Airmen return home from OIF Published May 29, 2008 By 33d Fighter Wing Public Affairs EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Approximately 200 Airmen assigned to the 728th Air Control Squadron returned from their deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom Sunday May 25. The 728th ACS provides a mobile, combat-rated, senior radar element of the Theater Air Control System for worldwide contingencies. Additionally, the 728th ACS provides command and control of joint air operations by conducting surveillance, identification, weapons control, battle management and theater communications data link. During their 2008 deployment, the Demons controlled more than 37,599 aircraft sorties, directed 210,900 pounds of munitions to be dropped and controlled 7,215 close air support missions. This was the fifth OIF deployment the 728th ACS has supported. In 2003, they deployed to Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, for seven months during which they controlled and monitored air defense sorties, assisted in providing close air support for ground troops and humanitarian aid, reconnaissance and directed tanker assets for refueling missions. In 2005, they spent five months in Iraq providing similar combat operations. The squadron supported OIF for a third time during the summer of 2006. After returning home in September 2006 the 728th ACS did a rapid four-month turn-around to again support OIF for the fourth time in January 2007 and spent four months in Iraq. The 728th ACS conducted a re-designation ceremony May 19 to mark the squadron's alignment under the 552d Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.