(26 Jun 1999) English/Nat

The first United States Navy pilots who took part in NATO's air campaign against Yugoslavia to return home, landed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Saturday.

They were greeted by elated family and friends, clearly relieved by their safe arrival.

After flying every day of Operation Allied Force over Kosovo, the VAQ-140 squadron, also known as the "Patriots" returned to the U-S-A on Saturday.

As part of their welcome home, the six EA-6B Prowlers flew over Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Families, relations and friends gathered at the base to welcome the first of many returning service men and women from Europe.

The EA-6B Prowlers are designed primarily to protect strike aircraft and fleets from enemy detection and radar guided missile threats.

They use jamming systems and High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) to prevent detection.

The "Patriots" fired 162 HARM missiles during Operation Allied Force and their sortie completion rate was 100 per cent, with no mishaps.

Members of the squad talked about the length of the operation and the strategy of only using air power.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I guess initially there we were a little sceptical that the air power was going to do it, but as it turns out it did a great deal, did a great deal."
SUPER CAPTION: Lieutenant. Jason Langham, VAQ 140 Patriots

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think we did a pretty good job of doing it. I don't know if it would work all the time, but it worked here and I am pretty happy about that. I think that all, none of us were looking forward to, you know, having ground troops in there whether that would ever happen - who knows, but we really worked pretty hard trying to get at them and I guess we did, so I am pretty happy about that."
SUPER CAPTION: Derek Leney Gramps, Navigator, VAQ 140 Patriots

Squadron Commander Scott Beach said the "Patriots" were in harm's way quite often and that he was pleased by their overall performance.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Of course I am, very proud, very proud. We did a lot, air power did a lot this time in fact I would say air power did a lot more this war than Desert Storm. We went into harm's way as far as the Prowlers were concerned a lot more than we did in Desert storm. So in that respect I think it was very well done."
SUPER CAPTION: Commander Scott Beach, VAQ 140 Patriot Commanding Officer

But for the family and friends, it was just good to have the pilots and navigators home.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
Q: "How does it feel to have him back?"
A: "Excellent, really good, really good, really good. I feel very, very proud of all of them. Every one of them."
SUPER CAPTION: Joe Fenrick, Navigator's Father

The thoughts of Lieutenant Robert Fenrick summed up the feelings of all those returning on Saturday.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have one more leg to get back to where we are based, that's my second home right now - but we are back in the States, that's the important thing. We made this far, so as far as I am concerned we are home."
SUPER CAPTION: Lieunteant Robert Fenrick, navigator, VAQ 140 Patriots

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