One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University

1992
ended on February 28 of the next year, 46 USAF transport aircraft had
airlifted more than 23,000 tons of food, water, medical supplies, and
other relief cargo to Somalia and to Somali refugees in Kenya.
August 25: A day after Hurricane Andrew smashed into southern Florida,
the Air Force embarked on one of its largest domestic humanitarianairlift
operations. Despite devastation that caused the closing of
Homestead Air Force Base, by September 25, Air Mobility Command,
Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard transports, augmented by
airliners under contract, had delivered more than 21,000 tons of relief
supplies and had transported more than 13,500 passengers.
August 26: The United States launched Operation SOUTHERN WATCH to
enforce United Nations sanctions against Iraq. USAF aircraft began
patrolling a no-fly zone south of 32 degrees north latitude in southern
Iraq to provide protection to Shiite Muslims living there and to discourage
any renewed Iraqi military activity against Kuwait or Saudi Arabia.
September 12–October 18: Following Typhoon Iniki, which devastated
Kauai in the Hawaiian archipelago, Air Mobility Command, Pacific Air
Forces, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard aircraft and crews
airlifted 6,888 tons of relief equipment and supplies to Hawaii. The
operation also airlifted more than 12,000 passengers, including evacuees
as well as military and civilian relief workers.
September 13–29: During Operation IMPRESSIVE LIFT, Air Mobility Command
moved United Nations peacekeeping troops from Pakistan to
Somalia. In 94 missions, USAF cargo aircraft moved 974 passengers
and 1,168 tons of equipment and supplies. The troops attempted to
ensure a fair distribution of food being delivered in Operation PRO-
VIDE RELIEF.
December 4: President George H. W. Bush launched Operation RESTORE
HOPE I, which transported some 32,000 international troops to Somalia
to establish order for international famine-relief efforts. Most of the
troops flew on contracted commercial airliners, but by the end of the
operation on May 4, 1993, the Air Force had airlifted 32,000 tons of
their equipment and supplies.
December 16: On a night flight, a 668th Bombardment Squadron B–52 lost
two of its eight engines when one exploded and damaged its neighbor.
At about the same time, two more engines on the same side of the aircraft
flamed out. Frantically working, the crew was able to restart the
two flamed-out engines and land safely. For this extraordinary feat, the
crew earned the Mackay Trophy.
December 27: A USAF pilot patrolling the southern United Nations no-fly
zone in Iraq shot down an Iraqi MiG–25, scoring the first aerial victory
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