On the morning of 11 September, at the Commander's Staff meeting, 174th FW/XF(CMSgt

Potter) reported that four 174th FW pilots had returned the previous evening to Baltimore
Washington International (BWI) airport. The Selfridge ANGB, MI jets were reportedly inbound
to PSAB in Saudi Arabia. The L-1011 had been slightly delayed for arrival today - details
would follow. The F-16s and the C-17 were at this point scheduled to arrive on 13 September at
1400 hours local time (L).1028

11 September, 2001:

Just as the Commander's Staff meeting was concluding in Syracuse this morning, at 0840
hours on 11 September, an FAA notification was sent to the Northeast Air Defense Sector
(NEADS) in Rome, N.Y. that American Airlines Flight #11, from Boston, Massachusetts enroute
to Los Angeles, California, had inexplicably diverted from its normal flight path. NEADS
responded by ordering the scrambling of two F-15s from Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape
Cod in Massachusetts, at 0846 hours, a distance of 153 miles. At that exact time, Flight 11
impacted on the north tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan. l029 The F-15s were
airborne at 0852 hours, too late to affect the outcome. Following that, at 0843 hours an
additional notification was sent from the FAA to NEADS at Rome, N.Y., concerning United
Airlines Flight #175, from Boston's Logan Airport enroute to Los Angeles, had also inexplicably
diverted from its normal flight path. NEADS responded by tasking the same two F-15s
scrambled in the previous incident, already airborne and approximately^?! miles from
Manhattan. Again, however, the fighters arrived too late (approximate impact time was 0902
hours) to affect the outcome. I03°

As the nation reeled from the events in New York City on that morning, which in the case of
American Airlines Flight #11 at first appeared to be some kind of tragic accident; but as the
nation watched the second airliner, United Airlines Flight #175, fly straight into the south tower

1028 MEMORANDUM FOR AH Personnel, (FOUO), MSgt Anita Dardis, Unit Doc, 174FW/CC. dtd 11 Sep 01.
[SD#143]
1029 ..y s Sends planes t() persian Gu]f. Bush to Spealc to Nation Tonight," (U), by Hart Seely, News, Syracuse Post-
Standard, dtd 20 Sep 01. [SD#156] (Note: The terrorists turned off the airliner's IFF transponders in an attempt to
'hide' the craft from radar.)
1030 "U.S. Sends Planes to Persian Gulf; Bush to Speak to Nation Tonight," (U), by Hart Seely, News, Syracuse Post-
Standard, dtd 20 Sep 01. [SD# 156]

NCT0035634
 239

of the World Trade Center on CNN, the realization became clear that an attack was underway.
The nation was holding its breath in this realization - and had about a half hour to think about,
when the FAA again notified NEADS in Rome, N.Y., at 0924 hours, that American Airlines
light #77 from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C, had inexplicably diverted from
its normal light path. NEADS scrambled two F-16s from Langley AFB in Virginia to intercept,
and these aircraft were airborne at 0930 hours (within the required normal six minutes to launch)
at a distance from the nation's capitol of approximately 105 miles. Flight till impacted into the
Pentagon at 0937 hours, or too late by about 12 minutes for the F-16s to affect the outcome.
Finally, the FAA notified NEADS in Rome, N.Y. that United Airlines Flight #93 from Newark
International Airport in New Jersey enroute to San Francisco had also diverted inexplicably from
its normal flight path. The two F-16s from Langley AFB, Virginia, which had assumed a
Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over the Washington, D.C. area, were ordered to intercept, but through
the heroic actions of its passengers, that airliner plunged into a remote area of the countryside in
Shanksville, hi southwestern Pennsylvania, instead of its 'mystery' target (most certainly the
very recognizable Capitol building, where it's impact would have resulted in a catastrophic
disruption in American political life). In their attacks, whether they realized it as axiomatic or
not, the terrorists had made use of one of the "Ten Propositions Regarding Airpower:" airpower
consists not only of military aircraft, but commercial airlines, and the aviation industry.I031

At 0943 hours on 11 September, at the direction of DMNA in the New York State capitol,
SMSgt Harold Bill, 174th FW Security Forces - Security Police Officer, transmitted an e-mail
message addressed to all technicians over the Hancock Field ANGB Local Area Network (LAN)
titled: "Force Protection Condition Bravo." l032

Soon after his previous e-mail, at 1023 hours on 11 September, and again at the direction of
DMNA in the N.Y. State capitol, SMSgt Harold Bill, 174th FW Security Forces - Security Police
Officer, transmitted an e-mail message addressed to all technicians over the Hancock Field
ANGB Local Area Network (LAN) titled: "Force Protection Condition Charlie." l033

1031 "Ten Propositions Regarding Airpower, (U), by Phillip S. Meilinger, Col. (Ret.), USAF, School of Advanced
Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, AL, 1995.
IUM "Force Protection Condition Bravo," (U), by SMSgt Harold Bill, E-mail, 174FW/SF/SPO. dtd 11 Sep 01.
[SD#248]
1033 "Force Protection Condition Charlie," (U), by SMSgt Harold Bill, E-mail, 174FW/SF/SPO. dtd 11 Sep 01.
[SD#249]

NCT0035635
 240

CMSgt Kenneth Potter distributed an e-mail to all technicians over the Hancock Field ANGB
Local Area Network at 1028 hours on 11 September titled: "AEF Return - Update." 1034 This
message attempted to calm everyone's nerves during a very uncertain time - explaining that the
LI0-11 with 174th FW personnel on board had left Shannon, Ireland, and was enroute over the
Atlantic Ocean at the time the attacks against the United States occurred. It was uncertain at this
time exactly to what location the L-1011 aircraft would be diverted.

At 1052 hours on 11 September, SSgt Donna Mula, 174th FW/SG transmitted an e-mail to all
technicians over the Hancock Field ANGB LAN titled: "Command Post Numbers." 103S This
indicated that the Wing had begun to man the Command Post (located in the Operations
Building) on a 24 hour per day - seven day per week basis, and directed any who might need to
contact the command chain of the appropriate telephone numbers. The room which contains the
command post was designed and built during the Cold War era, It consists of a series of three
concentric circles, the inner two being elevated approximately two and four feet respectively
above the outer ring. The innermost ring is glass enclosed. The room is large, with an
approximate diameter along the outer wall of fifty feet. Situational displays are posted on the
outer ring wall, which are visible to all. The room is protected by a cipher lock. All of the
various means of tactical communications necessary to command the Wing are available in this
room. SSgt Mula also related elsewhere that at this time many members of the Wing began
calling the base and offering their energies.
*

At 1339 hours on 11 September, SSgt Bruce Fong, 174FW/COMM/SCBN, transmitted an e-

mail to all base technicians over the Hancock Field ANGB LAN titled: "INFOCON LEVEL."
1036 y^g ^ymg was already at a heightened state of physical security because of its AEF rotation
and the anticipated return of its personnel on this day, but this message addressed information
security, rather than physical security.

1034 "AEF Return - Update," (U), by CMSgt Kenneth Potter, E-mail, 174FW/LGS, dtd 11 Sep 01. [SD#239]
1035 "Command Post Numbers," (U), by SSgt Donna Mula, E-mail, 174FW/SG. dtd 11 Sep 01. [SD#243]
1036 .TW. rNFOCON LEVEL," (U), by SSgt Bruce Fong, E-mail, 174FW/COMM/SCBN. dtd 11 Sep 01. [SD#253]

NCT0035636
 241

At 2239 hours on 11 September, SSgt Bruce Fong, 174FW/COMM/SCBN, transmitted an e-

mail to all technicians over the Hancock Field ANGB LAN titled: "Infocon BRAVO." 1037 The
message instructed recipients to follow the prescribed directions for this information condition.

In concern for the whereabouts of his personnel, and for the safety of his nation, under attack
from unknown forces, Colonel Anthony B. Basile, Vice Commander, 174th FW, worked a 25
hour shift in the 174th FW SRC.1038 Many unit personnel called in during this time, offering
their help in whatever way it might be needed. Among those calling in was Brigadier General
(BG) Dr. Ravindra Shah, who, while making his patient rounds at Oswego Hospital that
morning, heard about the attacks from Hospital Staff. BG Shah serves as ANG Surgeon General
for the state of New York.

The next day, Wednesday, the Syracuse Post-Standard published an article titled: "Fighter
Wing's Aircraft Diverted." l039 In this story, it was reported that the 100 member contingent
from the 174th FW who had deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB), Saudi Arabia and had
planned return to Syracuse on Tuesday aboard an L-1011, had been diverted to Gander Bay,
Newfoundland in Canada because of the attacks. The diversion occurred as the LI0-11 carrying
Wing personnel were midway across the Atlantic. 174th::FW/XP, Lieutenant Edward Cook
relates: "The pilot relayed snippets of information over the aircraft's intercom as events
unfolded. Then all commercial flights were ordered from the skies. The plane landed in Gander,
Newfoundland. Authorities kept them on the plane for 24 hours, then the people of the city of
12,000 opened their hearts to the 11,500 visitors diverted there." 104° The story of the diversion,
their long hours on the LI0-11 while it waited on the ground at Gander, and of the kindness of
local church parishioners of that small city in providing warm food, showers, and other items of
comfort, was told in several newspaper articles.1041

1037 "Infocon BRAVO," (U), by SSgt Bruce Fong. E-mail, 174FW/COMM/SCBN. did 11 Sep 01. [SD#259]
1038 OPSTEMPO, (U), by MSgt Anita Dardis, Unit Doc, 174FW/CC. dtd 30 Sep 01. [SD#169]
1039 "Fighter Wing's Aircraft Diverted," (U), by Walt Wasilewski, News, Syracuse Post-Standard, dtd 12 Sep 01.
[SD#146]
t040 "Families Joyful With Return of 174* from Middle East," (U), by Walt Wasilewski, News, Syracuse
Newspapers, dtd 20 Sep 01. [SD#157]
iwi «pjjots Return from Saudi Arabia, Reunite with Families," (U), by Fritz Diddle. News, Eagle Newspapers, dtd
19 Sep 01. [SD#154] and "Families Joyful With Return of 174* from Middle East," (U), by Walt Wasilewski,
News, Syracuse Newspapers, dtd 20 Sep 01. [SD#157]

NCT0035637
 242

Also in this news article is the information that Ft. Drum, N.Y. on this day implemented
Force Protection "Delta," the highest alert status. As previously mentioned, on 27 August Ft.
Drum had changed from being an open fort with no Military Police at its entrance locations, to a
closed fort with controlled access requiring valid military ID cards. l042

On Wednesday, MSgt Anita Dardis, Executive Assistant to the Commander, transmitted an e-

mail today over the Hancock Field ANGB LAN titled: "Flag at Half Staff," indicating that, at the
direction of New York Governor George Pataki, all national, state, and unit flags would be flown
at half staff until further notice in honor to the victims of yesterday's attacks against the United
States.1043

On Thursday, 13 September, at 1016 hours, SSgt Bruce Fong, 174FW/COMM/SCBN,

transmitted an e-mail to all technicians over the Hancock Field ANGB LAN titled: "Infocon
ALPHA." 1044 This message indicated the downgrade of INFOCON levels from BRAVO to
ALPHA as of 1000 hours this morning.

The Syracuse Post-Standard published an article on Thursday, 13 September titled: "Prepared

to Support." l045 This large article, with a photo of 174th Fighter Wing Security Forces searching
through the trunk of an automobile on 12 September at the Base Gate. In the article, although
security concerns prevented him from being too specific, Col. Knauff said that National Guard
and Reserve troops from all over the state were assembling at staging areas north of New York
City as of mid-day Wednesday "and will provide support functions, things like labor, search and
rescue, security, engineering assets to assist with the cleanup, providing medical support." In the
article, Mr. Scott Sandman, official spokesman for the Division of Military and Naval Affairs
(DMNA) at Latham, N.Y. near the State's Capitol in Albany said that nearly 3,000 Air and Army
National Guard troops had been mobilized statewide. Also, the article relates that 174th FW
pilots had been directed to several defensive locations in the country. Col. Knauff stated that
unit members have maintained a grim determination to perform their duties, and painted a bleak

1042 "Fighter Wing's Aircraft Diverted," (U), by Walt Wasilewski, News, Syracuse Post-Standard, dtd 12 Sep 01.
[SD#146]
1043 "Flag at Half Staff," (U), by MSgt Anita Dardis, E-mail, 174FW/CC, dtd 12 Sep 01. [SD#246]
1044 "INFOCON Alpha," (U), by SSgt Bruce Fong, E-mail, 174FW/COMM/SCBN, dtd 13 Sep 01. [SD#258]
1045 "Prepared to Support," (U), by Pedro Ramirez III and Walt Wcailewski, News, Syracuse Post-Standard, dtd 12
Sep 01. [SD#147]

NCT0035638
 243

picture of what the unit's member will encounter downstate in New York City. In another
article, Col. Knauff stated: ."These people are going to be faced with things virtually no one in
this country has ever faced before." 1046

tti
Colonel Basile, Vice Commander, 174 FW, worked along with other Wing personnel during
this time in the SRC to recover personnel returning from PSAB; these people worked from 2200
hours on 13 September through 0200 hours on 14 September; during this time the recovery of
F16s and a C17 returning from PSAB, (from 1400-2100 hours) was accomplished.1047

A total of 262 174th FW personnel had deployed over the period from June through mid-
September. They returned from that deployment to a world that would never be the same - it
had forever changed.

On 14 September, the Syracuse Post-Standard published an article titled: "174Ul's Jets in

First-of-a-Kind Role." l048 The story relates the "unprecedented role" of the 174* FW jets in
patrolling the northeast since the terrorist attacks three days ago on 11 September. As a local
example: in Penn Yan, N.Y., a small community west of Syracuse, a 61 year old instructor pilot
with a student took off, violating the nationwide ban on civilian flights. Neighbors heard the
plane and called '911,' who in turn notified the FAA, who notified NEADS, who, according to
the pilot, scrambled jets from the 174th FW to intercept and escort the elderly pilot and his
student back to Penn Yan airport, where Yates County Sheriff officials were waiting to interview
him.

Speculation began to build in the press and media of how local reserve and Guard units might
play roles in response to the attacks, and on Saturday, an article appeared in the Syracuse Post-
Standard concerning these speculations. The article is interesting because it contains a cameo or
'snapshot' of each unit's location, troop strength, and mission! All together, eleven different
Guard and Reserve units are looked at in this article.1049

we «pi|ots Return from Saudi Arabia, Reunite with Families," (U), by Fritz Diddle, News, Eagle Newspapers, dtd
19Sep01. [SD#154]
1047 OPSTEMPO, (U), by MSgt Anita Dardis, Unit Doc, 174FW/CC, dtd 30 Sep 01. [SD#169]
io4t «i74*'s jets in First-of-a-kind Role," (U), by Walt Wasilewski, News, Syracuse Post-Standard, dtd 14 Sep 01.
[SD#148]
1049 "CNY Reserve Members/Guard Troops Wait for Call," (U), by Pedro Ramirez III and Walt Wasilewski, News,
Syracuse Post-Standard, dtd 15 Sep 01. [SD#150]

NCT0035639
 244

On 20 September, the Syracuse Post-Standard published an article titled: "More Members of

the 174th to Help in New York City." 105° The story relates that an additional 50 members of the
Wing would deploy to Manhattan in New York City to aid in relief operations at the statewide
request of Governor Pataki for more troops. This request actually resulted in the deployment of
approximately 75 more 174th FW troops from all training areas within the Wing. In addition to
the troops from the 174th FW, more also deployed from other ANG units throughout the state,
resulting in an approximate deployment of 200 personnel at this time to Manhattan.

On the morning of 22 September, Colonel Robert A. Knauff, Commander, 174th FW, assisted
in the Saturday deployment of approximately 75 Whig personnel to New York City.10S1 The
174th FW deployed these personnel from varied AFSCs to the World Trade Center in Manhattan,
New York City, during the period 22 September through 6 October, to provide physical security
for the devastated area immediately surrounding the former landmark. The contingent of
volunteers from the 174th FW was in addition to volunteers from the other four flying Wings in
the New York Air National Guard across the state. In all, approximately 200 members of
NYANG participated hi the initial deployment. Several of those from the initial deployment
volunteered for an additional period of fifteen days duty at the same location.l052

During the 25 September Commander's Staff meeting, 174th FW Security Force reported that
"suspicious vehicles have been observed on or near the base since 8 September," adding that the
situation is being monitored. At this, Col. Knauff noted that "Force Protection Condition Charlie
will be in effect for the foreseeable future." 1053

Also at this meeting, 274th ASOS Commander Major Wells thanked the 174th FW Military
Personnel Flight (MPF) and LG for helping to get their folks and vehicles deployed to New York

1050 "More Members of 174* to Help in New York City," (U), by Staff. News, Syracuse Post-Standard, dtd 20 Sep
01. [SD#158]
ioji OPSTEMPO, (U), by MSgt Anita Dardis, Unit Doc, 174FW/CC. dtd 30 Sep 01. [SD#169]
1052 "After Action Report," (U), by MSgt Gary lllingworth, Unit Doc, 174FW7HO, dtd 18 Nov 02. [SD#235]
1053 MEMORANDUM FOR All Personnel, (U), by MSgt Anita Dardis, Unit Doc, 174FW/CC. dtd 25 Sep 01.
[SD#162]

NCT0035640
 245

City. Col. Knauff offered his thanks to all the 274th personnel who went - adding: "they did a
1054
great job while there.'

Lt. Col. Reid Muller, Commander, 174th FW Medical Dental Squadron, received a message
from the ANGRC requesting volunteers from guard units for teams for Hometown Security; and
will coordinate this request with Col. Knauff. 174th FW Communications Flight commander, Lt.
Col. Mousaw noted she was using MPA days to put together a team for the SRC, through the end
of October; we still need volunteers for the weekends. Also, with regard to stress, Col. Muller
mentioned he'd received an article on Battle Fatigue/Stress Management and how to deal with it,
along with numerous other articles on stress management - he invited unit members to see him
if interested in these materials. ' °55

At the same meeting on 25 September, MSgt Green announced that disbonded gas masks are
due to be turned in by 20 October '01. With this information, Col. Knauff said "we must be very
careful not to discard them too readily, with the shortfall in masks we are currently experiencing"
- check with Col. Knauff first. 1056 This would prove to be sound advice in light of the
upcoming anthrax attacks in the Washington, D.C. area in October.

At the Commander's Staff meeting on 25 September, Col. Knauff related that: "The ANG has
reached its cap on the number of personnel initially being activated (50,000); expect this number
to eventually triple; once the cap is off, expect the SFS and MDS to be mobilized. Keep your
people ready, vigilant and close at hand - know where they are." 10S7 •

On 25 September, MSgt Anita Dardis, on behalf of the commander, transmitted an e-mail

addressed to all technicians today over the Hancock Field ANGB LAN titled: "BRAVO ZULU."
This e-mail contained an official congratulatory message from CENTCOM with regard to the
174th FW's Saudi Arabian AEF deployment. l058

1054 MEMORANDUM FOR All Personnel, (U), by MSgt Anita Dardis. Unit Doc, 174FW/CC. dtd 25 Sep 01.
[SD#162]
1055 Ibid
1056 Ibid
milbi<L
1058 »<
FW: BRAVO ZULU," (U), by MSgt Anita Dardis. E-mail, 174FW/CC. dtd 25 Sep 01. [SD#252]

NCT0035641
 246

On 25 September, MSgt Gary Illingworth, 174th FW Historian, prepared an audio tape

description from the scene he found while deployed to the area of lower Manhattan at the World
Trade Center as part of a team providing physical security to the site of the devastation resulting
from the terrorist attacks against the United States on 11 Sep 01.1059

On 27 September, MSgt Gary Illingworth, 174th FW Historian, conducted an audiotape

interview with Senior Airman (SrA) Shawn MacEvoy, a member of the 102nd Search and Rescue
Wing (SARW), NYANG, while deployed to the area of lower Manhattan near the World Trade
Center as part of a team providing physical security to the site of the devastation resulting from
the terrorist attacks against the United States on 11 Sep 01. SrA MacEvoy, a member of a Para
rescue team at his Westhampton, Long Island unit, was one of the first NYANG personnel to
respond at the scene of the attacks on 11 Sep '01.106°

MSgt Anita Dardis transmitted an e-mail to all technicians today over the Hancock Field
ANGB LAN titled: "Flyover for 29 Sep - Cancelled." 1061

The journal "Air Force Civil Engineer" published an article today featuring several
photographs of the devastation in New York City of the World Trade Center following the
terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Several of the photographs were taken by MSgt Ed
McNabb, Chief, 174th FW Fire Department. 1062 This is the specific story of how Air Force Civil
Engineers attached to the 10 Air National Guard Fighter Wings assigned to First Air Force
responded to the emergency in Manhattan, at the Pentagon, and aroundthe United States
following the terrorist attacks which demolished the World Trade Center and left a gaping hole
in the Pentagon on 11 September. Responding to the crisis in Manhattan were the 105th Civil
Engineering Squadron (CES), Stewart ANGB, Newburgh, N.Y.; the 106th CES, Francis S.
Gabreski Airport in Westhampton on Long Island; the 107th CES, Niagara Falls, N.Y.; the 109th

.l059 "Transcription of Audio of Scene Description," (U), by MSgt Gary Illingworth. Unit Doc, 174FW/HO, dtd 25
Sep 01. [SD#275]
"Transcription of Audio Interview with SrA Shawn MacEvoy," (U), by MSgt Gary Illingworth, Unit Doc
174FW/HO,dtd27Sep01. [SD#274]
"*" "Flyover for 29 Sep - Cancelled," (U), by MSgt Anita Dardis, E-mail, 174FW/CC, dtd 28 Sep 01. [SD#247]
(Note: The flyover that had been scheduled was to have been over Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, where a large
memorial service took place in honor of the victims of the 11 Sep 01 tragedy resulting from the terrorist attacks
against the United States.)
1062 "Responding to Tragedy: Operation Noble Eagle," (U), Photo by MSgt Ed McNabb, AF Doc, AF Civil
Engineering, dtd 30 Sep 01. [SD#166]

NCT0035642
 247

CES, Stratton ANGB, Scotia, N.Y., and the 174th CES, Hancock Field ANGB, Syracuse, N.Y..
The article contains a quote from Maj. Carl Evans, CC, 174th FW/CES: "A big part of our
operation for the first week and a half or so was running logistics supply points and equipment
staging areas around Ground Zero." Other missions in which the Civil Engineers were
instrumental were finding and making usable bed down areas for all the military personnel
coming into the city to assist. "For the first week and a half or so they were at armories, they
were at Fort Hamilton, they were kind of all over the city," said Evans. "Then we worked out a
deal with the Coast Guard to use Governor's Island. They were hesitant at first because the
island had been shut down for the last few years - it's basically a pickled base," said Evans. We
worked with the Coast Guard to get access to some of the old apartment buildings and the dining
hall...then a combined team of Prime BEEF personnel from all five NYANG [CE] units went in
and re-commissioned them. ..When I left the site recently they had opened a 99 apartment
building and were using about 75 of the apartments. The other 24 apartments had to be
condemned because of roof leaks and things like that. We've also opened 11 apartment
buildings and the dining hall."

In his Commander's Comments section of the October "EnGarde," Col. Knauff said: "I am
writing these words on the saddest evening that I can ever recall - Tuesday, September 11th,
2001. This morning, whether Americans knew it or not, we went to war."

"You will have the benefit of three weeks of history [before his words would be published in
•

the "EnGarde"] to see what this war brought to our enemy, our allies, and ourselves; but make no
mistake - this is a war. Those who would describe today's attacks as the work of "terrorists"
trivialize both the attack and the response. The objectives, goals and means employed by our
enemies are not designed to persuade, but to destroy; not to influence, but to annihilate. These
are the hallmarks of war, not a terrorist campaign. I hope and pray that America's response was
swift, just and thorough. I also hope and pray that the best of Americans will surface; that justice
once dealt out will satisfy the lust of revenge, that we don't measure that justice by comparing
body counts, and that we don't lose the essence of this country in a search for freedom from fear.
I hope and pray that no one reading these words lost a loved one in the opening battle of this war.
And above all, I hope and pray that the world reacts to this attack with the horror and revulsion
that it deserves."

NCT0035643
 248

"I have no way of knowing at this time what the 174*'$ role will be in the response - whether
it will range from moral support for those providing homeland defense, active participation in the
recovery and rescue efforts in New York City, or mobilization and deployment in support of
operations overseas; but whatever the tasking, I am certain that we will execute the mission in a
way that will reflect the character of the finest group of men and women it has been my privilege
to serve with. Our families, our community, our state, and our nation count on us to be there
when needed, to serve with distinction and honor in whatever capacity we are needed. This is
why we train so hard, this is why we strive to build bonds within the Wing, and this is why we
constantly support activities that link us with our community. We, the National Guard, occupy
the most unique niche of America's defense - swearing allegiance to both the State and the
United States. As this sad day [h]as so directly demonstrated, the need has never been greater
for a militia force with the flexibility to swing from defense of our community to the ability to
strike at an enemy halfway around the planet. You are that shield; you are that sword."

Operations during 2001 that were specific to the attacks against the nation and the free world
that occurred on Tuesday morning, 11 September, 2001 included support for relief efforts all
along the lower area of Manhattan in New York City at the site of the former World Trade
Center, as well as Combat Air Patrols (CAPs) over the northeastern United States which the
174th FW flew and which lasted throughout the remainder of 2001 and well into 2002.

NCT0035644
/ / ' **<r / ' >—' / Jf s '!<

j FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY v 17

Services Field Training Exercise

(U) From 6-9 September 2001, the 115 Services Flight deployed approximately
34 unit personnel to Volk Field CRTC to conduct a home station field training exercise.
During the four-day exercise, unit personnel underwent training in a classroom
environment and in the field to conduct a training scenario. Classroom instruction
focused on Modern Burner Unit (MDU) operations, Mortuary, Field Feeding, and
Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Total Quality Management (TQM). The Field training
segment required unit personnel to split up in five teams of five members to perform
various tasks such as erecting field tents, M-2 Burner operations, Immersion heater
operations, and Mortuary operations. The field training was designed to provide Services
Flight personnel hands-on training to acquire the knowledge needed to perform the tasks.
Each team was evaluated in the areas of Safety, knowledge of tasks, teamwork, and
efficiency.27

MISSION

Operation Noble Eagle*

(FOUO) After completing another successful UTA weekend in September (7 &
8 September 2001), the full time force of the 115 FW proceeded to return to business as
usual at Truax Field. Save for a few traditional guardsmen working on annual training
days or making up drills, the unit operated under normal conditions. The biggest issues
facing the 176 Fighter Squadron Operations Staff at this time was getting their pilots
prepared for an upcoming AEF deployment to Al Jaber Kuwait, where they would be
tasked to fly their aircraft in the precision attack role at night. Therefore continuous
training continued in order to bring as many pilots to mission ready status as possible.

21 Memo (U), Memorandum for MSgt David Anderson, 115 Fighter Wing Historian, from MSgt Richard
Breister, 115 Services Flight Training Manager. "IIS SVF Bivouac Oft." 2 June 2002. SD-43.
'Note: A detailed, but classified account of the unit's activities supporting ONE is available in the monthly
contingency reports, Sept - December 2001. The narrative written for Operation Noble Eagle contained
in this volume is an unclassified version using personal observations, unclassified ffc*ta obtained from the
monthry contmgency histories from September to December 2001, and other sources that are included in
this history: SD-60; SD-61. SP-62. SD-63: SD-17

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

NCT0035645
 18
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Unfortunately, the horrific and murderous events on the morning of 11 September 2001
soon found 115 FW personnel performing a mission that had long since been forgotten.
On the morning of 11 September, the 115 FW Senior Leadership staff was holding their
daily morning meeting when news was received of the three commercial airliners aircraft
that were hi-jacked by terrorists and deliberately flown into the World Trade Center in
New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. A fourth airliner was also hijacked
and forced to head for Washington D.C., however the passengers on board the aircraft
subdued the hijackers, but were unsuccessfully in gaining control of the aircraft, because
the aircraft crashed in western Pennsylvania killing everybody on board. Upon hearing
the news of the attack, 115 FW Commander Brig Gen Fred Sloan ordered the unit's
Battle Staff to convene in the command post to discuss how the unit would prepare to
respond to the crises, and how the unit would support the President of the United States
plan of retaliation against whoever was responsible for the attacks.
(FOUO) With little guidance from the National Guard Bureau except to say
"whatever aircraft you can get ready... do it." The 176 FS cancelled all local flying and
initiated a plan to arm as many F-16s with live air-to-air missiles as possible. One thing
the Fighter Squadron did not lack was manpower. All the pilots who were scheduled to
fly training missions on 11 September and thereafter remained on base in case they were
needed to scramble in the F-16 to intercept any additional terrorist hijackings of
commercial airliners. But first live air-to-air weapons had to be transported down to
Truax Field from their storage facility at Yolk Field in Camp Douglas, Wisconsin. Since
Dane County Airport was closed to all air traffic, the 115 FW could do what they pleased
in order to prepare for further terrorist attacks. Under the cover of darkness, several F-
16s were towed out to the middle of Dane County airport where munitions personnel and
crew chiefs loaded Aim-120 and Aim-9 missiles on unit F-16 fighters. Before midnight,
11 September the 115 FW achieved full combat ready status.
(FOUO) About one week later, 1 Air Force (CONR) gave the 115 FW official
tasking as an alert site and specified the number of fighters to be assigned to the air
defense mission at Truax Field. The 115 FW became one of 26 alert sites in the United
States tasked to provide homeland defense. The air defense tasking required alert aircraft
to be armed with live air-to-air missiles. For the first time since 1974, the 115 FW had

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aircraft parked on the Truax ramp loaded with live missiles. It was also the first time in
27 years that the 1 IS FW was tasked with the Air Defense mission. The unit's alert
aircraft were part of a force of over 100 fighters assigned to active duty Air Force, ANG
and ARC fighter units. The 115 FW contributed to the 80% of combat air patrols flown
by ANG fighters. From the time the 115 FW received official tasking as an air defense
site to the end of 2001, the 176 FS pilots had flown hundreds of Noble Eagle sorties over
various metropolitan cities such as Chicago, New York City, and Washington D.C.
(FOUO) In order to support their new mission, the 115 FW Senior Leadership
decided early on not to activate the entire Wing; instead they choose to continue getting
ready for the mission as well as any additional tasking with the available personnel on
hand, namely their full time Air Technician and AGR force. The only exception however
to this was the Partial Mobilization of the Command Post and the Security Forces
personnel who were ordered to active duty to man air base security positions and the
command post on a 24-hour, seven days a week schedule. In order to support the air
defense tasking, the 115 FW was authorized to mobilize additional unit personnel on
voluntary basis under Military Procurement Authorization (MPA)-Title 10 provisions.
However unit personnel who volunteered to serve had to agree to go on orders for a
minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 139 days (later extended to 279 days with NGB
approval). In addition, unit personnel placed on Title 10 Operation orders to support
operation Noble Eagle were administratively controlled by the 201 Mission Support
Squadron at the ANG Readiness Center of the ANG-United States. However, unit
personnel and the ONE mission were operationally controlled by 1 Air Force or CONR at
Tyndall AFB, Florida. The Northeast Air Defense System (NEADS) in Rome, New
York was the 115 FWs source of scramble notification.
(FOUO) Many unit personnel who volunteered for duty were traditional
Guardsman who lived in Wisconsin and other areas of the Midwest. They left college or
took leave of absences from their civilian jobs to support the 115 FWs alert mission.
Truly the terrorist attacks had a profound effect on people who not in New York City or
Washington DC on 11 September. Those who volunteered for more than 30 days were
put on Title 10 MPA orders. Unit personnel who were put on Title 10 and lived outside
the commuting distance were authorized per diem and hotel accommodation at local

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hotels. Monthly travel vouchers had to be submitted by Title 10 personnel to pay their
government credit card debts accrued during a 30-day period. Meanwhile unit
personnel who were Partially (involuntarily) mobilized were given apartments located in
the Madison area to live in. It was the unit member's responsibility to track rent charges
in order to submit accurate travel-vouchers to Finance in order to have the lease paid.
(FOUO) Dependents of unit personnel that came on active duty became eligible
for Tri-Care Health and Dental benefits if they chose to enroll in the program. In
addition, many unit personnel and dependents took advantage of the services available to
them at the Base Legal Office. Although benefits such as Power of Attorney, Living
Wills, and other legal advice was always available to unit personnel regardless of their
status, the prospect of going to war became greater after 11 September. Moreover, the
prospect of going to war encouraged unit personnel to learn about additional benefits
through the 115 FW Family Readiness Group who held briefings such as the one during
the December UTA. These briefings allowed unit personnel who were activated and their
families to learn about benefits entitled such as TRICARE health insurance, Base Legal,
Financial management, and the Red Cross for those whose loved ones were activated and
deployed to support Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom.
(FOUO) The magnitude of the 115 FWs forces buildup can be illustrated by
examining the number personnel placed on Title 10 from September to the end of
December 2001. At the end of September, the 115 FW had 149 personnel on Title 10
status (this included unit personnel activated in the command post and Security forces) to
support the Noble Eagle mission. In October the number rose to 231 personnel (67 were
Security Forces personnel who were activated for a year). By November, the Whig had
347 personnel on Title 10 status including 58 AGR and Air Technicians. In addition, the
number of involuntary mobilized personnel rose to 90 and volunteer/MPA Title 10
personnel was reported at 199. By 31 December 2001, the 115 FW had 333 personnel
on Title 10 active duty. 51 of these personnel were former Air Technicians and AGRs.
Of course the remaining 234 Technicians and AGRs continued to support the Noble
Eagle mission plus their other duties assigned under peace time conditions. By this time
89 unit personnel were mobilized as involuntary activation.

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(FOUO) As a measure to preserve skills needed to perform the mission in support

of Operation Noble Eagle. The Secretary of the Air Force authorized stop-loss on 25
September to all Air Force components for 30 days. Many AFSCs were affected,
however some skills were later released from stop loss as operational requirements
changed. The 115 FW had nine personnel on Stop/Loss status. Six were in the retirement
category, two were Estimated Time of Separation (ETS), and one was scheduled to
transfer to the 158 FW, Vermont ANG.
(FOUO) In terms of the chain of command for the 115 FW, everything remained
the same in terms of key personnel. However, 115 operations Group Commander, Lt.
Col Joseph Brandemuehl delegated Major Matt McCunn, 176 FS as the 115 FW alert
supervisor and Captain Randy Hill, 176 FS as the 115 FW alert scheduler/deputy alert
supervisor. The daily alert schedule listed six pilots, a Duty Officer and a collection of
crew chiefs and other maintenance personnel. Shift changes occurred every 24-hours.
(FOUO) Local command changes occurred on 3 November, when Lt Col Joseph
Brandemuehl was appointed 115 FW Detachment 1 Commander under Title 10. 115 FW
Vice-Commander Col Gary Ebben was appointed Commander, 115 Operations Group
under Title 32. This position was only a formality since both officers continued to
function in their former positions. An additional Title 32 appointment was made on 14
November for the 115 SFS Commander position. Since Major John Gaedke, the actual
115 SFS Commander was placed on Title 10 status, General Sloan appointed ILt June
Dykstra as the Title 32 Commander.
(FOUO) Since 11 September, Truax Field underwent a series of changes in
Defense Conditions (DEFCON) and Force Protection Conditions (FPCON). In the first
week, the base reached DEFCON Three and FPCON Delta. Based on the findings in the
HQ Air Force Security Forces Center Vulnerability Assessment conducted in May of
2001, leaders from the 115 Security Forces and the Intelligence section of the 115
Operations Support Right developed additional security measures to protect the base
from potential terrorist attacks during the first weeks and months of the war of terror.
Perhaps one of the most profound security measures devised was the installation of high-
powered lights placed along the edge of the Truax Field ramp. The bright lights were
faced away from the ramp and towards the open fields and roadways near the base as a

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way to prevent any person trying to gather intelligence on the base using night vision
scopes. The bright lights prevented the use of such devices.
(FOUO) Overall, 115 SFS personnel faced few FPCON incidents or threats at
Truax Field. But the few that did were worth recording. In the first week after the 11
September, the 115 SFS, Dane County Sheriffs, and Airport police responded to an
unattended and suspicious package found in the avionics building. After Dane County
Sheriffs Bomb Squad opened the package, h was found to be no threat. Another security
incident involved a privately owned airplane erroringly taxied into the restricted area of
Truax Field. 115 SFS personnel responded by surrounding the aircraft and ordering the
pilot to shut down the aircraft engine and disembark from the aircraft with his hands in
the air. After interviewing the pilot, it was realized the pilot mistakenly taxied the wrong
way. Perhaps the most significant challenge to Force Protection at Truax Field happened
on 17 November when the Madison Area Peace Coalition held a peaceful demonstration
outside the main gate of Truax Field. Although the 115 SFS had a large contingent of
civilian police support for the demonstration, none of the 250-phis demonstrators create
any disturbance and no arrests were made. The major concern 115 SFS personnel had
with the scheduled demonstration was if any of the protestors that would participate in
the event were in fact terrorists who infiltrated the Coalition membership. In light of
such concerns, the 115 FW went into mandatory status with the alert commitment,
because the Senior Leadership thought it would best to keep a very low profile during the
event. Military and civilian law enforcement personnel maintained a balance between a
show of absolute offeree and subtle force. 115 SFS leadership felt it was better to show
a subtle force inside the base while civilian law enforcement maintained a direct presence
outside the gate.
(FOUO) With the new mission came new challenges. The 115 Operations
Group faced many challenges in the early stages of the alert mission including how to
maintain pilot combat proficiency through continuous training sorties while supporting
the alert mission. In supporting the ONE mission, the 176 FS paid a price in the quality
of training for its pilots and material availability of maintained F-16s. The 176 FS
Operations staff tried manage the Continuous Training (CT) syllabus to meet the pilot's
minimum requirements to retain combat mission ready status. Based on 20-day flight

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schedule per month and 25 combat mission ready pilots with six aircraft configured for
Noble Eagle only 154 training sorties could be flown compared to a normal schedule of
215 sorties per month. What made the task more challenging was the 1 AF policy that no
alert pilots could fly CT sorties.
(FOUO) The issue of meeting mission ready requirements was shelved
temporarily on 31 October when the 115 FW began 24-hour CAPs and for next 20 days *
176 FS pilots flew 12 hours of preplanned CAPS over various cities in the Midwest. Full
Mission Capable (FMC) aircraft assigned to the alert mission increased to eight aircraft.
With the increase of CAPs, unit aircraft departed on various times of the day including in
the middle of the night. Initially such events had a disturbing affect on the local civilian
population. Several residents called the Dane County Airport Control Tower to complain
of the noise made by the afterburners of departing jet fighters. Airport officials
responded to such complaints by saying "The jets are responding to National Security
matters."
(FOUO) Since the 115 FW had not had an air defense mission for nearly 27
years, much of the infrastructure to support such a mission was encroached by
development of the business community surrounding Truax Field. This became a
challenge to the 115 FW Senior Leadership as the unit tried to meet their mission tasking
while adhering to the requirements of Quantity Distance (QD). This issue related to the
safe distance required for non-mission essential personnel to work safely from aircraft
loaded with high explosives. One of the earliest measures undertaken by 115 FW
personnel was the relocation of civilian offices off base. The Family Readiness group
and the Credit Union were moved to building 406 and the former occupants of that
building namely the Readiness Flight were relocated to within the base perimeter.
(FOUO) Many options were evaluated as a way to meet the QD requirements.
One option that was fulfilled by the end of the year was the renovation of building 402
into a temporary Alert Facility that would house the alert pilots and duty officer.
Sleeping quarters, a day room, pilot briefing room, a day room and kitchen, and a SOF
(Supervisor of Flying) was installed. By relocating the alert crews and support functions
in its own building, the Operations Building (#402) was free from the overcrowding of
the additional personnel located in a confined area. Meanwhile, 115 CES continued

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, ' studies on alternative alert sites. One option, which promised the most, was the
construction of two shelters with a maximum of four buih. However NGB informed the
base that they had use whet they had, no more shelters would be authorized. This
directive forced the unit leadership to figure how to make the most effective internal
moves that made the most sense, it was safe, and it met the need for quick response time.
Another option was to move the alert station to the southern part of Dane County Airport
near where the Wisconsin Army National Guard Aviation Battalion is based. If this
occurred, the Army would have to move with the NGB paying the expense.
(FOUO) The driving force behind the consideration of a dedicated alert facility
was the matter of weapons safety. With a ramp full of F-16s loaded with live weapons,
Quantity Distance had to be observed in order to allow none mission essential personnel
to work on the base. On 1-2 November 2001, NGB Explosive Safety experts arrived at
Truax Field. QD issue was very frustrating for the 1 IS FW Senior leadership and Safety
as they negotiated a way to continue the mission while adhering to QD weapons safety
parameters. Waivers were not granted by NGB for facilities in close proximity to armed
aircraft such as the Fire House, Credit Union, etc. The QD was the major factor in the
unit's determining where an alert facility could be established. As a measure to comply
with the NGB guidelines and to prevent having to co-locate the Fire Department to the
west side of the airport, two alert aircraft were removed from the shelters located closest
to the Fire House to comply with weapons safety. Meanwhile, the 115 CES Commander
Lt. Col. Ron Sachse began a study to determine the costs for erecting additional alert
shelters at Truax Field. He found that a 90 foot by 75 foot shelter would cost the unit
$500,00 each. In addition, a temporary weapons loading and storage pad was laid on the
grass next to the Truax ramp. Previously weapons were stored in the base's former hush
house or better known as the mausoleum, but weapons stored inside violated the IPD. In
early November, 1 AF sent a message that changed the aircraft weapons configuration by
reducing the missile complement was reduced by two, thereby reducing the QD distance
considerably.
(FOUO) Another challenge the 115 FW Senior Leadership dealt with in the fall
\f 2001 was the notion of their upcoming AEF tasking scheduled for March-May 2002 in
light of their present ONE mission. The original plan identified the 115 FW, 183 FW-

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J Springfield, Illinois, and the 192 FW-Richmond, Virginia to cover 30-day blocks in a 90-
day Rainbow commitment to Operation Southern Watch, with each unit providing 2
aircraft. The Senior Leadership realized that the unit could not get ready for the
upcoming deployment while meeting the ONE mission because their pilots could not
accomplish the training needed to become mission ready for the AEF tasking. Options
that were considered for the 90-day AEF Mock: 1) all ONE mission, drop the AEF
commitment, 2) both ONE and AEF, but at 30-day increments, 3) Units tasked for ONE
get relieved to fulfill AEF tasking. Some of the Whig leadership sided with doing both
missions (highly unlikely to be successful due to limited aircraft and equipment
availability), but the majority sided with the notion of doing either the ONE mission
entirely or the AEF entirely. By mid December, Air Combat Command had decided the
115 FW and the 192 FW-Virginia ANG would perform its AEF cycle 3 commitment by
supporting the ONE mission at Langley AFB, where they flew combat air patrols over
Washington DC, and the 183 FW was tasked to deploy to support AEF cycle 3
commitment in Kuwait for the entire 90 days.
(FOUO) Despite the challenges faced and overcame by 115 FW personnel,
everyone at Truax Field was proud to serve their State and nation. From the time the 115
FW was tasked with the air defense mission in September until the end of December
2001, the 176 FS flew over 230 ONE sorties in over 1000 hours. 1 IS FW personnel
maintained a constant vigilance for terrorist activity around the base while off-duty and
on-duty including volunteering to provide airport security at Dane County Regional
airport.

OPERATIONS and MAINTENANCE

Flying Hour Program

(FOUO) For FY 2001, the 115 Fighter Wing was funded $8,405,600.00 and 3528
hours for the flying hour program. The unit allocated 98% of the amount allocated with
$115,000 turned and 100% of the flying hours with 50 hours turned in. The Noble Eagle
alert mission tasked to the unit by 1 Air Force in mid-September caused the 2% short fall.
' The unit averaged $1, 659.93 per flying hour and spent $344,735.53 on Depot Level

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