Free Republic

ABOARD THE CONSTELLATION - American troops in Iraq were taking fire and called for air support. Two F-14 Tomcats from the Constellation answered the call by dropping all their bombs on the target. Then, the Tomcats dived from their high-altitude sanctuary into the lethal reach of Iraqi anti-aircraft and small arms fire to strafe the enemy with 20 mm cannon. It was the first known combat use of guns by U.S. carrier-based fighters in this conflict, which has been characterized by high-altitude air attacks with precision weapons. "It's not something we planned to do ... but when there are guys...