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AMC helps NATO patrol America from above

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (USTCNS) - Along with images of destruction and grief, heroism and patriotism on Sept. 11, we will always recall memories of the world pausing to share our pain.

Wherever they were around the globe, by the hundreds and the millions, they flashed in pictures before us as they found ways to express their condolences to a nation momentarily brought to its knees, and as they found ways to show their solidarity with us.

The outreach continues, and on Oct. 17 the 19th Air Refueling Group stationed here became the latest to touch it.

United in American air space, at more than 400 nautical mph, one of the 19th ARG's KC-135R Stratotankers connected with a NATO Airborne Warning and Control Systems plane to transfer jet fuel to their allies flying a surveillance mission in support of Operation Nobel Eagle. A few minutes later, a second NATO AWACS approached the tanker for air refueling training.

On the radio, everything between the planes was all business, but two bold, hand-painted signs on the dash in front of the pilot and co-pilot spoke eloquently to the audiences served by the 19 media members on board the tanker, including CNN.

"Hi, America!" and "From NATO" the signs said. Behind them, the two AWACS crews on board were Belgian, Canadian, Dutch, German, Italian, Norwegian, Turkish and American.

However, they came to be here, foreigners flying operational missions in defense of U.S. air space for the first time in our nation's history. Clearly they were glad to help and wanted to reach out in unity to Americans.

More than 200 of them, representing 12 of NATO's 16 countries, arrived from Germany at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., less than a week earlier on five AWACS and one support plane, to help protect Americans in our skies as long as they are needed. Here at our request, their mission is to ease our operations tempo and free up American assets to fight the war on terrorism overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Within days of the attack on America, the NATO alliance invoked, for the first time in its 55-year history, Article 5 of the 1949 Washington Treaty, which essentially states that an attack against one nation is considered an attack against all. Given that people from some 80 nations were among the more than 5,000 people who died in the attacks on New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, it literally was an attack against all.

The seven television broadcast stations and two newspapers represented by media on the 19th ARG's refueling tanker recognized the significance of the NATO flight, some even waiving policies of not allowing their staffs on military flights just so their reporters could cover the event.
Crewmembers and escorts on board from the 19th ARG Black Knights, as they are called, felt the moment as well.

"Today's flight is a historic, but somber, occasion. Today the symbolic support of freedom-loving nations is represented by these nationalities aboard this NATO AWACS. They join us in righteous indignation over this unprovoked act of war against our nation and our ideals," said Col. Barb Faulkenberry, commander of the 19th ARG, following the flight.

Flying the NATO refueling mission was the latest feather for the 19th ARG, which has an enviable history of distinction.

The 19th Air Refueling Group is one of the 13 oldest organizations in the U.S. Air Force, having first been constituted on Oct. 18, 1927. The group has served honorably in every conflict and has earned the distinction of being one of the most decorated units in the Air Force.
In addition, the 19th ARG accomplished the remarkable feat of flying the first and last conventional bombing attacks in both World War II and the Korean War. More recently, the 19th ARG has continued its tradition of excellence.

The Black Knights have been named the "Best Air Refueling Squadron in Air Mobility Command" for three consecutive years, setting a standard no other squadron has ever matched.

The roughly 500 Black Knights, whose motto is "Checkmate against Aggression," answered the call early on Sept. 11, scrambling crews and planes to be airborne in support of U.S. fighters and surveillance planes aloft protecting U.S. cities.

They have flown refueling support to combat air patrols ever since. Last month, they were tapped to deploy assets in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, to contribute to the air refueling that enables cargo, surveillance, bomber and fighter airpower in precision strike against the enemies of freedom or in delivering critically needed humanitarian supplies to longsuffering Afghan citizens. How far can the 19th ARG's resources be spread?

"The 19th Air Refueling Group is proudly and fully engaged in providing for the defense of America and the prosecution of the war against terrorism. We've got aircraft, aircrews and maintainers out on the front lines. We've got communicators, logistics support and operations support personnel deployed to six different countries. And our C-5 maintenance team is working overtime to get combat-ready aircraft back to the war fighters," said Faulkenberry.

And, for the time being, the Black Knights will continue to provide critical aerial refueling for their NATO friends flying across our skies.

(FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

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