Buff trio

ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England -- Three B-52 Stratofortresses from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., taxi to the runway here. The B-52s are forward deployed to RAF Fairford to support NATO Operation Allied Force. The B-52s have been launching missiles in support of allied NATO air strikes. Air Combat Command's B-52 is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Goodbye

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY, Va. -- Mary Andrews, the mother of Master Sgt. Evander Earl Andrews, Operation Enduring Freedom's first reported American casualty, says goodbye to her son at his final resting place here Oct. 22. Andrews, a native of Solon, Maine, was assigned to the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho as a heavy equipment operator. He died Oct. 10, in a forklift accident while building an airstrip in Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, a peninsula in the Persian Gulf. Andrews is survived by his wife Judy, four children ranging in ages from 2 to 9 years old, a sister and his parents Mary and Obder Andrews. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jim Varhegyi)

German supporters

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Flowers, candles and letters were left at the main gate by German neighbors and supporters, including Ramstein-Miesenbach mayor Klaus Layes. People around the world paid tribute to those killed in the terrorist attack in New York City and in Washington, D.C,. on Sept. 11. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Controlled entry

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Senior Airman Jeremy Rae of the 52nd Fight Wing, 606th Air Control Squadron, overwatches the main gate in his Humvee here. Increased security measures followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Michelle S. Roquid)

Loading up

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM -- More than 50 airmen from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., board a C-17 Globemaster III leaving for a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Using the Defend America Web site, nearly 4 million people have signed an online thank you note for deployed troops. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Vanessa LaBoy)

Falcon refueling

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM -- An unidentified F-16 pilot from the Netherlands prepares his aircraft to take on fuel during an air refueling mission with a KC-135 Stratotanker. Aboard the tanker was an all-female crew from the 376th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at Ganci Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. (Courtesy photo)