A-10 ground-attack aircraft and B-1B bombers struck targets May 6 in Afghanistan, Air Force Central said in a May 7 release. The A-10s used 500-pound bombs to take out enemy combatants in a tree line in Bari Kowt. Meanwhile, one B-1B hit an enemy rocket team in Orgune with a 2,000-pound joint direct attack munition, while a second B-1B sent a 2,000-pound JDAM against an enemy compound and bunker in Garmser, destroying them, AFCENT said. These attacks were part of the 47 close air support missions flown by US and coalition aircraft that day in Afghanistan.
A cracked engine part sparked a massive fire that caused shrapnel and burn injuries to an Airman and nearly $15 million in serious damages to a B-1B Lancer bomber last spring. The bomber’s jet engine was running as mechanics at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, were working on its hydraulics…