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Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs

GWI | 09.04.2003 22:14

Reports that the war is ending in Iraq doesn't tally with an increase in flights of B-52s from USAF Fairford armed with cluster bombs. (article 1)

Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs
Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs

Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs
Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs

Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs
Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs

Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs
Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs

Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs
Meanwhile at Fairford They're Loading Clusting Bombs


The first picture shows cluster bombs on waiting to be loaded onto a B-52 bomber on 8 April. The aircraft is already armed with JDAM. Secong pic is a close up of this. Third shows different type of cluster bombs - note the double yellow rings. Forth shows JDAM before load and fifth is general view of loading including flatbed of dumb free fall bombs on the right.

On this day there were eight B-52 outbound for Iraq, many carrying cluster bombs. This is a considerable increase in activity over the preceding few days.

For the last week we have seen an increase in the use of cluster bombs and large numbers of 'dumb' bombs being loaded onto the B-52s. Every other day, at least, a convoy of trucks usually six with two containers each, laden with new munitions travels from Welford to Fairford. The last we know of arrived at Fairford around 3pm on the 8th.

Don't assume the war is over yet. Don't assume the civilian casualties are over for a long time to come.

Links: Landmine Action
 http://www.landmineaction.org/news184.asp

Guide to dumb bombs:
 http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/dumb/index.html

GWI
- Homepage: www.gwi.org.uk

Comments

Display the following 2 comments

  1. I meant CLUSTER BOMBS — GWI
  2. DU — ram