| Clovis fighter
pilots played
an important part in exercise ‘Checkpoint’ last week. The alert was a
national
exercise with all fighter planes in North America
participating. In the photo left , Lt. Col. Cragg (seated) gives M/Sgt.
Madrid the
information to scramble the aircraft standing by on the end of the
runway. They
are standing by for immediate takeoff to intercept the ‘mock’ enemy. In
the
middle 388th Fighter Bomber Group aircraft and communications
vehicle are awaiting for alert signal. Note pilots
in the cockpits |
. The pilots
had a minimum time to take off to intercept the “Enemy”, or otherwise
loose
effectiveness in the “Exercise.” On the right Jets take off on the
signal from
group headquarters. The aircraft had to be started and off the ground
in five
minutes. Sixteen planes participated in the exercise. Personnel of the
air base
group and maintenance and supply group were in support of the fighter
group.
All personnel were on standby basis from 3 a.m. through 8 p.m. last
Saturday.
Aircraft were on the runways from dawn until darkness with pilots in
aircraft
at all times (U.S. Air Force photos.) |
