Err, its the exact definition of air superiority. The opposing aircraft was unable to fulfill its mission.

Perhaps you were thinking of “air supremacy”? I don’t know if that has ever actually been achieved in practice.

Depending on who you listened to comments ranged from “complete control of the skies”, “complete air supremacy”, and “air superiority”. Judging on the confusion as to if this mission is to “protect the citizens of Libya” or “the removal of Gadhafi”, I has assumed that comments about air superiority meant that Gadhafi’s air force had been decapitated and that nothing would rise to challenge coalition aircraft.

Now comes this beaut from the always entertaining Sarah Palin reported on ABC news.

Sarah Palin thinks President Obama needs to explain the American mission in Libya more clearly, but has much harsher words for the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Gadhafi, saying he “is going to end up dead.”

She adds:
“Are we really ready to turn over command and control to Arab League and the to the British and the French?” she asked. “When do we get to reclaim command and control over our troops?”

Just imagine if she was the Commander in Chief 😮

ABC News: French fighter shoot down Libyan airplane over Misrata.

So much for statement of “complete air superiority”. Also hope it wasn’t another rebel Flogger. Not being cynical…just looking at all scenario’s. Hope by now there is a coordination between “the rebels” and coalition air ops.
And lastly, hope beyond all measure that this wasn’t a friendly as IFF was always something I was concerned about with so many nationalities operating in that airspace especially over Misrata.

BTW…weren’t there a number of Libyan F-1’s which “defected” to Malta? Wonder if these have been re-armed and if those pilots who defected have gone back into action.

Now saying it was a Galeb.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SOKO_G-4_Super_Galeb.jpg

CF-18’s of Canadian Air Force have gone into action:

1838: Canada has carried out its first bombing raids over Libya, AP reports. In the attack near the besieged city of Misrata, four CF-18 jets, supported by two refuelling aircraft, carried out two separate bombing runs, said deputy chief of air force staff Maj Gen Tom Lawson. The Canadian planes dropped four laser-guided bombs near the besieged city of Misrata on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

1717: Libya’s official al-Jamahiriyah TV is reporting that “crowds of citizens – men, women, young people and children – now continue to pour into Bab al-Aziziya (Col Gaddafi’s compound) in Tripoli to join the masses that have been sitting in there for days”.

Obviously the coward Gadhafi is hiding behind these poor willing dupes. Too bad they can’t station a sniper about 1.5 k away to greet him when he next addresses the people from the bombed out building balcony but I assume that every likely sniper position within range has been covered.

Germanssssssss…

Germany, already at odds with its European allies and Washington over its decision not to support a United Nations no-fly zone over Libya, said on Wednesday it was withdrawing four vessels from NATO operations in the Mediterranean because it did not want to be dragged into a military role in the region, Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière, said on Wednesday.

The decision means that Germany will withdraw two frigates and two support vessels with a total of 550 sailors from NATO’s command and place them under its own orders. It was made after the NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, announced that the alliance would monitor sea traffic in the region and intercept vessels suspected of carrying illegal arms or mercenaries to Libya.

😮

Also have placed their air assets under German control. Wonder why this happened?

Just listened to converation between carrier Charles de Gaulle aircraft control with Malta ATC.

USAF is investigation the killing of 6 civilian Libyan under the extraction of the F-15E crews..:(
Its all over the news here.
US Admiral Samuel Locklear comfirm the incident, but can not say anything since its under investigation.
And so it begins..

Other reports on this incident mention a young lad was shot in leg and may have to have it amputated but that the civilians/rebels forgave the coalition and hoped the air campaign would continue. Must have been some Gadhafi elements in the crowd near the rescue who opened fire causing a response. Let’s hope it wasn’t a trigger happy door gunner which I seriously doubt. The media will make a hash of the incident.