Air Support

1. Fixed Wing
2. Close air support.  Seven flights were run in the Battalion area of operations.
3. Aerial Observers.  Aerial observers were used nineteen times on area surveillance missions.
4. TPQ’s.  Of all the TPQ’s requested in the 1^st Bn 4^th Marines area of operation, 30 were hit.
5. Illumination.  On one occasion during the month of January, illumination was used to assist in an emergency med-evac.
6. Helicopter Support
7. Troop lifts
8. Battalion size lifts – 4
9. Company size lifts – 9
10. Med-evacs
11. Emergency med-evacs – 5
12. Priority Me-evacs – 13
13. Routine Med-evacs –24
14. Time lapse for med-evacs
15. emergency – half hour
16. priority – 2 hours
17. routine – 5 hours
18. C&C Flights.  Twelve helicopter flight were used for Command Liaison and Reconnaissance Missions during the month of January.
19. Comments.  One problem that the Battalion Air Liaison Section faced during the month January was a scarcity in transport helicopters.  This was due to aircraft availability problems within the supporting MAG and also many days where weather and low ceilings prevented resupply.  One item of interest was that the Battalion was given permission to conduct our own artillery/air  Sav-a-Plane on Battalion level.  Working in coordination with the Battalion FSCC.  This allows more reliable and continuous support by artillery and air.

This page last corrected 5 September 2011