ONE mission, ONE team, ONE special night Published July 8, 2008 By 2nd Lt. Noelle Caldwell 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- It was a night that made history. A slight muggy breeze filled the air, ushering thunder clouds off in the distance, and as dusk slipped over the crimson Carolina horizon, a special group of Shaw Airmen charged with supporting Operation Noble Eagle would soon become a part of the 50,000th sortie flown in defense of the Continental United States June 30. Aircraft maintainers and weapons loaders prowled the aircraft parking ramp priming their jets; security forces stood their posts watching for intruders, and pilots tried to relax while remaining ready to launch their mighty F-16 Vipers. All stood ready to be summoned at any moment. Their mission: to protect the southeast region of the U.S. against any airborne threat, foreign or domestic. Suddenly, a phone rang. A moment later a siren sounded, sending them into action. "Let's roll!" Lt. Col. Pete Fry yelled over the alarm. The group sprung to their feet and sprinted to the jets in a matter of seconds. A short time ago they were staring at glowing TV screens with weather reports and flight patterns, and now the maintenance crew was already clearing their pilots to roll out. A collection of lights attached to the side of the hangar flashed from red to yellow and finally green. The canopy lowered and sealed. Engine started ... check. Weapons loaded ... check. They must be ready for anything. Security forces responded: in front, armed Airmen ensured the jets could taxi to the runway without interference. Behind, one Airman stood ready to take down anything that threatened the jets or the crews. Not today, terrorists--our American fighters will take you out. The maintainer signaled the pilot with his red flashlight wands glowing against the sapphire night sky. The pilot advanced the power and rolled forward, engine roaring, and taxied toward the runway lined with twinkling white lights. Almost instantly the first pilot received clearance for takeoff. His jet shot down the runway with a fiery 20-foot tail streaming from the exhaust and his wingman not far behind. That night was the beginning of a flight to the Gamecock D Military Operating Airspace, where they conducted intercept training while communicating with Eastern Air Defense Sector controllers. And if called upon, both Shaw pilots were ready to respond to any real-world tasking while they were airborne. It's a responsibility that's particularly unique to the Air Force profession -- to defend the skies at any moment, and to do it with the utmost perfection and agility. "It's the ultimate rapid response," Colonel Fry said. "We have to be able to launch aircraft 24-7 -- at any time in less than half the normal time it takes to launch a regular jet on the rest of the flight line," he said. "For us it's just a daily operation; it's what we do. We fly and are always ready to fly." But Monday night was unique. For the 20th Fighter Wing, it was the 50,000th sortie flown in support of Operation Noble Eagle--a mission dedicated to protecting the homeland from air threats and if necessary, eliminating those threats endangering the public or critical infrastructure in the U.S. "I was expecting some confetti, at least confetti," said 79th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew chief, Staff Sergeant Kenneth Boyles, chuckling as he waited for the two jets to return. "You gotta get out there as fast as you can. Naturally, the adrenaline is pumping," he said. Although not always a response to any specific threat, the sorties are an important element in the overall homeland defense mission. "I'm lucky," said Capt. David Phillips, a 79th Fighter Squadron pilot. "The opportunity to protect the U.S. is a great responsibility, and I'm honored to have such an opportunity," he said. But pilots aren't the only ones that protect America's skies. Shaw Airmen from all career fields help make each ONE sortie that flies a true success. "Whether it's the weapons loaders, security forces, air traffic controllers, or the guys and gals that refuel the jet after a mission, they can all tell their wives or husbands, 'Today I defended America,' because that's exactly what they do: to make sure these planes are ready to fly," Colonel Fry said. "These people literally defend the homeland." Providing support for ONE is a major way Shaw defends the entire southeast area of the country in addition to providing support to the war with deployed war fighters overseas, the Colonel said. Nearly two hours passed before a faint thunderous rumble shook the skies. It wasn't thunder; the jets were returning. The jets rolled back in and pulled into their parking spots, standing by as the ONE mission crews swiftly checked each jet for any scratches or bruises. The Vipers must be ready for their next mission, for it may come at any moment. Darkness had fallen by the time the jets returned home and these men and women of the 20th FW would call it "a night"...or at least until the next alarm sounded. Americans could feel safe sleeping in their beds tonight. "That was another night of defending the country," Colonel Fry said smiling. "I can't believe they pay me to do this," Captain Phillips said.