EXECUTION
All times Central European Time, CET
Operation DELIBERATE FORCE was triggered by a BSA mortar
attack on Sarajevo, 28 Aug 95, killing 38 civilians. A Dual-Key decision
was made by CINCSOUTH and FC UNPF to initiate air strikes, 29 Aug
95. Subsequently, COMAIRSOUTH directed COMFIVEATAF, Lt Gen Fornasiero, to
launch NATO forces with an execution time planned for not earlier than 0200
on 30 Aug 95.
30 Aug 95
Initial strike package cleared "feet dry" into
Bosnia-Herzegovina from the Adriatic at 0140 by the CAOC
Director, Maj Gen Hornburg.
First bomb impact at 0212.
Strike packages attacked IADS targets in SE B-H followed
by 5 waves of strikes on targets in the vicinity of Sarajevo.
Pre- and post-strike recce, Suppression of Enemy Air
Defenses (SEAD) coverage for all packages, close air support
(CAS), and UN Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) artillery fire were
deconflicted and coordinated for entire period.
Around the clock coverage was provided by combat air
patrol (CAP), air refueling (AAR), NATO airborne early
warning (NAEW), airborne battlefield command, control and
communications (ABCCC), and electronic intelligence/
surveillance (ELINT/ESM) aircraft.
At 1716, EBRO 33, a French Mirage 2000K was shot down
by a man-portable surface-to-air missile, 20 NM SE of Pale;
two good chutes were observed; efforts to locate and rescue
the downed aircrew continued around the clock, supported by a
wide variety of NATO and National assets, for the duration of
DELIBERATE FORCE.
31 Aug 95
Three strike packages attacked targets in the Sarajevo area.
Majority of targets attacked were IADS nodes, ammo
depots and equipment storage and maintenance facilities.
Continuous CAS and SEAD coverage provided.
A 24 hour suspension of air strikes beginning at 0400, 1
Sep 95 was requested by COMD UNPROFOR in support of
negotiation efforts.
1 Sep 95
Request for a 24 hour suspension of air strikes honored;
planned strike packages placed on ground alert status.
Recce missions focused on bomb damage assessment (BDA).
German assets were tasked following RRF request for recce.
RRF artillery continued to fire on BSA positions.
Uninterrupted CAP, NAEW, AAR, ABCCC, ELINT/ESM, and
daylight CAS and SEAD continued.
2 Sep 95
24-hour suspension extended for an undetermined period
while diplomatic solutions were pursued.
Eight strike packages were planned and placed on alert
status.
Despite poor weather, CAP, AEW, AAR, ABCCC, and ELINT
provided continuous coverage while CAS and SEAD capable
aircraft were airborne near continuously.
3 and 4 Sep 95
Suspension of airstrikes extended to 2300, 4 Sep 95 by
FC UNPF.
Five strike packages were planned and placed on alert
status.
NATO combat and combat support aircraft maintained a
presence around the clock.
RRF Artillery continued firing on threatening BSA
positions.
5 Sep 95
Negotiations were unsuccessful and at 1000, in
coordination with the U.N., NATO airstrikes resumed.
The air strike plan continued with the introduction of
re-strike targets identified through the BDA process as
requiring additional attacks to achieve the desired level of
destruction
6 Sep 95
Continuing efforts to locate and rescue the downed
French aircrew resulted in acquisition of ground indications
(imagery) which justified the launch of a pre-planned
reconnaissance mission.
A NATO helo-borne search and rescue reconnaissance
mission, supported by the full range of NATO airpower, was
launched in early morning hours.
Mission turned back by poor weather.
Five strike packages and one re-strike package were
launched.
Target categories were as for earlier packages with the
addition of key bridges and chokepoints as required to meet
COMD UNPROFOR objectives.
Italian Tornados flew airstrike missions for the first
time.
7 Sep 95
A second helo-borne reconnaissance mission to locate and
rescue the French aircrew was launched and an extensive
search conducted, but dense ground fog impeded efforts.
Six strike and two re-strike packages were tasked and
flown.
Missions were added late in the day against seven
targets - six of them bridges and chokepoints, consistent
with COMD UNPROFOR s assessment of the ground situation.
8 Sep 95
A third helo-borne reconnaissance mission to locate and
rescue the French aircrew was executed.
Weather was good and a thorough search of the area
was performed without result.
Mission came under attack from small arms fire;
suppressing fire was provided by escorting gunship and
fighter aircraft.
Two helicopter crew members were wounded and a helo
damaged on egress, but all mission aircraft/aircrew recovered
safely.
NOTE: Efforts to locate and rescue the downed French aircrew
continued until 28 Sep 95 when French authorities informed
CINCSOUTH of their conviction that the French aircrew had
been recovered alive and taken into custody by the Bosnian
Serbs. CINCSOUTH indicated while search and rescue efforts
have been suspended for the present, he is prepared to resume
search missions or initiate recovery efforts at any time they
are deemed necessary.
Planning for attacks on IADS targets in NW B-H was
refined; final preparations were made for the use of
stand-off weapons which allowed targets in well defended
areas to be attacked from outside the range of enemy air
defenses.
Four strike packages were tasked against fifteen
re-strike targets.
Nineteen CAS aircraft were re-tasked against eight fixed
targets.
Recce assets continued to be tasked to gather BDA data.
9 Sep 95
Five strike packages planned; two aborted because of
weather; three were delayed but successfully conducted
planned attacks.
Stand-off weapons including High Speed Anti-radiation
Missiles (HARM) and GBU-15, 2000 lb glide bombs employed
against IADS targets in well-defended NW B-H.
Reports of possible BSA vehicles moving out of Sarajevo
late at night resulted in a temporary suspension of
airstrikes against targets in the immediate vicinity of
Sarajevo.
10 Sep 95
Strike packages struck targets which were not previously
attacked because of weather.
Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM), HARM and other
stand-off weapons including the Stand-Off Land Attack Missile
(SLAM) used to attack key IADS nodes in NW B-H.
COMD UNPROFOR requested suspension of strikes on targets
in the immediate vicinity of Sarajevo to assess BSA
intentions to remove heavy weapons - strike packages
re-planned for targets outside the Sarajevo area.
Recce mission tasking was increased in support of the
effort to verify reports of BSA removal of weapons from
Sarajevo.
At 1425, UN requested CAS support following BSA shelling
of UN positions near the Tuzla airport; three flights of
fighters supported the CAS request; two command bunkers and
an artillery position were identified, targeted and
successfully engaged.
11 Sep 95
Four strike packages planned against ten targets taking
advantage of favorable weather conditions.
Additional attacks using stand-off weapons conducted in
NW B-H.
Additional recce missions tasked to support on-going
efforts to refine target damage assessments and develop
re-strike requirements.
12 Sep 95
Ammo storage depots in the Doboj area northwest of Tuzla
were attacked; these targets were approved on 11 Sep 95
following BSA shelling of the Tuzla airport on 10 Sep 95.
Strike packages assigned re-strike missions placed on
alert, then launched after validated re-strike targets
assigned and strike plans coordinated and briefed.
13 Sep 95
Stand-off weapons used to complete attacks on IADS
targets in NW B-H.
Poor weather was a factor all day; result was a
significant reduction in tempo - over 40% of the day s
sorties did not fly.
After 2000, only SEAD and CAS aircraft continued to
operate over B-H.
14 Sep 95
At 0930, all missions except AEW and AAR were put on
three hour alert due to continued poor weather.
Offensive operations were suspended at 2200 in response
to an FC UNPF letter to CINCSOUTH; representatives of the
warring factions had agreed to the conditions set out in the
UN-brokered Framework Agreement:
- Cease all offensive operations within the
Sarajevo TEZ.
- Remove heavy weapons from the TEZ within 144
hours.
- Unimpeded road access to Sarajevo.
- Sarajevo Airport opened for unrestricted use.
- BIH and BSA commanders meet to formalize a
cessation of hostilities agreement.
- The initial suspension would last 72 hours (17 Sep
95).
- Compliance with initial conditions would result in
an additional 72 hour suspension after which UN/NATO would
review progress toward full compliance with the Framework
Agreement (20 Sep 95).
20 Sep 95
UN/NATO agree DELIBERATE FORCE objectives
met, mission accomplished and end states achieved (Safe
Areas no longer threatened or under attack)...Adm Smith and
Gen Janvier therefore agreed that "the resumption of air
strikes is currently not necessary."
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