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Remembering 9-11-01: History shows AMC's response after terrorist attacks

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  If you thumb through the volumes of Air Mobility Command history, many significant events are documented. The terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, are among them.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners and intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, then crashed another airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. A fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Penn., after the passengers learned of the attacks and attempted to retake control of the plane. Overall, reports show 2,993 people, including the hijackers, died in the attacks.

In AMC, the response to the attacks was immediate, according to the official history from the AMC History Office.

"AMC's response to the terrorist threat simultaneously proceeded in different directions to provide for homeland defense in the first 48 hours after the terrorist attacks," the history states. "As soon as the Federal Aviation Administration directed clearing skies (of aircraft)...AMC action officers facilitated the order to land the fleet. At the same time, they coordinated with the FAA to put assets in the air to protect the homeland, to support national leadership, and to provide disaster relief."

Mr. Ellery Wallwork, AMC's lead historian, said few people know the incredible support AMC provided the day of the attacks and afterward.

"Even before that second airliner had hit the Twin Towers, AMC had a KC-135 Stratotanker launched to support the F-15s pursuing hijacked aircraft," Mr. Wallwork said.

AMC's response also meant supporting movement for President George W. Bush.

"Tankers refueled fighters providing cover for Air Force One as the president moved from Florida, where he was speaking on education policy when the terrorist attack began," the history archive states. "By Sept. 12, tankers also flew air refueling missions for the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center -- the president's airborne command and control center."

Tankers were also busy transporting national leaders throughout the world, AMC history records show. For example, on Sept. 11, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were flown aboard a KC-135 from Montana to then-Andrews Air Force Base, Md., .

Besides tankers, other members of AMC were busy right after the terrorist attacks. "To aid in rescue and recovery efforts, the command directed the launch of six C-9s to Andrews AFB," the history states. "The base hosted 12 crews and eight critical care aeromedical evacuation teams."

At McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., now named Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, search and rescue teams and medical supplies were airlifted there by AMC aircraft and crews on Sept. 12. McGuire became the designated site by FEMA to house and feed urban search and rescue teams operating in New York City.

McGuire also had a 25-bed surgical unit activated there in case they needed it. Additionally, by Sept. 14, McGuire assumed from Andrews the designation as FEMA's mobilization center operations site for the aerial port of debarkation."

To put it into perspective, in the first two days after the attacks, AMC and its gained assets had flown 37 airlift missions in support of homeland defense and "were prepared to intensify the pace if required," the history states.

Operation Noble Eagle also began on Sept. 11 and AMC was right in the middle of the support effort. Noble Eagle's core mission is the air defense of the U.S. homeland.

At the end of 2001, air mobility had a significant contribution to Noble Eagle. Tankers -- both KC-135s and KC-10 Extenders -- flew 3,199 missions and their receivers numbered at 9,822. On one peak day in 2001 supporting the operation, tankers flew 74 missions in a 24-hour period.

"During those first months of the contingency, AMC also had 228 airlift missions, delivered 2,189 passengers and moved more than 1,490 short tons of cargo," the history states.

"Our AMC Airmen made history on Sept. 11 and continue to do so today," Mr. Wallwork said.

As of Sept. 9, 2011, AMC statistics show mobility Airmen have airlifted more than 17.5 million passengers and 6.3 million tons of cargo since Sept. 11, 2001. Additionally, air refueling tankers such as the KC-10 Extender and the KC-135 Stratotanker have off-loaded more than 13.9 billion pounds (2 billion-plus gallons) of fuel for global air mobility operations.

(Note: This is the third in a series of three stories recognizing the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.)