INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey - Every other day, U.S. warplanes loaded with bombs and missiles cruise the skies over northern Iraq, routine patrols that are giving pilots experience that could prove invaluable if President Bush decides to go to war against President Saddam Hussein.
Pilots say that after 11 years of patrols, almost every U.S. pilot has flown over Iraq, learning the terrain and monitoring the skills of that nation's gunners.
"Knowing the terrain and knowing your enemy is definitely an advantage," Col. John Burgess, head of air operations over the northern no-fly zone, said yesterday. "I think it would be hard to find a U.S. tactical pilot who has not rotated through Northern Watch or Southern Watch."
The northern zone was set up in 1991 to protect rebellious Kurds from the Iraqi army. A year later a southern zone was established. Both are patrolled by U.S. and British aircraft.
Just last year, top U.S. Air Force officials were questioning the usefulness of the operation, which costs about $1 billion a year and has strained Air Force resources at a time of budget cutbacks.
But with talk of a possible war against Iraq, officials are taking another look at the operation.
"A lot of these pilots are the pilots who may be attacking Iraqi sites if there is a war," said Charles Heyman, editor of Jane's World Armies. "They may have been over Iraq dozens of times. Every mission is money in the bank as far as pilot skills go."
The flights also give the Air Force a chance to monitor Iraqi defenses on a regular basis. The flights are conducted about 18 times a month, but the schedules are constantly changed to confuse the Iraqis.
Iraqi gunners opened fire 60 times on U.S. and British warplanes patrolling the north this year. Warplanes struck back 10 times, bombing Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries or radar stations. The attacks have been more intense in the larger southern zone, with almost twice as many strikes. The last time the Iraqis opened fire in the north was Wednesday.
Pilots say that after 11 years of patrols, almost every U.S. pilot has flown over Iraq, learning the terrain and monitoring the skills of that nation's gunners.
"Knowing the terrain and knowing your enemy is definitely an advantage," Col. John Burgess, head of air operations over the northern no-fly zone, said yesterday. "I think it would be hard to find a U.S. tactical pilot who has not rotated through Northern Watch or Southern Watch."
The northern zone was set up in 1991 to protect rebellious Kurds from the Iraqi army. A year later a southern zone was established. Both are patrolled by U.S. and British aircraft.
Just last year, top U.S. Air Force officials were questioning the usefulness of the operation, which costs about $1 billion a year and has strained Air Force resources at a time of budget cutbacks.
But with talk of a possible war against Iraq, officials are taking another look at the operation.
"A lot of these pilots are the pilots who may be attacking Iraqi sites if there is a war," said Charles Heyman, editor of Jane's World Armies. "They may have been over Iraq dozens of times. Every mission is money in the bank as far as pilot skills go."
The flights also give the Air Force a chance to monitor Iraqi defenses on a regular basis. The flights are conducted about 18 times a month, but the schedules are constantly changed to confuse the Iraqis.
Iraqi gunners opened fire 60 times on U.S. and British warplanes patrolling the north this year. Warplanes struck back 10 times, bombing Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries or radar stations. The attacks have been more intense in the larger southern zone, with almost twice as many strikes. The last time the Iraqis opened fire in the north was Wednesday.