Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search

recently conceived composite wing under combat conditions, and such was at
stake.  The fighting forces amassed at Incirlik AB constituted the 7440th
Composite Wing (Provisional) for operational purposes, combining Air Force
fighter, bomber, tanker, reconnaissance, combat search and rescue aircraft and
all their support forces, as well as Army ground and air defense troops, under
a single commander.  Major General James L. Jamerson was appointed the JTF
Commander.  The mission of the JTF was to defend Turkey against Iraqi
aggression, provide a second front to divert Iraqi forces from the southern
front, and attack targets in Iraq as directed by USCENTCOM.

The HQ USAFE ES&ABO community was an integral part of PROVEN FORCE from the
very beginning.  Lieutenant Colonel Robert Smith and Captain Steve Rose of the
Readiness Division began working PROVEN FORCE even before it became known as
that.  As early as November 1990, they began writing the ES&ABO operations
orders and building the documents required to deploy the PROVEN FORCE
package.  During the build up and war phases, the OSC at Ramstein put together
transportation and personnel requirements, including personnel movement.  the
ESRC provided exceptional support for the forward deployed.  Their
preparations enabled the deployed teams to handle requirements more
efficiently and resulted in less hassle for the troops they were supporting.
The HQ USAFE Air Base Operability, Operations and Maintenance, and Housing and
Community Services directorates established-hour contingency support
coverage from experts in their offices; these people supplied the extra
technical expertise to the OSC and ESRC that ensured the mission was
accomplished expeditiously.

Under General Jamerson a joint staff comprised of operations, maintenance,
intelligence, logistics, and other support elements upchanneled combat force
requirements to USEUCOM.  The logistics staff (j4) included ES&ABO assets.
Under the JTF umbrella, Air Force assets were consolidated under the Commander
of Air Forces (COMAFFOR) , Brigadier General Lee Downer of HQ USAFE.
Army assets were consolidated under a separate Joint Special Operations Task
Force (JSOTF), which included ground and air defense forces.  General Downer
was supported by staff elements including the Director of Operations who
controlled combat aircraft assets from the 36th TFW out of Bitburg AB, Germany
(F-15s); the 401 TFW, Torrejon AB, Spain (F-16s); the 52 TFW, Spangdahlem AB,
Germany (F-4s and F-16s); the 20 TFW, RAF Upper Heyford, England (F-111s); and
the 26th Reconnaissance Wing, Zweibruecken AB, Germany (RF-4s).  Military
Airlift Command (MAC) transports and Strategic Air Command (SAC) tankers and 
E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and control System (AWACS) aircraft were also 
under the DO's operational control.  Deployed Prime BEEF engineers integrated
under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Best, Commander of the 377 CES
(now the 86 CES), and deployed Prime RIBS personnel were integrated with 39th
Tactical Air Control Group (TACG) Services Squadron assets under the direction
of Captain Linda Thomas, Incirlik AB Services Officer.  The combined ES&ABO
assets were incorporated under the 39 TACG commander.

Colonel Dabney Craddock, HQ USAFE's Assistant Deputy chief of Staff for 
ES&ABO, deployed to Incirlik AB on the night of 17 January 1991 when word was
received that Turkish General Staff (TGS) approval of Operation PROVEN FORCE
was imminent.  He joined the COMAFFOR staff as Director of ES&ABO.  His
mission was to advise the COMAFFOR Commander on  ES&ABO issues and direct the
employment of ES&ABO assets, including Prime BEEF and RIBS units deployed to

Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search