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25th April 2003, 05:56 AM
Australian Flag Flies Over Iraq Airfield
Fri Apr 25, 1:38 AM ET Add World - AP to My Yahoo!
By PAMELA SAMPSON, Associated Press Writer
AL ASAD AIRFIELD, Iraq - Not a single Iraqi plane was believed to have made it off the ground during the U.S.-led war to topple Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), and this isolated airfield in the western Iraqi desert shows why.
Australian troops who captured the airfield earlier this month say the Iraqis were convinced they had no chance of surviving if they put up a fight. The Special Air Service Regiment met with little resistance when it entered the airfield.
"The Iraqi air force understood that it needed to stay on the ground for its own safety," said Gen. Peter Cosgrove, chief of the Australian Defense Forces, who spoke to troops at the airfield on Thursday.
The Al Asad airfield, which housed the largest known contingent of Saddam's jet fighters, represents one of the big catches of the war. Three fighter squadrons — the bulk of the Iraqi air force — were stationed there, 112 miles northwest of Baghdad.
The Australians say they are still taking inventory but have so far found 57 fighter aircraft, mostly Soviet-era MiGs but also three advanced MiG 25 Foxbats, the fastest combat aircraft today. Helicopters, radar systems and 18 million pounds of explosives were also found.
Fri Apr 25, 1:38 AM ET Add World - AP to My Yahoo!
By PAMELA SAMPSON, Associated Press Writer
AL ASAD AIRFIELD, Iraq - Not a single Iraqi plane was believed to have made it off the ground during the U.S.-led war to topple Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), and this isolated airfield in the western Iraqi desert shows why.
Australian troops who captured the airfield earlier this month say the Iraqis were convinced they had no chance of surviving if they put up a fight. The Special Air Service Regiment met with little resistance when it entered the airfield.
"The Iraqi air force understood that it needed to stay on the ground for its own safety," said Gen. Peter Cosgrove, chief of the Australian Defense Forces, who spoke to troops at the airfield on Thursday.
The Al Asad airfield, which housed the largest known contingent of Saddam's jet fighters, represents one of the big catches of the war. Three fighter squadrons — the bulk of the Iraqi air force — were stationed there, 112 miles northwest of Baghdad.
The Australians say they are still taking inventory but have so far found 57 fighter aircraft, mostly Soviet-era MiGs but also three advanced MiG 25 Foxbats, the fastest combat aircraft today. Helicopters, radar systems and 18 million pounds of explosives were also found.