the rangers expected the dam to be well defended. in preparation for the assault on the dam, fighters assigned to the 410th air expeditionary wing (410 aew) conducted preparatory air strikes against iraqi forces in the dam's vicinity. air support for special forces in the battle came from various coalition aircraft including u.s. army special operations aviation units. however, that battle became one of the defining operations for the aew, and in particular, air national guard pilots. the 410th was responsible for providing combat search and rescue capability for western and central iraq. during the month-long air campaign over the western iraqi desert, the a-10 and f-16 air national guard pilots assigned to the aew were involved in countless missions supporting special forces teams in need of close air support. the highly experienced air national guard pilots assigned to the aew, especially the a-10 pilots, helped insure the successful employment of close air support for friendly forces fighting to retain the haditha dam.