GROUND ZERO, EAGLES ON STATION

On the morning of September 11, 2001, as the FAA were trying to track several suspected hijacked airliners, the first jet fighters scrambled to assist were F-15’s from the Massachusetts Air National Guard.

A 102nd Fighter Wing F-15 arrives over the World Trade Center shortly after both towers were struck. The flight leader for the mission was Lt. Col. Tim “Duff” Duffy and his wingman that morning was Maj. Dan “Nasty” Nash. The pilots and their Eagles scrambled to the skies over New York City from their home at Otis Air National Guard Air Base on Cape Cod. In this image you see “Duff” as he makes his first reconnaissance pass over the World Trade Center Towers.

As Tim retold his experiences of the day to Rick, one story in particular was the most sobering. As the South Tower began collapsing Tim was over the top of it and looking down. As the tower began falling away he thought his jet was climbing. After a quick glance at his instruments he confirmed his altitude was stable and the chilling realization swept over him that the tower was collapsing!

Over the next several hours, both pilots intercepted numerous aircraft in the airspace over Manhattan. The pilots and their F-15’s escorted intruding aircraft from Cessna’s to Airliners out of the area and to airports nearby and thus guarding the skies against further attack.

“Ground Zero” is available as a signed and numbered Limited Edition print on archival paper.