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A Trip in a Supply Sortie
Aired April 10, 2003 - 15:32 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. forces are digging in at strategic points throughout Iraq, including an airfield in central Iraq. CNN's Gary Tuchman is embedded with the U.S. Air Force in the Persian Gulf. He's returned to a base from a re-supply mission and joins us now live via videophone -- Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the number of sorties continue to drop considerably. Last week they were up to 300 sorties a day at this base where we're at right now. The number for the most recent 24-hour period is 155. That's the lowest here since the Shock and Awe campaign began, and this is one of the largest bases participating in the air war over Iraq.
Today, we went on one of those 155 sorties. It was a troop transport sortie bringing 15 Marines to Iraq for the first time, also bringing supplies to a coalition-controlled base just 45 miles southeast of Baghdad. The cockpit crew let us up front to see what they go through.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: We are flying over central Iraq on one of the approximately 1,700 sorties that will take place today. Our altitude right now, 250 feet. The reason we have to fly so low is to avoid Iraqi radar.
In the cockpit right now it's very crowded. A pilot, a co-pilot, navigator, radio man, and people visually scanning the horizon looking for the possibility of Iraqi aircraft. But the more realistic possibility of Iraqi artillery.
Several coalition planes have been hit by Iraqi artillery during this war, including three A-10 attack aircraft on one day alone. One of the pilots in that plane saw his plane crash, but he got out beforehand, ejected, and was rescued by U.S. Army personnel. So they take this seriously.
They veer to the left and veer to the right when they see something the least bit suspicious to keep an eye on it. They will do this again tomorrow, a similar mission. Right now, this crew is transporting 15 Marines to the front lines, Marines going there for the first time. Also transporting food, water and helicopter supplies.
(END VIDEOTAPE) We saw some incredible sites from the air; namely, children on the ground. We were so low that, as we flew over cities like Nasiriya and Al Kut, we could see the children waving at the airplane and the pilot and co-pilot waving back. And that told us one or two things. No. 1: that they weren't scared of the plane, and/or No. 2: that they realized they were savvy enough to know that the C-130 we were in was not a bomber. It has defensive weapons but no offensive weapons. Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Gary, thanks for that report. We hear those planes taking off right behind him.
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 April 10, 2003 - 15:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. forces are digging in at strategic points throughout Iraq, including an airfield in central Iraq. CNN's Gary Tuchman is embedded with the U.S. Air Force in the Persian Gulf. He's returned to a base from a re-supply mission and joins us now live via videophone -- Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the number of sorties continue to drop considerably. Last week they were up to 300 sorties a day at this base where we're at right now. The number for the most recent 24-hour period is 155. That's the lowest here since the Shock and Awe campaign began, and this is one of the largest bases participating in the air war over Iraq.
Today, we went on one of those 155 sorties. It was a troop transport sortie bringing 15 Marines to Iraq for the first time, also bringing supplies to a coalition-controlled base just 45 miles southeast of Baghdad. The cockpit crew let us up front to see what they go through.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: We are flying over central Iraq on one of the approximately 1,700 sorties that will take place today. Our altitude right now, 250 feet. The reason we have to fly so low is to avoid Iraqi radar.
In the cockpit right now it's very crowded. A pilot, a co-pilot, navigator, radio man, and people visually scanning the horizon looking for the possibility of Iraqi aircraft. But the more realistic possibility of Iraqi artillery.
Several coalition planes have been hit by Iraqi artillery during this war, including three A-10 attack aircraft on one day alone. One of the pilots in that plane saw his plane crash, but he got out beforehand, ejected, and was rescued by U.S. Army personnel. So they take this seriously.
They veer to the left and veer to the right when they see something the least bit suspicious to keep an eye on it. They will do this again tomorrow, a similar mission. Right now, this crew is transporting 15 Marines to the front lines, Marines going there for the first time. Also transporting food, water and helicopter supplies.
(END VIDEOTAPE) We saw some incredible sites from the air; namely, children on the ground. We were so low that, as we flew over cities like Nasiriya and Al Kut, we could see the children waving at the airplane and the pilot and co-pilot waving back. And that told us one or two things. No. 1: that they weren't scared of the plane, and/or No. 2: that they realized they were savvy enough to know that the C-130 we were in was not a bomber. It has defensive weapons but no offensive weapons. Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Gary, thanks for that report. We hear those planes taking off right behind him.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
