Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

The first fighters to take off were indeed unarmed. National Geographic, Smithsonian, and History Channel have all broadcast a number of shows in the past 2 weeks on 911. One of the shows covered the Air Forc's response to the day as it was unfolding. There was an interview with Lt. Heather Penney, the pilot of one of the first two F-16's to respond. Lt. Penney said in the interview that when her CO, Col. Marc Sasseville and her went to pre-flight to get ready, there was no time to arm their fighters with missiles, as they were ordered to take off immediately. As they took off, they received word that they had "shoot to kill" orders. She said that realizing their fighters were unarmed, both her CO and herself knew what this meant if the did encounter a hijacked passenger jet, and that both of them were prepared to take whatever action that may have been to stop a hijacked plane if they did encounter one.

rrozema Loc: Sacramento, California

Wow

Thanks for sharing

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Reminds me of some lines in a book "The Frozen Hours". It was about the Korean War and gave insight from both the American side and the Chinese side. The Chinese wanted Russia to enter the war on their side but only to provide air support. Russia declined but did send advisors. During the battle of the Chosen Reservoir the Chinese general sent wave after wave of soldiers against the American line. Many were not armed knowing that they were to pick up weapons of felled comrades as they were machinegunned down. The Russian advisor was appalled telling the Chinese General what a waste he was making of soldiers. The general replied something to the effect that the Americans had bullets while they did not -- the soldiers themselves were the bullets! If it had come to it, Lt. Penny and her commander would have been the missiles.

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

OMG this made me cry again. Every time.