Tremendous story about an Air Force pilot.

 

F-16 pilot was ready to give her life on Sept. 11 - The Washington Post

Wow. I hadn't ever heard that before. Simply amazing the strength some have.

.......wow.

Familiar with this story already, these two are heroes even if they didn't have to die to prove it.

.......wow.

 

I'll second that.

I found it amazing that those fighter jets weren't armed, I would think you always have to expect the unexpected can happen at any time.

I found it amazing that those fighter jets weren't armed, I would think you always have to expect the unexpected can happen at any time.

 

That's what surprised me as well. What did we have the jets for if they weren't armed?

Inspiring story, thanks for sharing.

That's what surprised me as well. What did we have the jets for if they weren't armed?

 

It was explained pretty well in the article. Pre 9-11 the perceived threats were from outside the US. To get to the US someone would have to go through a gauntlet of armed aircraft and they would be detected in plenty of time, giving those stationed domestically time to arm and scramble. Obviously it's a different world now.

Powerful stuff.

 

I can't even imagine what was racing through their minds while they were getting airborne.

It was explained pretty well in the article. Pre 9-11 the perceived threats were from outside the US. To get to the US someone would have to go through a gauntlet of armed aircraft and they would be detected in plenty of time, giving those stationed domestically time to arm and scramble. Obviously it's a different world now.

 

Still doesn't make sense to me, even pre 9/11. There should have been multiple armed jets at every AFB. That probably wouldn't have changed anything that day, but still disturbing to think about.

Still doesn't make sense to me, even pre 9/11. There should have been multiple armed jets at every AFB. That probably wouldn't have changed anything that day, but still disturbing to think about.

 

Given the circumstances that had been in place for decades I'm not bothered by it. It was far safer to have the ammunition stored in safe places rather than on the aircraft. Even now the great majority is stored the same way with only a small segment armed and ready to go. You are right that it would have made no difference that day as no fighter every got anywhere close to the airplanes.

God Bless all who protect us from harm by willing to risk their lives. I'm sure there are other stories like this that are still untold.

That level of bravery is hard for most people to comprehend, I believe.

 

Very thankful we have people like that protecting us.

Wow. Just wow.

 

On a side note, I don't know if I'd be able to do what the Colonel did...select someone to go on a kamikaze mission with you. It's one (very big) thing to sacrifice your life for a mission. It's on a completely different level to order someone else to also do it with you. Hard call to make.