Aviano had the QRF for FRY. These were/are dedicated to the FRY mission and thus “unavailable” for other uses w/o political consent. There was also dedicated tanker support.
173 Abn (along with USAFE) is in Vicenza. Both report (boast) of the ability to launch either a Co. or Bn. to anywhere in the where within two hours.
USMC had KC-130s in Sigonella along with other assets.
USN had HC-4 in Sigonella (MC-53Es). Though not primary trained in vertical assault plenty of HLZs South of the compound.
Supposedly a USA SF Charlie (DA) was in FRY along with USAF crews able to respond.
If you listen to the released recordings one of the dead former NSW members is heard to be designating targets and requesting weapons release. It is not clear from the transmissions what platform or weapons were being talked about. For those that think this individual lost his head, was playing around like a teenager on a video game, etc. ask yourself what are the odds of someone of his background wasting time designating a target (mortars) and requesting weapons release without an armed platform of some sort being available?
S/F, FOG