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File: 120596_aaczl_03.txtIntroduction On 5 October 1989, the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) relocated to Tonopah Test Range, Nevada, to take up the role as the Air Force's only Stealth Fighter unit. Since assum- ing the stealth mission, the 37th has twice taken part in combat operations The wing's F-117As led the attack against Panama on 21 December 1989 during Operation JUST CAUSE. Pinpoint bombardment stunned and disrupted the Panamanian infantry at Rio Hato and paved the way for U.S. paratroopers to land and crush Panama Defense Force-resis- tance. It is important to note that Operation JUST CAUSE did not test the F-117A's stealth technology because Panama had no radar defense network. Rather, the F-117A was picked for this mission on the basis of its bombing accuracy. The proof of the pudding for stealth technology came during the F-117A's second combat employment. On 19 August 1990, the 37 TFW deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation DESERT SHIELD. That deployment transformed into Operation DESERT STORM's combat operations against Iraq from 16 Jan- uary to 28 February 1991. Operation DESERT-STORM featured the F-117A in its fist real-world test against a modern; integrated air defense. The "Nighthawk" of the 37 TFW repeatedly flew into and through intense anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air- missile fire accurately employ 2,000 tons of precision- guided munitions during 1,300 combat sorties. Wing pilots scored 1,600 direct hits against enemy targets in nearly 400 locations. Without suffering a single loss, or experiencing any damage, they destroyed hardened command and control bunkers, aircraft shelters, production and storage-facili- ties for nuclear; biological; and chemical weapons, and other heavily defended targets of the highest military and political significance. Employing just 2.5 percent of the USAF assets in theater, the 37th not only led the U.N. coalition force against Iraq, but also hit nearly 40 percent of the Iraqi- targets that came under fire in the first three days. Twenty-nine Stealth Fighters hit 26 high value targets on the first night alone. The F-117As were so effective that the Iraqi air defense system practically collapsed. Iraq's command, control, and communications network never re- covered. 3
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