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thedrifter
05-19-03, 06:40 AM
Saturday, May 17, 2003

'Jump jets' congregate at Brunswick station


By DENNIS HOEY, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.


BRUNSWICK — Waves of Marine AV-8 Harrier jets arrived Friday at the Brunswick Naval Air Station to refuel after completing an eight-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean. It was the first time the pilots had set foot on United States soil since serving in Iraq. The pilots' arrival in Brunswick was both historic and timely. Base officials said the 32 "jump jets" represented the largest contingent of operational military jets to have landed at the base since World War II, when BNAS was used to train Canadian and British fighter pilots.

The Marine aircraft, which are based in Miramar, Calif., and Cherry Point, N.C., are due to leave this morning, but arrived in time to help the base observe Armed Forces Day today. Armed Forces Day was established by President Harry Truman in 1949 as a day to thank members of the military for serving their country.

"The fact that these jets came to Brunswick speaks highly of our strategic location," said Capt. Robert Winneg, the BNAS commanding officer. "These pilots have been in the thick of things. The ear-to-ear grins on their faces as they stepped out of their jets was unmistakable. They are really happy to be back on U.S. soil."

The jump jets, which have the capacity to hover like a helicopter, make vertical landings and takeoffs, and reach speeds of up to 600 mph, were scheduled to arrive last Wednesday. But bad weather over the Atlantic Ocean forced the Harriers to wait until today to leave air bases in Europe.

John James, spokesman for BNAS, said the first wave of jets arrived around 12:30 p.m. Pilots were greeted by Main-ard the Moose - the base mascot - and ate lobster rolls.

Each jet had to refuel eight times during the trans-Atlantic flight, a procedure that requires the jet to receive fuel mid-air from a tanker plane, James said.

Capt. Ty Bachmann, a 29-year-old Marine Harrier pilot stationed at Cherry Point, N.C., said he can't wait to see his wife and two children, one of whom he has never held. His youngest son was born Jan. 31, just a few weeks after Bachmann was deployed to the Middle East.

Bachmann said he flew countless missions in support of ground forces over Iraq - he was based on an aircraft carrier - pinpointing enemy targets and firing laser-guided weapons at Iraqi soldiers and military installations.

"I flew enough missions to not know how many," Bachmann said.

Navy officials are just glad they returned safely.

"There's a great feeling of gratitude toward these pilots," Winneg said. "We're happy to welcome them home."

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 725-8795 or at: dhoey@pressherald.com



Sempers,

Roger




http://www.portland.com/photos/030517harriers.jpg

Staff photo by Doug Jones

Pilots with the Marine Attack Squadron 542 of the Second Marine Aircraft wing rest on the runway Friday at Brunswick Naval Air Station, having a lunch of lobster rolls and cold beer. The pilots, based in Cherry Point, N.C., had spent 17 hours over the past two days traveling from Kuwait to Spain and then to Brunswick. They were the first part of a wave of Harrier "jump jets" that was expected to bring 32 of the jets to Brunswick, the largest grouping of operational aircraft at the naval station since World War II.