Air Battle Force

Dale Brown Air Battle Force

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dale Brown is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers including Flight of the Old Dog and Wings of Fire. He also created the Dreamland series, co-authored by Jim DeFelice. A former U.S. Air Force bombardier, Dale Brown is an instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found flying his own plane across the United States. He lives near Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

DEDICATION

This story is dedicated to the victims of the terrorist attacks on America on September 11,2001…

…and to the courageous men and women around the world who will relentlessly avenge their deaths

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to Brigadier General Stanley Gorenc, commander of the Ninth Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, for a great tour of his Wing and for setting up the orientation of the future Global Hawk and Predator unmanned reconnaissance aircraft units soon to be located at Beale. Born in Yugoslavia, Stan Gorenc is, I believe, at the top of the new generation of air warriors with the vision, determination, energy, and style to lead the United States Air Force boldly into the twenty-first century.

Special thanks as well to Colonel David Fobian, commander of the 940th Air Refueling Squadron, Air Force Reserve, at Beale AFB. When I served in the Air Force many years ago, I pulled strategic alert at Mather AFB with the 940th, and to be perfectly honest, we active-duty guys resented the laid-back style of the Reservists. In stark contrast, on this recent research trip I found every member of the 940th at Beale to be sharp, professional, and dedicated.

I especially want to salute the crew of the 314th Air Refueling Squadron’s “Petro Pony,” the most beautiful forty-two-year-old KC-135 aerial-refueling tanker I have ever seen, which flew us to Air Force Plant 42, Nellis AFB, and Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field on this incredible research trip. It was a perfect example of the vital and professional way the Reserves fly and fight these days.

Thanks to Major Bob Couse-Baker, chief of the 940th Air Refueling Wing public affairs; and especially to Captain Mike Strickler, Second Lieutenant Tawny Halvorson, and Second Lieutenant Brady Smith of Ninth Reconnaissance Wing public affairs.

Thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Celeo Wright, commander, and Master Sergeant Jim Koharik, public affairs chief, Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, for leading the tour of the U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane and B-2A Spirit stealth bomber depot maintenance facilities and the Global Hawk assembly facility.

Thanks to fellow B-52 crewdog Colonel Bill Percival, commander of the Ninety-eighth Range Wing, Nellis AFB, Nevada, for inviting us to view the incredible CAPSTONE airpower live-fire demonstration; and to Ms. Martine Ramos, public affairs officer for the Air Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, for her attention and support.

Thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Paul Geier, commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hake, deputy commander for operations, Eleventh Reconnaissance Squadron, Indian Springs, Nevada, for the orientation and tour of the Predator unmanned reconnaissance aircraft formal training unit.

Thanks to Chief Master Sergeant Bill Wayment, 555th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada, for his pride and professionalism. Definitely a topic for a future novel!

Thanks to Dean and Meredith Meiling for their friendship and generosity.

Author’s Note

Your comments are welcome! Send them to [email protected]. Individual replies may not always be possible, but I read every message. Thank you!

Cast of Characters

Major General Patrick McLanahan, commander, First Air Battle Force (1 ABF)

Brigadier General David Luger, deputy commander, First Air Battle Force

Brigadier General Rebecca Furness, commander, 111th Attack Wing; commander, 1 ABF/Air Operations

Colonel Hal Briggs, commander, 1 ABF/Ground Operations

Sergeant Major Chris Wohl, NCOIC, 1 ABF/GO

First Lieutenant Mark Bastian, Ground Ops squad leader

Gunnery Sergeant Matthew Wilde, ABF Ground Operations

Colonel John Long, 111 AW Operations Group commander

Colonel Daren Mace, commander, Fifty-first Bomb Squadron (QB-1A)

Captain William “Wonka” Weathers, munitions chief

Major Samuel “Flamer” Pogue, AC

First Lieutenant Dean “Zane” Grey, AC

Staff Sergeant Marty Banyan, munitions

Senior Airman Todd Meadows, munitions tech

Colonel Nancy Cheshire, commander, Fifty-second Bomb Squadron (EB-52 and AL-52)

Colonel Kelvin Carter, operations officer, Fifty-second Bomb Squadron, AL-52 AC

Major Frankie “Zipper” Tarantino, AL-52 MC

Thomas Nathaniel Thorn, president of the United States

Robert Goff, secretary of defense

Richard W. Venti, USAF general, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Douglas R. Morgan, director of Central Intelligence

Edward Kercheval, secretary of state

Darrow Horton, attorney general

Franklin Sellers, secretary of the treasury

Maureen Hershel, deputy secretary of state (Operations), acting secretary of state after Kercheval’s resignation

Isadora Meiling, assistant deputy secretary of state, Hershel’s assistant

AFGHANS

General (originally Captain) Wakil Mohammad Zarazi, member of the Hezbollah sect of the Taliban, warlord of eastern Turkmenistan

Colonel (originally Lieutenant) Jalaluddin Turabi, Zarazi’s second in command

Abdul Dendara, his aide

Captain (originally Lieutenant) Aman Orazov, Turkmen army and Zarazi’s henchman