File: aacwr_04.txt
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PREFACE

United States Air Forces in Europe had a significant, strategic role in the war with Iraq. This role was a reversal of more than 40 years of training in which USAFE had been prepared to fight from its home bases. In Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the command supported and fought a war in another theater. And, despite the cease-fire, USAFE's involvement continued--as part of United States Central Command's residual force, ensuring Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions ending the Gulf War, and as the main air support to Operation Provide Comfort, a humanitarian relief and security operation to protect Iraqi Kurdish refugees. Ibis chronology covers USAFE's participation in these operations to the end of 1991.

The operations occurred at a time when the Cold War had just ended and the Soviet Onion was disintegrating, adding dramatic background to these events. Thus, the chronology entries are intended to show not only what USAFE did in the war and its aftermath, but also provide a glimpse of the larger context in which the command operated.

During the war, the USAFE Office of History, assisted by historians from the Seventeenth Air Force and European Com- munications Division history offices, served on the USAFE Operations Support Center Crisis Action Team. Documents col- lected from the center formed part of a 21-volume Contingency Historical Report (HAF-CHO[AR] 8901). Brief chronologies introducing each week's document collection were the basis for this expanded chronology. An introduction summarizes the command's role in these operations. Appendices supplement the chronology.

I am indebted to Chief Master Sergeant Jerome E. Schroeder (now retired) and Daniel F. Barrington for their histories on Desert Storm, Proven Force, and Provide Comfort, which provided additional material. Chief Master Sergeant Lionel E. Timmerman and Dr. Harrington graciously and pains takingly reviewed the draft and made invaluable improvements Special appreciation also goes to the graphics staff of the 86th Communications Group for the maps and organizational charts used in this work. Thank You all.

C.H.P.

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