First Soldiers Down by Ron Corbett

Author:Ron Corbett [Corbett, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, Canada, United States, Afghan War (2001-)
ISBN: 9781459703278
Google: UDb6PBDr2twC
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2012-04-28T04:56:46+00:00

Schmidt and Umbach flew over northeastern Afghanistan, cruising at an altitude of 22,000 feet. Except for the stars, there were few lights either around or below them as they patrolled one of the most desolate stretches of Afghanistan airspace. The next day’s report would say what it always did: “No significant events occurred during the scheduled period of flight; the flight was not tasked to deploy any weapons; the flight returned to base on schedule.”

Shortly after takeoff, Schmidt had taken two of his go pills. Umbach had taken one. The mission was scheduled to last for ten hours and it was difficult to stay alert sometimes, especially given the repetitive nature of the work. Check on-board computers. Check on-board maps. Stare at a black sky. Repeat. Since the Vietnam War, fatigue had killed more fighter pilots than enemy fire.

Near the end of their patrol, Umbach radioed the AWACS and spoke with BOSSMAN to arrange an in-air refuelling. The AWACS controller gave the lead pilot the coordinates for the tanker, telling the pilots to depart southwest on a compass heading of 230 degrees. It was a flight path that would take them directly over the Tarnak Farm.

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