Airmen augment Romanian security for NATO summit

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Petosky
  • 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
CAMPIA TURZII, Romania (AFPN) --  Airmen from across U.S. Air Forces in Europe converged on locations throughout the continent this week to support Operation Noble Endeavor, a Romanian-led effort to police the sky above the upcoming NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania. 

Hundreds of support, maintenance, operations and medical Airmen deployed to locations across eastern Europe as part of the 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing. Air Force aircraft supporting the effort are KC-135 Stratotankers, F-15 Eagles and F-15E Strike Eagles, E-3 Sentries and F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The summit, scheduled from April 2 to 4, will host leaders from NATO member nations, including President George W. Bush. The U.S. Air Force is augmenting the security at Romania's request. In addition to their air forces, the Romanians are providing air traffic control, airspace expertise and command authority.

"This is just one example in a long list of accomplishments of NATO nations working together toward a common purpose," said Col. Peter Davidson, the 323rd AEW commander. "There is great strength in allied interoperability, and I'm proud to be a part of this mission."

At Campia Turzii, a Romanian airfield near Cluj, there were few buildings and no living quarters available when the first Airmen arrived. Civil engineers built a tent city with the help of other Airmen. The challenge was to build a tent city within two weeks of their arrival.

"I got here late at night, and there were only 10 tents set up," said Staff Sgt. Leslie Daily, with the 404th Air Expeditionary Group weather flight. "By noon the next day, there were 22 -- they were slamming them up. We were working as a team, everyone's boots got muddy." 

Lt. Col. Troy Stone, the 404th AEG commander, said the teamwork that went into building the tent city is the greatest strength of today's Air Force.

"People often think the Air Force is about flying planes," he said, "but this is what it's really about. Ours is one of the only air forces in the world with the ability to create an operating location anywhere from the ground up." 

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