A record July for planes over Afghanistan

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news/2008/08/airforce_july_oef_080508w

By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Aug 6, 2008 11:53:30 EDT

Warplanes dropped a record number of bombs over Afghanistan in July, reflecting the intensity of combat in the mountainous nation.

According to Air Forces Central, 515 bombs were released, the highest number ever for a July and the third-highest total for any month since the start of 2004. In June, 646 bombs were dropped. The record was set in August 2007, when 670 bombs were released.

The weapons count underplays the number of airstrikes because it does not include cannon rounds from fighters and AC-130 gunships or small rockets launched by warplanes.

In addition to Air Force A-10s, F-15Es, B-1Bs and remote-controlled planes, fighters from the Navy and the French and British air forces flew missions during July.

Just 29 bombs were released over Iraq in July, the second lowest total since the fall of 2006.

Digg

MASTER SGT. ANDY DUNAWAY / AIR FORCE An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt moves into position to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a mission over Afghanistan. Warplanes dropped 515 bombs in Afghanistan in July, the third-highest monthly total since the war began.

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