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CNN Live At Daybreak

Patrolling Iraq's No-Fly Zones

Aired March 10, 2003 - 06:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For years, coalition forces have been patrolling Iraq's no fly zones. Buckle up. We're going to take you along on a mission.
Our Frank Buckley got a U.S. pilot to strap on a camera.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dawn over the Persian Gulf. We're in the cockpit of an F-14 Tomcat, in the head of its pilots. We've attached a camera to his helmet. He's taking us into the southern no fly zone. He's taking us into Iraq. The jets on this mission are from Squadron VF-2, the bounty hunters aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation.

This lieutenant, who asked that we not use his name, is the pilot taking us in. This is his second deployment here and he says that coalition pilots' familiarity with tanking procedures like this one, the geography and Iraqi defenses will give them an edge if there is war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being able to fly over the country or the terrain that you may potentially have to operate in will always give you an advantage.

BUCKLEY: Coalition aircraft frequently come under fire while over the no fly zones. This video from an unmanned predator. Pilots have always been authorized to return fire, but some analysts say that recent coalition attacks on Iraqi facilities suggest U.S. and British aircraft are already prepping the landscape for hostilities.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), U.S. AIR FORCE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: And now basically we are going against the air defense system and so some of it is preparation on the battlefield, making sure that we roll the defenses back as much as possible in the northern and southern no fly zones before we have to over fly them for an attack further in the country.

BUCKLEY: The Constellation's air wing commanding officer Captain Mark Fox (ph) says pilots are simply responding to Iraqi violations of no fly zone rules.

CAPT. MARK FOX: We wouldn't be dropping bombs if they weren't shooting at us. BUCKLEY (on camera): The aircraft flying these missions are also being loaded with ammunition that is produced down in this compartment of the ship. We are not descending into the ship's magazine. What we will show you is not explosive. But it is classified until it's dropped in Iraq. This is psychological ammunition that's being produced here, in the print shop of the USS Constellation.

(voice-over): Leaflets with various messages, including telling Iraqis not to fire on aircraft, are being dropped in both no fly zones. The Constellation alone has produced more than three million leaflets.

On this mission, no one comes under fire. The war has not begun. Still, flight operations are already around the clock. Five aircraft carriers are now in the region and the number of sorties has gone up dramatically from 250 on a normal day in the southern no fly zone to 900 called for in one recent air plan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You definitely have to be on your game because it's crowded.

BUCKLEY: And it's bound to become even more crowded if the war gets under way.

Frank Buckley, CNN, aboard the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Fascinating stuff.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired March 10, 2003 - 06:51   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For years, coalition forces have been patrolling Iraq's no fly zones. Buckle up. We're going to take you along on a mission.
Our Frank Buckley got a U.S. pilot to strap on a camera.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dawn over the Persian Gulf. We're in the cockpit of an F-14 Tomcat, in the head of its pilots. We've attached a camera to his helmet. He's taking us into the southern no fly zone. He's taking us into Iraq. The jets on this mission are from Squadron VF-2, the bounty hunters aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation.

This lieutenant, who asked that we not use his name, is the pilot taking us in. This is his second deployment here and he says that coalition pilots' familiarity with tanking procedures like this one, the geography and Iraqi defenses will give them an edge if there is war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being able to fly over the country or the terrain that you may potentially have to operate in will always give you an advantage.

BUCKLEY: Coalition aircraft frequently come under fire while over the no fly zones. This video from an unmanned predator. Pilots have always been authorized to return fire, but some analysts say that recent coalition attacks on Iraqi facilities suggest U.S. and British aircraft are already prepping the landscape for hostilities.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), U.S. AIR FORCE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: And now basically we are going against the air defense system and so some of it is preparation on the battlefield, making sure that we roll the defenses back as much as possible in the northern and southern no fly zones before we have to over fly them for an attack further in the country.

BUCKLEY: The Constellation's air wing commanding officer Captain Mark Fox (ph) says pilots are simply responding to Iraqi violations of no fly zone rules.

CAPT. MARK FOX: We wouldn't be dropping bombs if they weren't shooting at us. BUCKLEY (on camera): The aircraft flying these missions are also being loaded with ammunition that is produced down in this compartment of the ship. We are not descending into the ship's magazine. What we will show you is not explosive. But it is classified until it's dropped in Iraq. This is psychological ammunition that's being produced here, in the print shop of the USS Constellation.

(voice-over): Leaflets with various messages, including telling Iraqis not to fire on aircraft, are being dropped in both no fly zones. The Constellation alone has produced more than three million leaflets.

On this mission, no one comes under fire. The war has not begun. Still, flight operations are already around the clock. Five aircraft carriers are now in the region and the number of sorties has gone up dramatically from 250 on a normal day in the southern no fly zone to 900 called for in one recent air plan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You definitely have to be on your game because it's crowded.

BUCKLEY: And it's bound to become even more crowded if the war gets under way.

Frank Buckley, CNN, aboard the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Fascinating stuff.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com