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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 4, 2001
ABOARD THE USS PELELIU -- Marines on the USS Peleliu launched their first airstrikes against Afghanistan on Saturday, using Harrier jump jets loaded with bombs to hit Taliban and al-Qaida targets.
Four AV-8B Harriers from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit took off from the amphibious assault ship Saturday. One returned an hour later because it had communications problems.
Each single-seat plane left with four 500-pound unguided bombs. U.S. Marine F/A-18C attack jets have flown off the USS Theodore Roosevelt before, but officials said this is the first time Marine Harriers have been used to hit Afghanistan.
"They were command and control targets . . . in southern Afghanistan," said Capt. Dave Romley, a Marine spokesman.
Two pilots who took part in the airstrikes -- the first combat mission for both -- said the raid had gone well.
The Harriers are assigned to the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group. The jump jets can land like a helicopter on the Peleliu's short flight deck and don't require a catapult to take off.