12 U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 1990-1991 Joint Forces Air Component Commander. Tl~e presence of four U.S. aviation forces, host-nation, and numerous other allied air forces within the theater was daunting. It was obvious that some form of overall control was necessary. Doctrinal differences aside, the main concern from the Marines' perspective was that their unique team of air-ground forces not be broken up.7 General Pearson enjoyed a close friendship with General Homer; both men were active fighter/attack pilots with much combat experience. Pearson was also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force's Air War College. With recently arrived Major General Royal M. Moore, commander of the I MEF's aviation combat element, the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, they hammered out the agreements for employment of Marine aviation by mid-September. It was during this early period that most of the basic details of the offensive air campaign were decided, well over four months before they were actually executed. Under the system worked out, General Homer as Joint Forces Air Component Commander (JFACC) would issue a daily Air Tasking Order to coordinate all theater air operations. Marine air would continue to support its organic forces and also provide a percentage of fixed wing sorties, primarily F/A-i S Hornets and, later, A-6E Intruders plus EA-6B Prowlers for electronic support, to Central Command for theater missions. In turn, JFACC sorties would strike deeper targets nominated by MarCent's targeting cell, whose members were known as "targeteers." General Boomer's highest priority targets were, and would remain, Iraqi command and control nodes and indirect fire weapons. I.g1,~ MajGen Jere,niah W Pearson 111 was Deputy Commander, Marine Forces, Centra! Command. Assigned on temporary duty to CentCorn Headquarters in Rtyadh, he was the senior Marine present during the pianning phases and buidup for Desert Sto~n.First Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Src Image |