A-10s over Kosovo (illustrations removed)

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM) reports a serious deterioration of the situation in the area. KVM patrols witness Serb army (VJ) tanks and armored vehicles firing directly into houses near Malopoljce and Petrova, and notes houses burning in Racak.

16 January

Returning to Racak, the KVM confirms that Serb security forces had killed 45 Albanian civilians and stated that it had evidence of arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, and the mutilation of unarmed civilians by the security forces of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY).

28 January

Secretary General Javier Solana of NATO issues a statement indicating that NATO fully supports the enhanced status for Kosovo, preservation of the territorial integrity of the FRY, and protection of the rights of all ethnic groups. The statement calls for FRY authorities to immediately bring the force levels, posture, and actions of the Yugoslav army and the Special Police into strict compliance with their commitments to NATO on 25 October 1998 and to end the excessive and disproportionate use of force in accordance with these commitments.

30 January

NATO’s primacy focus remains on the peace negotiations in Rambouillet, France; all the while, intelligence reports clearly show a significant buildup of FRY forces in Kosovo. The North Atlantic Council (NAC) gives Secretary General Solana the authority to authorize air strikes against targets on FRY territory.

7 February

The 81st FS is extended for 30 days and directed to stand up combat search and rescue (CSAR).*

1 March

The 81st FS is extended indefinitely and is authorized 15 A-10s.*

19 March

After the Kosovar Albanians sign the proposed agreement, negotiations are suspended, and the Serb delegates leave Paris without signing it. They denounce the Western ultimatum as a violation of international law and the UN charter. The KVM withdraws from Kosovo. Almost onethird of the FRY’s total armed forces, massed in and around Kosovo, commences the systematic expulsion of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians, codenamed Operation Horseshoe. Many were driven out of their homes and villages. Some victims are summarily executed, hundreds of thousands are displaced, and many lose their homes when Serbs set fire to them.

21 March

US Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke is dispatched to Belgrade to deliver a “final warning” to Slobodan Milosevic.

23 March

Ambassador Holbrooke departs Belgrade, having received no concessions of any kind from Milosevic. Subsequently, Secretary General Solana directs Gen Wesley K. Clark, supreme allied commander Europe (SACEUR) to initiate air operations in the FRY.

24 March

Operation Allied Force (OAF) commences with combat operations against Serbian forces.*

25 March

The Yugoslav government breaks off diplomatic relations with the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

27 March

After an F-117 is lost near Belgrade, a successful 81st-led CSAR effort recovers the pilot.*

30 March

Combined Air Interdiction of Fielded Forces (CAIFF) begins operations but is limited to 10 miles penetration of Kosovo.*

1 April

Serbian forces capture three US soldiers in the FRY of Macedonia.

3 April

NATO missiles strike central Belgrade for the first time and destroy the Yugoslav and Serbian interior ministries.

5 April

Maj Devo Gross flies his first combat sortie with Capt Lester Less.*

6 April

The first successful A-10 attack occurs during OAF. Weather finally permits an AFAC to locate and destroy a Serb truck park.*

Lt Col Kimos Haave controls an 18-ship package against military vehicles and petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) targets.*

7 April

CAIFF operations changes its name to Serb army (VJ)–Serb Interior Ministry police (MUP) Engagement Zone (VMEZ); included all of Kosovo.*

Maj Dirt Fluhr transmits on the radio: “Hey, they’re shooting at us!”*

8 April

Capt JD McDonough destroys fuel trucks.*

9 April

Capt Rip Woodard successfully recovers his A-10 after experiencing a dual-engine flameout in the weather at flight level (FL) 300.*

10 April

The NAC approves the concept of operations and the operations plan for Allied Harbor, the NATO humanitarian effort in Albania.

11 April

The 81st FS moves to Gioia del Colle.*

Col Al Thompson stands up the 40th Expeditionary Operations Group (EOG).*

14 April

Bear 31 (an F-16 AFAC) leads an attack on a column of approximately 100 vehicles. Many are destroyed, and 64 noncombatants are killed before Cub 31 (Capt JD McDonough) identifies the convoy as civilian. Bear 31 then terminates the F-16 and French Jaguar attacks.*

15 April

This is the first day that Macedonian airspace can be used to fly attack missions.*

The VMEZ changes to the Kosovo engagement zone (KEZ).*

Five 74th FS aircraft, nine pilots, and 65 support personnel arrive from Pope AFB and are integrated into 81st EFS.*