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SOUTHWEST ASIA – Ambiguity, discipline, and innovation. Three words used by 492nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Jeremy Renken to summarize his squadron’s pivotal role in Operation Inherent Resolve.
Having already added to their history of combat excellence beating back Islamic State defensive lines in Iraq during a previous deployment in 2015, the F-15E Strike Eagles of the 492nd “Madhatters” spun up once again, ready to carry the load for Coalition forces with an increasing need for precision airpower. However, things got a bit more interesting immediately upon arrival in early June.
On the morning of April 7, Tomahawk missiles were launched off the deck of the USS Ross and the USS Porter targeting Shayrat Air Base in Syria. A direct response to chemical attacks on civilians by the Syrian government just days before, the strike stirred the geopolitical pot and added a new level of complexity to the Madhatter mission.
“The dynamics within our area of responsibility completely changed at that point in time,” said one 492nd EFS aircrew member. “Instead of focusing all of our mission sets on close-air support, we then switched to flying 45 percent of our sorties providing defensive counter-air for coalition forces on the ground.”
Though the Coalition forces throughout Southwest Asia had their sights set squarely on eliminating the last remaining major ISIS stronghold in Raqqa, encounters with other world powers seeking influence in the region were an inevitability. Aircrews, assisted by dedicated intelligence professionals, went to exhaustive lengths to identify and destroy targets, making meticulous efforts to mitigate unnecessary structural damage and human loss. As Coalition forces closed in on Raqqa and the battlespace was condensed, aircrews exhibited extraordinary discipline in countering sometimes-aggressive Russian and Syrian air strategies. Intense situations required immense patience and situational awareness—balancing the mandate to protect Coalition forces on the ground with a strong reluctance to take shots that could spark an international crisis.
“Our aircrews were quite literally watching geopolitics play out in real time,” said Renken. “I think if we look at what happened here through the lens of history, people will see that this was a turning point.’
On two occasions, these tensions created situations which forced 492nd EFS aircrews into direct air-to-air conflict.
| Date Taken: | 10.12.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2017 08:43 |
| Story ID: | 258213 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Madhatters build on legacy of accomplishment, by SSgt Joshua Kleinholz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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