USAF and US Navy fighters provided close air support on Jan. 2 for coalition troops fighting enemy forces near Balad, Bayji, and Tikrit. A Navy F-14 fired a precision-guided munition, striking enemy forces planting an improvised explosive device near Bayji.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
