Tom Drake

That never, that was never the case. It was always either over allied or friendly countries. Oh, okay. Yep. Known air routes, right? It's not like you're invisible. We weren't stealth in that regard. No. Okay. As we say, we were alone, unarmed, but unafraid. Right. Because you have to rely on our ears, literally. Although we had ground support. So how does that work?

That never, that was never the case. It was always either over allied or friendly countries. Oh, okay. Yep. Known air routes, right? It's not like you're invisible. We weren't stealth in that regard. No. Okay. As we say, we were alone, unarmed, but unafraid. Right. Because you have to rely on our ears, literally. Although we had ground support. So how does that work?

That never, that was never the case. It was always either over allied or friendly countries. Oh, okay. Yep. Known air routes, right? It's not like you're invisible. We weren't stealth in that regard. No. Okay. As we say, we were alone, unarmed, but unafraid. Right. Because you have to rely on our ears, literally. Although we had ground support. So how does that work?

And we primarily flew in international airspace. So international airspace, when you're out over water, it was international airspace. So flying over like ships and stuff? Well, just over the ocean, but at a very high altitude. You're talking, you know, 40,000 feet plus. Oh, wow.

And we primarily flew in international airspace. So international airspace, when you're out over water, it was international airspace. So flying over like ships and stuff? Well, just over the ocean, but at a very high altitude. You're talking, you know, 40,000 feet plus. Oh, wow.

And we primarily flew in international airspace. So international airspace, when you're out over water, it was international airspace. So flying over like ships and stuff? Well, just over the ocean, but at a very high altitude. You're talking, you know, 40,000 feet plus. Oh, wow.

Oh, yeah. Easily. Oh, yeah. No, I had the experience. Extraordinary. I mean, I kind of look back on it. There were some missions we went even higher than that. And when you looked out the porthole window, you know, the portholes of the plane and looked up, it was starting to get a lot darker.

Oh, yeah. Easily. Oh, yeah. No, I had the experience. Extraordinary. I mean, I kind of look back on it. There were some missions we went even higher than that. And when you looked out the porthole window, you know, the portholes of the plane and looked up, it was starting to get a lot darker.

Oh, yeah. Easily. Oh, yeah. No, I had the experience. Extraordinary. I mean, I kind of look back on it. There were some missions we went even higher than that. And when you looked out the porthole window, you know, the portholes of the plane and looked up, it was starting to get a lot darker.

And you started, when you looked out to the horizon, you could start to say, yeah, it looks like it's beginning to curve. You were that high. When you approach 50,000 feet, that's when you start to see the curvature. See the curve, yeah. Yeah. Looking down inside of a thunderhead, like it was cut out. That was pretty cool. Yeah.

And you started, when you looked out to the horizon, you could start to say, yeah, it looks like it's beginning to curve. You were that high. When you approach 50,000 feet, that's when you start to see the curvature. See the curve, yeah. Yeah. Looking down inside of a thunderhead, like it was cut out. That was pretty cool. Yeah.

And you started, when you looked out to the horizon, you could start to say, yeah, it looks like it's beginning to curve. You were that high. When you approach 50,000 feet, that's when you start to see the curvature. See the curve, yeah. Yeah. Looking down inside of a thunderhead, like it was cut out. That was pretty cool. Yeah.

That was four years. And then I was sent to Davis Month in Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. And I was a mission crew supervisor flying on EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft. So a different application of my training. Combat support, direct combat support.

That was four years. And then I was sent to Davis Month in Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. And I was a mission crew supervisor flying on EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft. So a different application of my training. Combat support, direct combat support.

That was four years. And then I was sent to Davis Month in Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. And I was a mission crew supervisor flying on EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft. So a different application of my training. Combat support, direct combat support.

Could if we had to train for it. So if the balloon goes up or some operation or you're going to support what they call C-suppressed enemy air defense, that was our fundamental. You're protecting fighters, bombers, et cetera, and other military assets going into whatever.

Could if we had to train for it. So if the balloon goes up or some operation or you're going to support what they call C-suppressed enemy air defense, that was our fundamental. You're protecting fighters, bombers, et cetera, and other military assets going into whatever.

Could if we had to train for it. So if the balloon goes up or some operation or you're going to support what they call C-suppressed enemy air defense, that was our fundamental. You're protecting fighters, bombers, et cetera, and other military assets going into whatever.

When the decision had been made at the highest, what we call the National Command Authority level, then you were there to support it.

When the decision had been made at the highest, what we call the National Command Authority level, then you were there to support it.