X-Nico

3 unusual facts about Operation Southern Watch


Operation Southern Watch

On 13 January, more than 100 American, British and French aircraft attacked Iraqi missile sites near Nasiriyah, Samawah, Najaf and Al-Amarah.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz had earlier said that the continuing US presence in the kingdom was putting American lives in danger.

The lead plane piloted by Lt. Col. Gary North fired a missile which destroyed the Iraqi fighter.


105th Airlift Wing

In October 1994 105th aircraft and volunteer crews played a key role in Operation Vigilant Warrior and Operation Southern Watch deterring potential Iraqi aggression in the Arabian Peninsula.

134th Fighter Squadron

Operation Southern Watch was an operation which was responsible for enforcing the United Nations mandated no-fly zone below the 32nd parallel north in Iraq as part of Air Expeditionary Force 9.

19th Operations Group

Several KC-135R tankers deployed to Southwest Asia to support Operation Southern Watch, January–March 1996 and to Turkey for Operation Provide Comfort, April–June 1996.

561st Fighter Squadron

Inactivated at George AFB after the war, and reactivated at Nellis Air Force Base on 1 February 1993, the 561st soon deployed to Incirlik Air Base in support of Operation Provide Comfort and returned to Southwest Asia at Dhahran Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia, supporting Operation Southern Watch and Operation Vigilant Warrior.

Don Kissick

During his tenure aboard the Roberts he took part in three overseas deployments: the Red Sea during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; the Persian Gulf for Operation Southern Watch; and around South America.

Michelle D. Johnson

She commanded a deployed air refueling squadron in Operation Southern Watch and an air refueling wing in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.


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