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This week in history
1990: Operation Desert Shield
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Iraqi military to invade Kuwait. He wanted to annex
what he called Iraq’s 19th Province. The country of
Kuwait was Iraq’s small neighbor on the Persian Gulf.
President George H.W. Bush reacted by sending the
military to the gulf. With that action, he announced,
“This will not stand, this aggression against … Ku-
wait.”
On Aug. 2 approximately 140,000 Iraqi Army troops
with 850 tanks invaded the tiny country. Saddam’s
move shocked the world. At just under 6,900 square
miles, Kuwait is a little smaller than the land mass
of New Jersey.
Kuwait’s armed forces were not on alert. While army
units attacked the invaders, they were greatly outnum-
bered. Kuwait’s ruling family barely escaped. By Aug.
6, the Iraqis had full control of the country. Saddam
then moved some of his units to the Saudi border.
The Kuwaitis asked the United Nations for help. The
Security Council passed a resolution for Iraq to leave
Kuwait. The diplomatic community went into action.
But, should diplomacy fail to dislodge the Iraqi army,
a military option would be needed.
President Bush ordered execution of Operation Des-
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ert Shield on Aug. 7 and set the military in motion. Courtesy photo
For the Air Force’s part, it carried the brunt of the
early movements and initial defense of Saudi Arabia. Military trucks are unloaded from the nose ramp of
That day, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing sent 24 F-15C D&$*DOD[\WUDQVSRUWDLUFUDIWRIWKH86$LU)RUFH
Eagles of its 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron to Dhah- Reserve, Military Airlift Command, in support of Op-
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Force Base, Virginia. supplies destined for the Gulf crashed on take-off from
Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The crash killed 13 and
7KH QH[W GD\ WKH ÀUVW RI D ÁRRG RI 86 $LU )RUFH injured four. On Sept. 17, Cheney removed Gen. Mi-
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Operation Desert Shield’s near-term objective was to Dugan was the Air Force chief of staff. Previously, Du-
protect Saudi Arabia from Iraqi aggression. That action gan commanded the 832rd Air Division at Luke AFB.
gave the allies time to build up their military strength
for the liberation of Kuwait. The Gulf War air campaign began on Jan. 17, 1991.
Overall, commercial aircraft and Air Mobility Com-
On Aug. 17, President Bush activated the Civil mand’s strategic airlift delivered a total of 500,720
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around since 1952. His activation substantially in- tion Desert Shield and its follow-on, Operation Desert
creased airlift availability for air transport to the Storm.
Middle East. Six days later, Secretary of Defense
Richard Cheney authorized the call up of Air Force Airmen have been in the Gulf ever since.
Reserve members for active duty for the Gulf crisis.
Eventually, more than 20,000 reservists served. &RXUWHV\RI5LFN*ULVHWWK)LJKWHU:LQJ+LVWRU\2I¿FH
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On Aug. 29, a C-5 Galaxy carrying medical and other