The White Falcon - 07.01.1994, Síða 8

VP-45 joins with Air Force as unified combat team
By Lt Rick Newton
Public Affairs Officer
VP-45
Operation Desert Storm taught
the U. S. armed forces some valu-
able lessons, not the least being
the importance of coordinating
the abilities of all branches of the
military. Air Force and Navy air
sorties flying ground support
missions for Army and Marine
landing teams, and Navy ships
clearing radar sites with cruise
missiles in advance of
close air support overhead against
other F-15s acting as aggressors.
The mission also utilized the tal-
ents of other Air Force units. KC-
135 tankers, Leer Jet jamming
aircraft and airborne warning and
control aircraft contributed their
expertise to the simulated Naval
missile attack.
A later mission extended the
opportunity of coordinated op-
erations across international
boundaries, as a Dutch P-3 joined
VP-45 in simulated missile fir-
ings while British F-3 Tornado
fighters were to act as enemy
aggressors against the F-15s.
With each new mission, the par-
ticipants became more comfort-
able operating with their new
partner, which assured mission
success.
In the near future, the squad-
rons will fortify their relation-
ship by swapping crew members.
Pilots from VP-45 will fly with
their Air Force counterparts in
the F-15 Eagle to witness the
capabilities of one of the first-
rate fighters in the Air Force
inventory. Similarly, Black
Knight pilots will join Pelii
aircrews on the P-3C Orion
discover first-hand the tactic
flexibility of the world’s premier
patrol aircraft.
The efforts of the two com-
mands reinforce today’s warfare
strategy, which mandates a solid
relationship among all branches
of the military. VP-45 and the
57th have put this strategy into
action and will certainly prove to
be a formidable combat team.
ican^^
tiM
Air Force bombing mis-
sions are just two ex-
amples.
At NAS Keflavik, the
Navy Pelicans of VP-45
share the base with the
Black Knights of the Air
Force 57th Fighter
Squadron. Realizing the
vital importance of
combined military op-
erations and breaking
new ground in inter-
service cooperation, the
two squadrons are com-
bining their talents and
training to operate to-
gether from their north-
ern perch.
Last month, VP-45
and the 57th began a
series of flights designed
to simulate actual com-
bat scenarios while ex-
ploiting the strengths of
each platform. The P-
3C patrol aircraft from
VP^f5 is a flexible plat-
form for anti-submarine
warfare, anti-surface
warfare and mine war-
fare among others. The
F-15 aircraft from the
57th is a first-line air
superiority fighter.
Acting together, the two
aircraft are an imposing
threat.
During several days
of flying, Pelican air-
crews simulated attacks
on surface units while
the Black Knights flew
Marines on skis ... IstSgt. Tusipasi Suiaunoa of the Marine Corps Security Force Company Keflavik
climbs back on his skis after a tumble in the snow at Dead Man's Hill. The Marines received skiing lessons
recently as part of winter survival training exercises. According to their commanding officer, Maj. Scott
Westervelt, skiing supports the ground force mission of the company by increasing winter mobility,
skiing lessons served to refresh seasoned skiers and acquaint new driers. (Photo by JOl David W.
Crenshaw)
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The White Falcon