[MilCom] W.PA - DUKE MOA 9/6/2006

[David Parana]

A pretty busy morning session in the DUKE today.

Starting at about 9:30AM:

FLYER 1 (A-10 Willow Grove)contacted Cleveland Center on 353.85 (ZOB-Wayland) and then went over to 301.60 (DUKE Primary)to contact OPEC 33 (KC-10 McGUIRE AFB).  FLYER will be doing some ACBT(?) and then will refuel.  FLYER 1 and 2 were A2A on 46.75 (FM Mode).  There were some brief comms on 141.80 (AM Mode), this is the VHF Freq for Willow Grove Command Post.  Turns out they were coordinating their location with a CADE flight, also from Willow Grove.

9:48 - CADE 1 in the DUKE (353.85)
9:49 - FLYER to CADE on 301.60, FLYER is ready in the North.  They're going to do some air to air combat.
CADES are A2A on 143.25 (AM Mode).
9:55 - FLYER calls fights on (301.60).
During the fight, I can hear the CADES better. "Flares" are called out a few times and they are relaying visual locations of their targets.
9:57 - FLYER calls terminate (301.60) and is heading up to the tanker.
9:59 - FLYER 1 calls to OPEC 33.  OPEC 33 is at 17,000 the CADES are at 16,000, and the FLYERS are coming up to 15,000. (301.60).
10:00 OPEC comes down to 16,000 because of some clouds (301.60).
CADE 1 and 2 go to the boom first and are wrapped up by 10:10.  They drop down and are going to do some Maverick attacks on some buildings. They are still A2A on 143.25.  CADE 2 has something strange going on with his targeting pod, it's cycling when he is not expecting it to, he can still do his practice attacks.  Earlier, before the dogfight, CADE 1 was having a tracking issue with his AIM-9.
10:15 - The FLYERS are done refuelling and OPEC is heading out at 17,000 feet.  CADE 1 reminds CADE 2 to make sure that he rearms his flares (143.25).
10:17 - FLYER to CADE (301.60) tells him that they're done with the Tanker and are going to set up to the North again.  CADE anxiously tells him to "Hurry Up!"
10:19 - OPEC asks if the Fights On (301.60), FLYER calls Fights On!.
10:21 - FLYER calls terminate (301.60).  Again I can hear the CADES on 143.25 better.  They set up one more time and are wrapped up at 10:28.

FLYER to CADE on 141.80 and asks them if they want to go back as a two or four ship formation.  CADE says they would rather go back as twos until they get out of some clouds.  
10:29 CADE to ZOB on 353.85 they request 13,000 feet and IFR back to Willow Grove.
10:30 FLYER to ZOB on 353.85 they are at 7,000 feet and request direct East Texas (ETX VOR), YARDLEY, then RTB.
1032: CADE requests 11,000 feet (353.85).
1033: CADE requests 7,000 feet (353.85).
1034: CADE to 338.30 (ZNY) requests 7,000 feet.
1035: FLYER to 338.30 (ZNY) and reports in at 7,000 feet. 

And that's about all I will hear of them...so it was a fun morning in the DUKE.

Dave