![Maj. Heather Penney in 2011.]({"default":{"load":"default","w":"73","h":"48","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAec8eF.img?h=484&w=728&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=763&y=781"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAec8eF.img?h=415&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=763&y=781"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAec8eF.img?h=415&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=763&y=781"}})
Late in the morning of the Tuesday that changed everything, Lt. Heather “Lucky” Penney was on a runway at Andrews Air Force Base and ready to fly. She had her hand on the throttle of an F-16 and she had her orders: Bring down United Airlines Flight 93. The day’s fourth hijacked airliner seemed to be hurtling toward Washington. Penney, one of the first two combat pilots in the air that morning, was told to stop it.
The one thing she didn’t have as she roared into the crystalline sky was live ammunition. Or missiles. Or anything at all to throw at a hostile aircraft.
Except her own plane. So that was the plan.
More @ The Washington Post
Great. Now we are looking for heros who did absolutely nothing.
ReplyDeleteDid I ever tell you about the time I got the medal of honor fighting back the Russian hoards in the Fulda Gap? Right. Because it didn't happen. I was ready for it. But they didn't attack, so I didn't have to give my life falling on that grenade or charging that machine gun nest. But I was ready to. I was also ready to play a major role in WW2, but I wasn't born yet.
It is a funny thing how many Americans are totally ignorant about how US national defense works and how we didn't have 200 fighter jets sitting on strip alert all around the country, fully loaded for war. (still don't). Our armed forces most of the time are disarmed and totally helpless.
But the real interesting thing here and the thing NO ONE CARES ABOUT, is that there is no law in the USA that would permit this pilot or Any pilot in the US Air Force to shoot down a Civilian air liner full of innocent civilian passengers. Shooting down flight 93 would have been every bit as much a terrorist act as hijacking it from the inside and flying it into the ground to kill everyone on board. Only the people ON the plane exercised virtue that day, by choosing to not be victims. And they need not have done that if not for 30 years of government policy teaching people to cooperate with their hijackers. We STILL have official government policy telling Americans to not defend themselves and to cower in place until "the right people" show up.
Entirely well said.
DeleteIf I had medals for everything I didn't do, I would put Audey Murphy to shame.
ReplyDeleteFor years, Penney, one of the first generation of female combat pilots in the country, gave no interviews about her experiences on Sept. 11
DeleteThis interested me.
I think this is very interesting as well that she is speaking out now that we have a full-blown traitor in the WH doing our Enemies' business on a daily basis. As I am remembering events, we were told that once it was determined that a civilian flight is being used for terrorism and is targeting civilian populations, then said plane could and should be shot down for the "greater good." What made news on the internet is that these fighter jets had orders to stand down and not take the civilian airlines out. Then why were they deployed in the first place when they weren't going to do anything about it but watch as the planes head for their intended targets?
ReplyDeleteThey can't get their lies straight.
DeleteThey weren't deployed and they never had any possibility of intercepting. They were out of position. America does NOT have an air defense grid that tracks every airplane in the sky. If they didn't have transponders, we wouldn't know where they were until they showed up at airports.
ReplyDeleteAnd if they could intercept, that interception would have resulting in "following them while we discuss this". There never has been public law or policy nor any military authority to shoot down a civilian airplane over the USA. A pilot in a seat with a full tank of gas is NOT an interceptor.
And also, when the national guards went to patrol the airports, they had no ammo either. It was too risky letting the military's most poorly trained people have live ammo and set loose among civilians. They were all there for show.
when the national guards went to patrol the airports, they had no ammo either. It was too risky letting the military's most poorly trained people have live ammo and set loose among civilians. They were all there for show.
DeleteUnbelievable.