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Article: In harm's way.
- Article from:
- Approach
- Article date:
- June 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 U.S. Naval Safety Center. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Tigertails were controlling the airways in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on a bright, sunny day over Afghanistan. As the primary controller of the AEW South airspace, I provided flight-following and administrative services for Air Force and Navy assets headed into the coalition-operating area. Tire mission was long and tedious, and it was only half over, but my crew and I were ill for real excitement.
We were proceeding south on the "driveway" when a track appeared on my scope. The track was all aircraft headed south, about 75 miles behind us. Using their squawk, I identified it as Reach, a C-17 cargo jet, undoubtedly ferrying implements of war to and ...