Museum Audio Tour 57: Cold War Gallery: Desert Shield and Desert Storm

DAYTON, OH, UNITED STATES

12.31.1969

Audio by NMUSAF PA 

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

In August 1990, Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, sent divisions of Iraq’s army into Kuwait. They quickly overwhelmed the small country and Hussein soon declared it part of Iraq. In the meantime, when Iraq’s leader ordered troops to begin massing along the Saudi Arabian border, several Middle East countries called for help. Operation Desert Shield, the name given to the U.S. military’s deployment of troops and equipment to defend Saudi Arabia, grew rapidly to become the largest American deployment since the Southeast Asia War. Nearly 30 nations joined the military coalition. In January 1991, when it was clear that Hussein would not withdraw his troops, Operation Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm. During the Gulf War – as it came to be called -- military planners made the elimination of Iraq’s air defenses a top priority. The U.S. Air Force deployed aircraft such as the F-15, F-4, F-111 and A-10, all of which are on display in the Cold War Gallery. Also involved in the conflict was the AC-130. The particular plane, on display in this gallery, had a crew that showed exceptional bravery and heroism near the end of the conflict. The aircraft is nicknamed “Azrael,” which in the Koran, is the angel of death who severs the soul from the body. On February 26, 1991, it was sent to the Al Jahra highway between Kuwait City and Basrah, Iraq, to intercept the convoys of Iraqi tanks, trucks, buses and cars fleeing the battle. Dodging missiles and anti-aircraft artillery, the AC-130’s crew attacked the enemy, inflicting a lot of damage on the convoys. The crew's heroic efforts left much of the Iraq army’s equipment destroyed or unserviceable, therefore contributing to the defeat of the Iraqi forces. Just two days later, on Feb. 28, 1991, Iraq agreed to a cease-fire.

• Date Taken: 12.31.1969
• Date Posted: 09.02.2015 13:53
• Category: Newscasts
• Audio ID: 41982
• Filename: 1509/DOD_102704415.mp3
• Length: 00:01:56
• Album: Museum Audio Tour
• Track #: 57
• Location: DAYTON, OH, US