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Crews near Oklahoma City say they are keeping busy
11/05/2001
OKLAHOMA CITY – It's what you'd call a friendly invasion.
For the first time in history, military airmen from about a dozen
European countries occupy the Oklahoma prairie and patrol America's
skies. Their job: to be the eyes of the U.S. homeland radar fleet while
American forces concentrate on fighting the war against terrorism in
Afghanistan.
For those based at Tinker Air Force Base and residents in nearby
Oklahoma City, it's an almost unimaginable situation – foreign troops
protecting American soil.
But here these NATO men and women are – shrugging off strict U.S. Air
Force policies about saluting officers and turning the base roadways
into "something resembling the autobahn," as one American airman
described it.
They are part of the joint NATO AWACS operations assigned to protect the
United States from terrorism.
"I can tell you honestly that none of us, not one, would have ever
thought that big brother America would ever need our help," said Jens, a
German surveillance controller. He said crewmembers are not allowed to
give their last names or hometowns.
The five AWACS reconnaissance aircraft from NATO arrived last month to
supplement the U.S. fleet of 32 AWACS, which is spread thin by the war
in Afghanistan and by patrols over Iraq.
Officials said many of the contingent's 180 or so members are American.
Twelve other countries contributed personnel, including Germany, Canada,
Belgium, Italy, Norway, and Turkey.
The NATO AWACS (which stands for Airborne Warning and Control System)
works with air traffic controllers and military ground radar to monitor
U.S. skies for unidentified planes and suspicious flight patterns and to
provide a bird's-eye view of U.S. soil. The airmen are under the
direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Their mission is to detect malicious or errant aircraft, direct fighter
jets to intercept them, and keep anything like the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks from happening again.
Solid force
"Now the only time nationality comes up is when we are poking fun at an Italian because he uses too much hair gel or making fun of a Dutchman's accent or something, yah?" Jens joked, laying on a thick Dutch accent.
The humor, the marvel of American fast food, and even a visit to the Cowboy Hall of Fame – all of that contrasts with the serious responsibility these elite European flyboys feel now that they are charged with protecting America.
"People will come up to us in the Burger King, just shake your hand and say thank you very much," said Col. Jim McNaughton, the contingent commander of the Canadian wing. "I personally find it humbling. We're not here to be heroes, we're here for you."
Air activity over Dallas now shows up on the radar screens of the modified Boeing 707s used by the NATO AWACS crews, which previously were responsible for surveying the war-torn Balkans.
The planes were deployed about three weeks ago after NATO invoked Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which says that an attack against any nation in the alliance is an attack against them all.
"This is the most busy I've ever been, that includes the Balkans. Even in the Gulf War we were not this busy," said Malcolm, a Scottish civilian who works on the ground as an engine technician.
The planes have distinctive disc-shaped antennas above the fuselage. On board one aircraft, which is windowless beyond the cockpit, the crew used computers and tracking devices to follow other planes, monitor large trucks on the highways, and note the locations of tall buildings.
Surveillance officers contact ground crews when aircraft abruptly change flight patterns or lose transponder signals. They can direct fighter jets to scramble at the first hint of trouble.
"There was this one time we noticed this small plane making all these funny turns and loops on the edge of a city," Col. McNaughton said. "We got some jets over there, but turned out he was just taking pictures of some infrared gas lines."
Warm welcome
Several cobwebbed buildings were opened at Tinker to accommodate the visitors. The buildings bustle with NATO soldiers, and a blue flag with the white NATO star waves out front.
For the NATO crews, the Okie welcome started with tornado warnings. But they say the people are ultrafriendly.
"People say, 'You're with NATO? How about a free haircut? You want Chinese? How about 50 percent off?' " Malcolm said. "One time we went out and got all the orange juice we wanted, all for nothing. It's amazing."
Members of the NATO crews are spotted everywhere from the Oklahoma City National Memorial to the local Outback Steakhouse.
"You just can't pick up 16-ounce steaks in Germany all the time," Col. McNaughton said. "You people know how to eat."
For the American crewmembers who were based at Tinker earlier in their careers, this assignment has brought them full circle.
Jim, one of the U.S. captains, left his wife in Germany when he was deployed to Oklahoma.
"I've been spending a lot of time with my in-laws, actually," he said. "I never expected to come home for active duty."
The Europeans say this mission is payback for the Cold War during which Americans patrolled and protected the skies over Europe. Many recall U.S. efforts to rebuild that continent after World War II.
"Me and especially my family are very proud to be here," said Andreas, 28. "Especially being a German, for me to be able to give something back means a lot for my parents, my grandparents, and myself."
Aside from friends, family, and European news, the foreign crews say what they miss most is their own cuisine.
The Royal Bavaria, one of Oklahoma City's few German restaurants, has made a point of making the northeastern Europeans feel at home.
"They come in almost every day, by the bunches all crammed into one or two rental cars," said Joerg Kuehne, who serves them at communal dinner tables. "I think it reminds them of home. Germans are usually pretty much reserved, but maybe this will put Oklahoma on the map overseas."
The sharing of cultures is one of the reasons that crews are attracted to serving NATO, Andreas said. He said he has never been more proud to be part of the alliance.
"It makes you think, 'Hey, look at us. We're all from different places, we all have different beliefs, and we can all work together,' " he said. "It gives you hope that someday, maybe we all really will be able to live in peace."