Peace Plan Highlights | Photo Gallery | Strike Assessment | News Video Archive | Strike at a Glance | Who's Who | Roots of the Conflict | Story Archive | Links | Discussion

MILITARY PLAN:

June 26, 1999
Web posted at: 7:02 p.m. EST (0002 GMT)

From CNN Producer Fran Lewine

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Maryland (CNN) -- The first group of Navy pilots who were part of NATO's Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia returned to the United States Saturday, making a dramatic fly-over before receiving a warm welcome at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

The six planes carrying members of the Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron VAQ-140 flew in from Aviano Air Base in Italy after an overnight stop in the Azores. They were en route to their home base at the Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island, Washington.

The squadron, known as the "Patriots," flew 717 combat sorties, totaling 3,129 combat hours, and were the only squadron to fly every day of the air campaign. Their job was to neutralize or jam hostile electronic and radar systems.

A seventh plane scheduled to return was held back in Italy by mechanical problems.

Among the crew, Lt. Jason Langham, 29, was met by his mother and stepfather, holding aloft a welcome home sign. Langham went to the Balkans on April 14, his birthday, and was heading home to his wife, who is expecting a baby.

Lt. Robert Fenrick of Capital Heights, Maryland, was welcomed by his mother, who said she'd baked him his favorite pie -- sweet potato -- for his overnight visit.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.