Page 116 - Never Fly Solo
P. 116
8
Situational Awareness
Effective Communication
Builds Trust
The floodlit tarmac at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Ara-
bia, is a beehive of activity as my wingmen and I walk toward
the ground crew. Climbing into our sleek F-16 jets, we con-
duct our preflight checks for this five-hour night combat mis-
sion into Iraq.
Our call sign is “Viper 11,” and we are part of a multi-
strike package of fourteen aircraft responsible for taking out
an SA-3 surface-to-air missile site just outside Najaf in south-
ern Iraq. Intelligence briefed us that the SAMs are active, as
are multiple antiaircraft artillery sites. It’s going to be
intense.
The powerful turbines whine as we taxi toward the run-
way. Capt. Dieter “Deetz” Barheis, a weapons school gradu-
ate and a talented fighter pilot, checks us in on the radios.
“Viper flight, check.”
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