File: aacwr_20.txt
Page: 20
Total Pages: 49

joint task force, appoint a commander in the rank of major general, and coordinate air refueling, strike planning, and mission execution activities with USCENTAF. The Vice CINCUSAFE appointed major General James L. Jamerson, the Headquarters USAFE Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, as the JTF Proven Force commander. General Jamerson activated the task force at Ramstein AB, Germany, effective 7 January 1991, and set up the Joint Task Force as a modified joint staff organization.

The JTF had three components: air force forces (AFFOR), a joint special operations task force (JSOFT); and army forces (ARBOR). Brigadier General Lee A. Downer, the Headquarters USAFE Inspector General, was commander of AFFOR and the 7440th Composite Wing (Provisional). Headquarters USAFE activated the 7440th Composite Wing (Provisional) at Incirlik AB, Turkey, on 16 January 1991. The wing's mission was to attack targets in northern Iraq, if war broke out. The 7440th encompassed all of the air force operational elements based at Incirlik except the JSOFT aircraft and personnel. Headquarters USAFE also placed the 39th Tactical Group, the USAFE host unit at Incirlik AB, under the 7440th for operational control.

The JSOFT, also known as JTF Elusive Concept, was responsible for the search and rescue of downed allied pilots. Its staff was drawn from Headquarters Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR), based at Vaihingen, Germany. U.S. Army Brigadier General R1chard Potter, the SOCEUR commander, was the JSOFT commander.

Incirlik AB, Turkey, was home to USAFE's 39th Tactical Group. The group was responsible for base operating support at Incirlik AB and hosted USAFE tactical fighter units DEPLOyed for weapons training at the Konya air-to-ground range. The base's normal population numbered approximately 1,954. But with the deployment of JTF Proven Force and its associated subordinate units, the base military population rose to almost three times this size. The large number of people placed a significant strain on billeting, messing, and recreational facilities.

Preparations for billeting and messing JTF Proven Force personnel, however, were slowed by political sensitivities. The U.S. embassy at Ankara and Turkish government desired a low profile for the deployment. This approach prevented timely construction of a tent city and a field kitchen to house and feed the troops. Thus, 500 people found temporary billeting in the base and American Youth Activities gyms and other shared rooms in billeting, dormitories, and family housing. Once the Turkish government permitted construction of 30 tents to start

xix