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SOUTHWEST ASIA (12/20/2011) -- As the world watched the last
convoy pass through the gates at Khabari Crossing on the Kuwait-Iraq
border, they may not have realized those on the ground had some help
in the skies from airmen with a historic lineage.
Col.Rodney Petithomme, 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group commander, and Lt. Col. Jason Plourde, 79th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander, walk off the flightline after piloting the last two combat aircraft over Iraq Dec. 18, 2011. Flying F-16s, they provided top cover for the last convoys leaving the country. Petithomme is a native of Angels Camp, Calif., and is deployed from Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Plourde is a native of Hermon, Maine, and is deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Photo
by USAF 1st Lt. Rusty Ridley |
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Col. Rodney Petithomme, 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group
commander, and Lt. Col. Jason Plourde, commander of the 79th
Expeditionary Fighter Squadron “Tigers," both part of the Tuskegee
Airmen heritage, flew the last combat mission over Iraq, Dec. 18,
2011, piloting F-16s.The Tuskegee Airmen, the first all
African-American fighter group, is credited with a reputation of
excellence as they escorted bombers during World War II with their
uniquely painted red-tailed aircraft.
“It was fitting for
Tuskegee Airmen to be providing top cover for U.S. personnel who
were withdrawing from Iraq,” said Petithomme who is deployed from
Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.
There is a sense among some
aviators that Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Northern
Watch, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn have defined an Air Force
generation because of constant |
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participation in air support since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in
1990. |
“Effectively, for the
last 21 years, we have had continuous U.S. Air Force aircraft flying
over the country of Iraq,” said Petithomme, a native of Angels Camp,
Calif.
“When you look back at the thousands of hours we have
spent flying combat missions over Iraq, to be able to be one of the
last two combat Air Force aircraft over the country is significant
and inspiring yet humbling,” he continued.
The Tuskegee
legend continues.
“I felt like we were carrying on the legacy
and that it was our job as the most recent Red Tails to protect who
we were escorting,” said Petithomme. “Seeing the last day and last
convoy out of Iraq be uneventful and with no attack from an enemy
made me feel pretty darn good.”
As a captain, Plourde flew
missions over Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom when the
very first convoys crossed from Kuwait into Iraq in March 2003.
Plourde had a cousin assigned to a unit on the ground then, and the
brother of that cousin was on the ground in the final months of
Operation New Dawn.
“For me the last combat mission
supporting Operation New Dawn was significantly profound,” said
Plourde who is deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. “Because I
had a family tie, there was a personal connection.”
“I also
felt incredibly proud of the Tigers as we provided top cover for
many other cousins, brothers, fathers, sisters and mothers who were
counting on us during the final few months (of Operation New Dawn),”
said Plourde who is a native of Hermon, Maine.
Petithomme and
Plourde credit the success of the mission to dedicated airmen.
“I have the highest praise for our 79th Aircraft Maintenance
Unit Tigers and the exceptional work they were able to accomplish
over the past several months by improvising, adapting and overcoming
significant challenges in order to make combat operations happen,”
Plourde said.
“It required some unique and creative solutions
from everyone in the logistics and supply chain--from our logistics
readiness squadron to source parts, understanding and knowing the
need and also determining a way to make it happen despite the odds
stacked against them,” continued Plourde.
“I'm also
incredibly proud of the Tiger pilots for the disciplined and focused
manner in which they executed every single combat sortie,” Plourde
said.
Petithomme couldn't agree more.
“It was a team
effort on everybody's part,” said Petithomme. “It was incredible.”
Plourde and Petithomme were flying the last manned aircraft
combat mission.
The MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial systems
are piloted from outside the theater, launched and recovered by
airmen assigned to the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron.
Lt. Col. Erik Drake, 46th Expeditionary
Reconnaissance Squadron commander, stands with assigned airmen in
front of a MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial system at an undisclosed
location in Southwest Asia Dec. 15, 2011.The MQ-1B was the last
unmanned aircraft to leave Iraqi airspace. They are piloted from
outside the theater, but are launched and recovered by airmen of the
46th ERS. Photo by USAF Master Sgt. Paul Mann |
“The predators were actually the last combat aircraft to
leave Iraqi airspace,” said Petithomme. “They played just as
big a part as we did--it was still Tuskegee Airmen providing
top cover.”
The importance of the moment was realized
in flight.
“The first
realization was watching the last convoy cross from Iraq
into Kuwait, and seeing the last vehicle cross the border,
and watching them actually shut the gate in my targeting
pod,” said Petithomme. “The second was talking to command
and control and having them tell us, ‘You are the last
manned U.S. Air Force aircraft in Iraq, you are cleared to
return to base.'”
“When they spoke those words is
really when it set in,” said Plourde.
“The part we
played was significant, but we were one of many contributors
to the entire joint team effort,” Plourde said.
Plourde believes for airmen new to the force, the final days
in Iraq are just the beginning.
“Some of our airmen
may not realize the significance of this moment in time,”
said Plourde. “Many were not in the military when Operation
Iraqi Freedom started and some were not even born when
Operation Desert Storm started.”
“They are looking
forward to the future at what opportunities and challenges
they may be presented,” he said.
Those involved in
the final operations are now part of a significant historic
milestone and the largest military movement since World War
II.
“It's important for each one of them to realize
and to take pride in the fact that we as a U.S. Air Force
and as a U.S. military, gave the people of Iraq the freedom
they never had,” said Petithomme.
By USAF 1st Lt. Rusty Ridley
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2011
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