My son was in AWACS for almost his entire 23 yr career in the USAF, initially as an ART. He finished as an E8.
He told me that in the entire Hx of AWACS, there has only been one E-3 incident involving fatalities - a bird strike lifting out of Elmendorf.
Because the number of personnel in these squadrons is relatively low (compared to the Big AF), pretty much everybody knows/has met everybody else when you’ve been there for a decade. It was devastating.
In another war a long, long time ago, I was a GCI Controller. In those days being in an AWACs squadron was the stuff of wet dreams. And speaking of dreams, I still dream about some of those nights controlling F4's refueling so they'd return to the sky above the Ho Chi Minh trail...AND I'll admit I'd love to go on a mission in real time in an E3 and would probably not recognize any of what was going on.
Hi Ross, AWACS escort is typically fighter CAP, usually F-15s/F-16s or Navy F/A-18s, positioned to intercept threats early. Although, it's possible the 11 F-22s in theater are doing this job at the moment.
Our bases are sitting ducks for Shaheds because the Republicans killed our anti-Shahed program
https://bsky.app/profile/brosemitesam.bsky.social/post/3mfwcepowkc2j
My son was in AWACS for almost his entire 23 yr career in the USAF, initially as an ART. He finished as an E8.
He told me that in the entire Hx of AWACS, there has only been one E-3 incident involving fatalities - a bird strike lifting out of Elmendorf.
Because the number of personnel in these squadrons is relatively low (compared to the Big AF), pretty much everybody knows/has met everybody else when you’ve been there for a decade. It was devastating.
Safety record is incredible.
They are professionals to the core.
Great description. Thanks, Wes.
Awesome article, thank you!👍👊
Thanks for reading, David.
In another war a long, long time ago, I was a GCI Controller. In those days being in an AWACs squadron was the stuff of wet dreams. And speaking of dreams, I still dream about some of those nights controlling F4's refueling so they'd return to the sky above the Ho Chi Minh trail...AND I'll admit I'd love to go on a mission in real time in an E3 and would probably not recognize any of what was going on.
kinda like a great referee, keep every thing going, while nothing gets out of hand
I there anything you can reveal what its escort might be?
Hi Ross, AWACS escort is typically fighter CAP, usually F-15s/F-16s or Navy F/A-18s, positioned to intercept threats early. Although, it's possible the 11 F-22s in theater are doing this job at the moment.
Iran needs to blow that sucker out of the sky
Really?