Page 62 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

CVN 77 IN THE MED

A coalition ground forces, and we
“ n Su-22 from Syria was threatening
were in the position to intercept
the aircraft.” Rear Admiral Kenneth
Whitesell, Commander, Carrier Strike
Group (CSG) 2 recalled the incident of
June 18, when an F/A-18E from USS George
H W Bush (CVN 77, motto: ‘Freedom
at Work’) shot down a Syrian fighter-
bomber over northern-central Syria.
“Our aircraft were able to rendezvous and
visually identify the Syrian aircraft,” RADM
Whitesell told AFM, just two days after the
shoot-down. “We knew that it was continued
in a straight line towards forces on the Above: F/A-18C 165187/’AC-100’, the VFA-37 ‘Bulls’ ‘CAG bird’, returns to CVN 77. This is the only squadron
ground. We warned the aircraft on guard on the carrier operating ‘legacy’ Hornets.
frequency, an internationally recognised weapons we knew that he has heading as a part of our coalition forces. The
frequency. We warned it twice, as it kept towards coalition forces on the ground carrier provides a significant number
flying towards friendly forces. They never and that’s why we shot the Su-22 down. of strike fighter sorties, electronic
responded on the radio about their intent. “He demonstrated hostile intent by warfare, as well as command and
“We flew very close to that aircraft and flying towards them and then dropping control sorties over Syria and Iraq.
dropped flares in close proximity to get weapons on friendly forces. [The missile “There is a lot of co-operation when we
the attention of the pilot to try to steer kill] was a visual shot on the aircraft. The fight together. Obviously, Turkey is one of
him away from friendly forces on the tape on the HUD [head-up display] clearly our routes. We fly through Turkey to Syria,
ground, but he did not turn away. shows the missile hitting the aircraft.” as well as when we fly over Iraq. We depend
“Then our pilot went back to a position As the conflict in the Syrian theatre showed on Turkey for a couple of things. They allow
where he could watch what the Su-22 signs of becoming more complex, RADM us to fly over their airspace, they offer us
was doing. He observed the Su-22 Whitesell reflected on the importance of an air base [at Incirlik] and obviously there
rolling on the ground forces; we had the the carrier’s presence in the region as part are airborne refuelling areas [in Turkish
situational awareness where his nose of the wider coalition fighting so-called airspace]. We refuel after we take
was pointing and he dropped bombs Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq. off from the carrier and then
off his aircraft. As soon as he dropped “It is very important for us to be here we move to combat areas and

FREEDOMREEDOM
F

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