Direct proof of use
The C-5 Galaxy was documented in the 2003 Iraq War through official Air Mobility Command reporting. AMC's C-5 chronological history identifies a Westover Air Reserve Base C-5 leaving on another delivery of supplies and troops for Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003, with another C-5 from Stewart Air National Guard Base in the background.
A January 2004 AMC article said Travis C-5s had landed at Baghdad since the summer of 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The same reporting described a C-5 that took ground fire on takeoff from Iraq on January 8, 2004, and a repair team sent to Baghdad to make the aircraft ready for a one-time flight out.
Sources: AMC C-5 Chronological History, AMC Travis C-5 Enemy Attack, AMC C-5 Repair Team Iraq
Timeline
The documented sequence begins with March 2003 supply-and-troop delivery activity for Operation Iraqi Freedom. By summer 2003, Travis C-5s were landing at Baghdad in support of the operation.
On January 8, 2004, a C-5 took ground fire on takeoff from Iraq. A 13-member aircraft battle-damage repair team deployed to Baghdad on January 10, repaired the aircraft's engine and pylon, and returned home on the patched C-5 on January 21. In January 2010, a Dover C-5M Super Galaxy flew an Operation Iraqi Freedom channel mission into Iraq, delivering more than 85,000 pounds of equipment and becoming the first C-5M to land there.
Sources: AMC C-5 Chronological History, AMC Travis C-5 Enemy Attack, AMC C-5 Repair Team Iraq, AMC Team Dover First C-5M Iraq
Operational role
The source-backed Iraq role was strategic mobility and logistics rather than direct attack. C-5 aircraft moved supplies, troops, and equipment for U.S. forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom, including flights into Baghdad and later C-5M cargo delivery to troops downrange.
The Baghdad reporting also shows the threat environment around these logistics missions. AMC described anti-aircraft missiles or other weaponry as a dominant concern when flying to Iraqi bases, and the damaged C-5 required deployed repair personnel before it could leave Iraq.
Sources: AMC C-5 Chronological History, AMC Travis C-5 Enemy Attack, AMC C-5 Repair Team Iraq, AMC Team Dover First C-5M Iraq, USAF C-5M Super Galaxy Fact Sheet
Operators and locations
The directly documented operator was the U.S. Air Force mobility enterprise, including Air Mobility Command, Westover and Stewart C-5 units, Travis C-5 crews, and Dover C-5M crews. The source-backed Iraq locations include Baghdad and an unspecified Iraq runway used by the January 2010 C-5M mission.
These sources support cataloging the aircraft on the United States and coalition side of the 2003 Iraq War. They document U.S. C-5 and C-5M airlift for Operation Iraqi Freedom, not C-5 operation by Iraqi government, insurgent, or militia forces.
Sources: AMC C-5 Chronological History, AMC Travis C-5 Enemy Attack, AMC C-5 Repair Team Iraq, AMC Team Dover First C-5M Iraq
