COMMAND CHRONOLOGY PERIOD 1JAN TO 31JAN91 5FEB91

File: 121096_sep96_decls6_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 7

Subject: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY PERIOD 1JAN TO 31JAN91   5FEB91              

Unit: VMFA 451    

Parent Organization: 2D MAW      

Box  ID: BX600027

Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY VMFA 451 JUL 90 - JUN 92                                                     

Document Number:         35

Folder Seq  #:         25






                                     UNCLASSIFIED




                                       SECT10N 11
                             Command, Operations, Training


             In accordance with the Commanding General Third Marine Aircraft
        Wing's (CG 3rd MAW) direction, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron Four Five
        One (VMFA-451) stood ready wto intercept and destroy enemy aircraft,
        attack and destroy surface targets, and conduct other such operations
        as may be directed* during January 1991.

             VMFA-451 continued its deployment to the Shaikh Isa air facility
        on the southern tip of Bahrain. The first half of the month was
        dedicated to Barrier Combat Air Patrol (BARCAP) operations and
        increasing squadron and group readiness for combat action in the event
        of Iraqls failure to withdraw from Kuwait. Iraqi forces continued
        their occupation of Kuwait past the 15 January United Nations deadline,
        and on 17 January VMFA-451 began combat operations for the first time
        since Vietnam.

             In order to integrate the two additional Hawaii Hornet squadrons
        in day to day BARCAP operations, the week on week off schedule that had
        been used was abandoned. Rather, squadrons were assigned BARCAP duties
        in order to achieve BARCAP time parity over a thirty day period. VMFA-
        451 was assigned the *Gentleman'sw 1130-2330 BARCAP period from 5
        January to 10 January. Additionally the Warlords provided alert
        aircraft and aircrew for the *Reflex' plan. This plan, designed in
        December by VMFA-451 operations, called for a strike on the SCUD
        storage facilities at Ali Al Salem airfield in Kuwait in response to an
        Iraqi attack.

             Non BARCAP (training) days in January were primarily oriented
        toward increasing group readine@s for war in the Gulf. Accordingly,
        the thrust of VMFA-451 training flights consisted of group 'Mirror
s simulating actual planned missions against Iraq.
        Highlights include VMFA-451 leading a composite strike with four other
        MAG-11 squadrons taking part. 'Red* air was provided by Bahraini Amiri
        Air Force F-16, Royal Air Force F-3, and French Mirage 2000 aircraft.
        On 4 Jan, Marine Aircraft Group Eleven (MAG-11) conducted "Surge Ops'
        in which mirror strikes following the planned first day of the war were
        launched. During surge ops, VMFA-451 flew 20 sorties including strike,
        suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD), and High Value Unit (IIVU)
        Escort. These mirror strikes allowed all participants to become
        intimate with the problems of launching, conducting, and recovering
        large strikes.

             On 14 January, the Warlords planned to hone both their air to
        ground and air to air skills. The second half of the plan was not
        executed, as the planned opposing forces (British and French) cancelled
        all training flights to prepare for war. The 15 January air-to-ground
        training, was cancelled as the Commanding Officer decided to take steps
        to increase combat readiness in the billeting and working spaces. It
        was also this day that the Warlords learned that the United Nations
        deadline was not midnight on the 15th of January, but was in fact 0800
        an the 16th (midnight Washington time). MAG-21 ordered that 451


                                    UNCLASSIFIED

Document 7 f:/Week-38/BX600027/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY VMFA 451 JUL 90 - JUN 92/command chronology period 1jan to 31jan91 5feb:12069615400613
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-38
Box ID = BX600027
Unit = VMFA 451
Parent Organization = 2D MAW
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY VMFA 451 JUL 90 - JUN 92
Folder Seq # = 25
Subject = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY PERIOD 1JAN TO 31JAN91 5FEB
Document Seq # = 35
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 06-DEC-1996