Maj. Tim Hart (left to right), Capt. Curtis Knighten and Capt. James Garza work at their stations on board an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft during a recent mission. The first E-3 rolled out of the Boeing factory on Feb. 1, 1972, and AWACS aircraft have been providing continuous air surveillance and command and control ever since. The three Airmen are assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stacy Fowler)