First U.S. plane lands at Baghdad airport

Reuters | 4/06/03

[kattracks]

First U.S. plane lands at Baghdad airport

BAGHDAD AIRPORT, April 6 (Reuters) - The first U.S. military aircraft landed at Baghdad airport on Sunday, a U.S. military source told Reuters.

"At least one aircraft has landed at the airport," said the senior source in the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division's aviation brigade, who was at the airport.

He said a C-130 military transporter landed at about 8 p.m. local time (1600 GMT), about an hour after dark, on the western, military side of the airport. He gave no details of whether it was carrying a load.

U.S. forces seized the airport, some 20 km (12 miles) southwest of the city centre, on Friday. They said on Sunday they controlled practically all road access to the city too.

04/06/03 13:15 ET

[Travis McGee]

"C-130 rolling down the strip, Airborne Rangers going to take a little trip."

Fill in the rest from memory!

[Mr. Silverback]

Global Reach, Global Power. Brought to you by your United States Air Force.

Thanks to the Army folks for securing the landing area. I am sitting back in my swivel chair and smiling now as I imagine A-10 sorties being flown against the Republican Guard from the airport formerly known as Saddam International. Warthogs up!

[SLB]

"Reach up, hook up, shuffle to the door"