-On Day Shot, TO(D),

... Kill verified by CENTCOM Awards Message to TAC

... first radar contact at 30 to 40 nm heading west, low and slow

... formation of a Su-22 and a PC-9

... intercepted at 20,000 ft until around 15 nm, then rolled in behind them

... A pilot of a PC-7 FAC aircraft near the Su-22 bailed out and the aircraft

then crashed unengaged by the F-15 (AFM, Jun91, pg59), but the USAF

evidently perceived this as an air-to-air victory

v 1 x F-15C given victory credit for 1 x PC-9 Tainer

- F-15C from the 53rd TFS/36th TFW assigned to the 4th TFW(p)

- Aircraft 84-0015, engagement logged at 11:45 local

- Lt Robert W. (Bob) "Gigs" Hehemann

- Lt Hehemann's third victory score

- Kill credit by pilot bailout

- Kill verified by CENTCOM Awards Message to TAC

23 March 1991 (Saturday): DAY 66

GENERAL:

v Saddam reshuffles his cabinet. Saadoun Hammadi become Prime Minister (a

Shiite from Karbala). Interior Minister Ali Hassan "the butcher" Al-Majid

retained his post.

v UK Commander LtGeneral de la Billere is promoted to his fourth star, and

General Schwarzkopf presented him with a Legion of Merit

AIR WAR:

v By Cease-fire airlift movd 482,000 passengers & 513,000 tons of cargo.

... C-5 & C-141 aircraft moved 72% of the cargo & 33% of the people

... 90% of total C-5 inventory was used

... 80% of the total C-141 inventory was used

v 256 x KC-135 & 46 x KC-10A were sent to the Gulf

v Tanker Statistics

SHIELD STORM

Sorties 4967 15434

Hours 19089 59943

A/C tanked 14588 45955

Fuel Offload 68.2 mil# 110..2 mil#

24 March 1991 (Sunday): DAY 67

GENERAL:

v Jordan sent an Army Field Hospital into Iraq

v French Forces Commander LtGen Micheal Rocquejoffre a Legion of Merit

v 24% of US Troops are on their way home

v US Navy returning ships are:

- USS Saratoga (CV)

- USS John F. Kennedy (CV)

- USS Wisconsin (BB)

- USS Yellowstone (Destroyer Tender)

- USS Mississippi (Cruiser)

- USS Biddle

- USS San Jacinto

- USS Gates

- USS South Carolina

- USS Spruance (Destroyer)

- USS Sampson

- USS Roberts (Frigate)

- USS Hart

- USS Montgommery

POW Listing:

v US Navy Personnel still listed as MIA

- Lt Patrick K. Conner

- LCdr Barry T. Cooke

- LCdr Micheal S. Speicher

- Lt Charles J. Turner

v US Navy Personnel Returned from POW Status

- LtCol Clifford M. Acree, USMC

- Capt Micheal C. Berryman, USMC

- CWO Guy L. Hunter, USMC

- Capt Russell A.C. Sanborn, USMC

- Lt Lawrence R. Slade

- Maj Joseph J. Small, USMC

- Lt Robert Wetzel

- Lt Jeffrey N. Zaun

v US Navy Personnel Confirmed Killed in Action

- Lt Robert J. Dwyer (32)

- Capt James N. Wilbourn (28), USMC

- Lt William T. Costen (27)

- Capt David Spellacy (28), USMC

- Capt Reginald C. Underwood (33), USMC (last day of war)

v USAF/USA MIA's

- 1/Lt Patrick Olsopn (26) (recce mission over Kuwait)

- 1/Lt Donaldson Tillan (25) Blackhawk

- Capt Paul R. Eichenlaub (29)

- Capt Douglas Bradt (29)

- Hal Reichle (27)

- Robert Godfrey (25)

- Rolando Delagneu (30)

25 March 1991 (Monday): DAY 68

GENERAL:

v The "heavy" US VII Corps moved replaced the "lighter" XVIII Airborne Corps

v An unidentified Iraqi AF Helo was downed by Kurdish rebels near Dohuk in

Northern Iraq (AFM, Jun91, pg60)

26 March 1991 (Tuesday): DAY 69

GENERAL:

v The White House said that the US would not get involved in the Iraqi rebellion

and would only shoot down helicopters approaching allied forces.

v Iraqi Mech-Armour units are receiving fuel from a small underground

refinery able to process 20,000 barrels of crude each day that did not get

destroyed in the bombing

v An additional 2793 EPW's were repatriated

27 March 1991 (Wednesday): DAY 70

v 2 x Su-22M Fitters and 7 x Mi-8 Hip Transport Helo's of the Iraqi AF were

destroyed at Khalid Air Base, near Kirkuk, when Kurdish Forces overran the

installation (AFM, Jun91, pg60)

28 March 1991 (Thursday): DAY 71

GENERAL:

v Over $28 billion in war contributions has ben received by the US treasury

v 141,500 US troops start leaving the Gulf with 411,500 remaining

v another 4494 EPW's are repatriated

v Kennedy & Saratoga Battle Groups pull out for home

- USS Kennedy (CV-67)

... launched 1100+ combat sorties

... first wartime use of SLAM

... 226 deployment, underway for 196 with 1st portcall to Jedda

... CG-56 (San Jacinto) fired 1st Red Sea Tomahawk

- USS Saratoga (CV-60)

... 12,664 combat sorties

... 217 days underway from 237 day cruise

31 March 1991 (Sunday): DAY 74

LOSSES:

v 1 x RF-4C, 64-1056, Alabama ANG a/c with a Nevada ANG crew from Reno.

RF-4C's deployed to Desert SHIELD/STORM moved from the UAE to Bahrain on

19Dec90, when Reno relieved Birmingham. Capt John Norman (pilot) and

Capt Jeff Kregel (WSO) ejected safely and were picked up.

v Col James F Brown, 117th TRW Commander stated, 64-1056 went to the Gulf

on 31 Mar 91. They had a bleed air duct failure and a catastrophic engine

failure right after take-off from Bahrain. Six minutes into the flight they

punched out. They stayed in about four minutes too long.

01 April 1991 (Monday): DAY 75

START OF OFFICIAL POST WAR INPUTS

Gulf War 1991 Chronology

Day 44 - Day 75: 1 March - 1 April 1991