Past Captain’s Corner Entry

Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Our August program was an outstanding briefing by Lt Gen Wooley on September 11, 2001, the Air Mobility Command's tanker and airlift forces, and his involvement in the planning and progress during the days after 9/11 leading up to the response to the attack on the World Trade Center and through the beginning of the war in Afghanistan.  Lt Gen Wooley, as Commander of the Tanker Airlift Tactical Control Center at HQ AMC when the attacks occurred, had an unique position from which to participate in the response to the attacks and the planning for the invasion of Afghanistan.  He discussed the events during the immediate aftermath to reduce all civilian and commercial flights from several thousand down to approximately 500, with most of that number being military missions flying protective cover over designated cities.  He then covered the airlift support that was required to return to the USA all mission essential administration personnel that were overseas and then the planning to begin the buildup of personnel and equipment designated for the response as directed.  This involved airlifting supplies over 7,000 miles to Afghanistan and surrounding support bases.  The re-supply of jet fuel for air refueling and to advanced airbases was a huge challenge for the Air Force Planners.  The tanker and airlift requirements that were necessary to finalize these plans stretched the capability of all airlift, both military and commercial, to their limits, including extending the C-141 beyond its planned drawdown.  By the time the war began, AMC had airlifted over 2,600 tons of cargo.  Gen Wooley then discussed this continuing war as a "Long War".  The enemy is committed to this cause:  the enemy has a strategy with global aspirations; it requires change within the Islamic world; and the enemy has committed to a long war and has publicly articulated these goals for decades.  Their objectives are to re-establish the Caliphate, establish Sharia Law, rid Dar al-Islam of Zionist presence, overthrow apostate governments, remove U.S. and Western influence out of Middle East, and to advocate Jihad.  Their current fight involves:  taking advantage of open societies - "Strike when and where we choose", expanding safe havens in the Sahel (Africa), establishing new safe havens in Latin America, expanding safe havens in Somalia & SE Asia, maintaining a safe haven in Afghan-Pakistan Border, and continuing the active Jihads in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Somalia, Algeria, Chechnya, Kashmir, and the Philippines.  Their future fight is to bankrupt and exhaust the "Far Enemy", continue to establish safe havens, expand Dar al-Islam, expand the Jihad to secure Dar al-Islam, overthrow apostates, gain WMD capabilities, and control the oil resources of the region.  he concluded with:  Sept 11 2001.  Have We Forgotten?  We must never forget.

Seagull Flight recognized the parents of Robert Bower, our Daedalian Scholarship winner for 2011.  Robert was unable to attend the dinner.

Seagull Flight inducted two new members:  Lt Col (Ret) Everett Raspberry and Lt Col (Ret) Joseph Wildinger.  Welcome aboard.

See you at Eglin on Tuesday, 20 September, with Chris Russo, Director of MFG & Technical Operations, L-3 Crestview Aerospace, as our guest speaker.

Volabamus, Volamus

Charlie Heifner
Flight Captain