|
The F-16 fighter's place in air defense history is assured
with this permanent display of aircraft #82-929, which was
scrambled over the eastern coast on Sept. 11, 2001. The
pilot on that eventful day, Lt. Col. Brad Derrig, attended
the dedication ceremony at the Western Air Defense Sector
on May 21 and talked about the shock and drama of combat
air patrols on that date
|
|
The
F-16 fighter's place in air defense history is assured with
this permanent display of aircraft #82-929, which was
scrambled over the eastern coast on Sept. 11, 2001. The
pilot on that eventful day, Lt. Col. Brad Derrig, attended
the dedication ceremony at the Western Air Defense Sector on
May 21 and talked about the shock and drama of combat air
patrols on that date
The Western Air Defense Sector
(WADS) hosted a formal dedication ceremony on May 21, 2008 for a
historic
F-16A Fighting Falcon from the North Dakota Air National Guard.
The F-16 was set on permanent display on February 11 of this
year.
The aircraft, F-16A ADF (Air Defense Fighter) S/N 82-0929, was
one of the three F-16s scrambled against hijacked airliners on
Sept. 11, 2001. The aircraft and its pilot on that day - Lt.
Col. Brad Derrig, commander of the 119th Operations Group, North
Dakota ANG - will always be remembered as part of
the United States' first line of defense against terrorism.
Colonel Derrig, who participated in the dedication ceremony,
piloted the historic jet on its final flight here Dec. 26, 2006.
After its arrival at McChord, the aircraft was prepared for
permanent display by volunteers from several agencies and
organizations - the McChord Air Museum, the 162nd Fighter Wing
from Tucson, Ariz., the 194th Operations Group, the 62nd Airlift
Wing and WADS.
All groups who made this project a success were
presented a Letter of appreciation and Commanders' Coin by Col
Paul Gruver, Commander of WADS, accepting for the Museum was
Foundation Board Member Ernest White who led the effort to bring
the historic F-16 to McChord.
(Special thanks to WADS
Public Affairs for their contributions to this article)
|
|
Joining Sector Commander Col. Paul Gruver, second
from left, in unveiling the F-16 plaque they are from left Mr.
Greg Heidloff of WADS; Senior Master Sgt. John Kennedy from
the 194th Operations Group; Master Sgt. Scott McCool of WADS;
Master Sgt. James Roark (partially hidden) from Arizona's
162nd Fighter Wing, and Mr. Ken Roberts, from the McChord Air
Museum.
|
