9/11’s affect on 100th ARW mission

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The day was Sept. 11, 2001 - a day most remember well.

Terrorists used four passenger airliners to attack the United States. Two stuck the North and South towers of the World Trade Center, while a third hit the Pentagon. Due to the efforts of passengers who fought back and resisted, the fourth aircraft missed its target and crashed in an open Pennsylvania field.

Back at RAF Mildenhall, all air operations were suspended immediately by order of U.S. Air Forces Europe. The base increased security measures and reminded the wing that they must always remain vigilant.

The security issues impacted the mission so hard that daily flying operations did not resume until Sept. 14, and then only with the understanding that commanders would constrain training to operate within the 100th Security Forces Squadron's capacity to maintain FPCON requirements.

"Security was heightened to a fever pitch, while both rumors and the tragic news circulated around a stunned base," said Mark Howell, 100th Air Refueling Wing historian. "All the base facilities closed, including the schools, and any other services not absolutely essential to base operation."

As the base strived to gain an understanding and a sense of normalcy, they also paid special attention to those still grieving.

"The base held a memorial service on the 18th of September to express condolences for the Americans who lost their lives during the 9/11 terrorist attack," said Howell.

The 100th Air Refueling Wing's flying operations were affected heavily as a result of sorties being changed to meet USAFE requirements.

"In one week alone, USAFE directed 76 changes to 88 sorties," cited Howell. "In all, 48.8 percent of all changes for September 2001 came from MAJCOM or higher. Despite all of this, the 100th Air Refueling Wing met nine out of 10 USAFE standards."

On Oct. 5, the 100th ARW received unofficial notification that it might deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, said Howell.

According to Howell, USAFE stood up the 3rd Air Expeditionary Task Force Oct. 8 to support Operation Enduring Freedom at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. This task force included: the 52nd Aerospace Expeditionary Group; 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron; the 492nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron; the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron; and the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.

"Working on verbal orders and a plan that changed frequently, the 100th Air Refueling Wing deployed four KC-135 Stratotankers to three separate locations: Incirlik Air Base, Rhein-Main Air Base (Germany), and Souda Bay, (Crete)," said Howell. "Turkmenistan pulled its diplomatic clearance for the use of its airspace when aircraft of the 3 AETF-OEF failed to adhere to prearranged flight tracks on Oct. 3."

Central Command responded with the cancellation of Operation Northern Watch flight operations from Incirlik and cited fuel concerns and congested air space, said Howell.

"On the 16th of October, General Gregory Martin, USAFE commander, ordered the 3rd AETF-OEF fighters to redeploy to their home stations," said Howell.

Brig. Gen. Mark Volcheff assumed command of the 3rd AETF-OEF, while the 86th Aerospace Expeditionary Wing became the lead element when the 52nd AEG, 493rd EFS, 492nd EFS, and 22nd EFS inactivated, said Howell. As a result, the organization moved the command element from Incirlik Air Base to Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

"The deployed 100th ARW tankers, at Rhein-Main, redeployed to RAF Mildenhall. At the same time MC-130 refueling support missions were added to their workload as well as C-17 support," said Howell. "Air National Guard tankers arrived to share the workload. The tanker planning cell received word to relocate to Ramstein October 24th, to join the 3rd AETF-OEF command element."

A commander's call was held to address base personnel. A separate meeting was held in the local community to answer questions about the effect of the heightened base security on the local community. In fact, RAF Mildenhall base tours did not resume until December.

While community relations issues were being addressed at RAF Mildenhall, plans were being made to add tanker support to another part of Europe.

"An advance team from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, under command of Colonel Ray Dinsmore, arrived at Burgas, Bulgaria, on November 17th, to assess the site for possible use as a forward operating location for tankers," said Howell. "This was the first time American tankers flew out of Bulgaria."

Martin visited troops deployed to Burgas on Dec. 21, to thank them for their support of ongoing combat and humanitarian missions in Afghanistan. The next day, the 100th ARW at Burgas began to redeploy to RAF Mildenhall.

The deployed Airmen were supposed to be home by Christmas. However, nature set up a roadblock in their course home.

"Though the tankers made it out of Burgas in a timely fashion, heavy snow prevented a number of personnel and equipment from leaving on time," said Howell. "As weather permitted, personnel and equipment departed for England, but the last of the personnel did not redeploy from Burgas until Jan. 1, 2002."

Since 2002, the men and women of RAF Mildenhall continued to support the response of Sept. 11, 2001.

More than 37,000 Airmen are currently forward-deployed in support of worldwide contingencies. More than 28,000 are deployed to the Central Command area of responsibility. Over the past year, the Air Force flew more than 555,000 hours supporting of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, which equates to about 530 sorties per day.