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File: aabff_01.txtSUBJECT: 363 TFW (P) CONTINGENCY HISTORY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS DAILY NOTES FROM DESERT STORM JAN 16 - Today was slated as a Safety Day and the flying was limited to - FCF's which we flew two. The day was effective to get people on the proper sleeping cycles, especially the pilots who were busy with last minute briefs and crew rest. It was also indicative of the calm before the storm. - At 1000 hrs we received the order to dial in the war clicks on the engines. - The outdoor payphones have been locked up. JAN 17: DAY 1 - At 0300 hrs the message from General Schwarzkopf came down announcing the onset of Desert Storm and giving us a shot in the arm. - All lines of communication have been severed or restricted to emergency, official use only when cleared by myself. COMSEC/OPSEC will be at a premium. - At 0400 hrs the first media reports came from Baghdad of the massive air strikes against Iraq by the allied forces. - We were fragged for a 16 X 32 carrying Mk 84's. Only one air aborted on the second go (line 46) for cabin pressure and engine overheat (all ECS related problems). - We had 16 X 31 effective combat sorties with all planes coming back. No battle damage assessed and only one punched his tanks. - There was plenty of turn time the first day and with the amount of adrenaline flowing things went perfectly and smoothly. Troops were excited but worked smartly. Supervision was involved ac- tively. Guess the five months of rehearsing led to an encore performance on opening night. It's not like Saddam didn't know we were coming. - See map of Hot pitting area and where everything else was slated. This was all subject to the lay out of the base but we were prepared to do hot pitting of Code 1's, hot brakes, and ABDR in the pre-assigned areas to aid the flow of launch and recovery. - Never underestimate the enemy. Things look too good at this point. With the rate we are destroying targets, it looks like the war will last three days. I had to fight the urge to become too elated, too early. - .
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