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NATO AWACS Deployed To Tinker AFB Planes Will Assist With Homeland Security Posted: 4:56 p.m. CDT October 10, 2001 Updated: 6:19 p.m. CDT October 10, 2001

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Five sophisticated airborne radar aircraft from a NATO base in Germany are being flown to Tinker Air Force Base to bolster homeland security and replace U.S. airplanes supporting the military action in Afghanistan.

The AWACS airplanes will fly air patrols over the United States, the first time NATO airplanes have been used for such a purpose, said Air Force Capt. Steven Rolenc.

"We work with NATO all the time," Rolenc said. "We exercise with them. We train with them. We work to lessen communications barriers."

Crews for the airplanes come from many of the nations belonging to NATO, including the United States, he said.

Responsibility for defense of U.S. and Canadian air space lies with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. These airplanes will help with stepped up NORAD patrols that were instituted after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Rolenc said the airplanes began arriving Tuesday and arrivals will continue through Thursday. The aircraft are flying in from Geilenkirchen, Germany, and will be accompanied by a Boeing 707 used to transport personnel and their equipment.

"They will be defending the homeland, flying combat air patrol," Rolenc said. "They will be providing the capabilities that AWACS brings to the fight."

Tinker's 552nd Air Control Wing, which has 28 AWACS airplanes and 3,400 military members, is participating in the U.S. military action against Afghanistan. The Airborne Warning and Control System airplanes are used to monitor battles on the ground or threats in the air.

The exact number of people deployed wasn't released. Tinker's 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron and 507th Air Refueling Wing, both reserve units, were also activated.

NATO is assisting the United States in its war against terrorism under the organization's Article 5, which states that an attack on one member of the alliance is an attack on all.

NATO has also used AWACS airplanes in Bosnia and the Balkans to assist in air operations.

AWACS airplanes are known for a distinctive disc mounted toward the back of the fuselage that looks like a giant Frisbee. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Right

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Answers

The reason I reported this is because I read on a thread at Freepers where OKC would be targeted. Could this be the reason?

Freeper link

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Boy, I sure hope note. OKC has seen enough!

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

(((((Sheeple!!!!!!))))))

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

I am sending prayers your way. Dan came home and told me about the Nato and the skies....I wonder....on the trip to dad's yesturday, there were "Contrails" Not chemmies everywhere...but then..... there were 2 that had BLACK 'trails" that HAD BEEN COVERD by contrails, and the wind was dissapating them..you could SEE this black , thick stuff..CB, who was driving also saw it.

11:10pm

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

It could be that freepers heard about the Tinker deployment and came up with the 'threatened' scenario. I imagine they would be deployed at a fairly central location--five of them probably won't be in the air at the same time. I don't know what their shifts are--maybe four shifts of 6 hours and a spare?

Don't worry too much until we know more, the location could be quite innocent.

By the way, we knew Nato people in Norfolk and they were all first-class people, better than the average military personnel.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

I'm not worried about the NATO troops. I think today, if I don't have many meetings, that I'm going to listen to the archived show that they guy was referencing.

Probably nothing, but then again. My OH CRAP meter went up a bit yesterday considering I found out they were going to be working with Anthrax where I work. Something about them not putting in extra security.

Time will tell.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

I was just watching the WTC memorial service and wondering, with dread, if "they" were going to commemorate their triumph. But that's the effect of terrorism, isn't it? To stop us from feeling as safe and secure as we did. And even the worst doomers felt some security! I can't imagine the stress of those people around the tabloid building in Florida.

I;m getting ready to leave with the Hungarian--It's "Big Lots Day." That is, we know the truck comes in Wednesday morning and they'll have most of the new stuff on the shelves today! You never know what trteasures you'll find. I hate to go because it's the on-month anniversary and I'm a buit fearful, but I'll be damned if I'll let those arseholes keep me from Big Lots!!!

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

OG, I don't believe that you're in a high risk area, so enjoy your shopping trip.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Actually, someone who works for the police department tld me that RTP was on the Top 10 list of the terrorists who bombed the WTC in 1993. I hope that list has been revised since then! Er, has it???

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Last I heard, it was major east and west coast cities, but that was from a mil person, not a spook.

And speaking of spooks, I haven't seen any of the "local" ones this week at all. They've been gone since last Thursday. I suspect that they're on a mission, not a limited training exercise, because one boarded out his pet.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

P.S. The absence of certain local spooks was another reason that I didn't take yesterday's downtown Columbus anthrax scare all that seriously. Unless they're in deep cover somewhere (which I doubt), I think they would've been sent back if there had been a real problem.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

"Boarded out his pet!" LOL! Dead giveaway, huh?

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

I did see one spook this morning. This person looked extremely tired (bloodshot eyes, wrinkled clothing). Before I could ask, I was told, "I know as much as you do at this point." So I nodded and bought the person some coffee.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001