The US air force demonstration squadron is in Ireland for the Salthill Air Show - and to show its gratitude to a valued ally, writes Tom Clonan
Shannon Airport, shrouded in mist and drizzle, is a far cry from the heat and dust of Nellis US air force base in the Nevada desert - home to the US air force demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds. Breaking through the low cloud cover over Co Clare this week, the eight F-16C fighter jets of the United States' most famous aerobatic squadron break formation and peel off, one by one, banking low over the terminal buildings and passing over a Ryanair jet taxiing for take-off.
As they make their final approach to land, an armed security party of Irish soldiers from the First Air Defence Regiment, Cork, remark that the sight and thunderous roar of F-16s flying at low altitude reminds them of Israeli air force airstrikes in Lebanon. "All that's missing is the Star of David on the wings," quips one soldier. "And the sunshine, of course."
Lieut Col Kevin Robbins, the flight leader and commander of the Thunderbirds, is the first to taxi his F-16C multi-role attack fighter to a halt at Shannon. According to the group's public affairs officer, Capt Elizabeth Kreft, the purpose of the tour to Ireland is to "promote goodwill amongst America's allies in the fight for freedom", and "to demonstrate the combat capabilities of the aircraft of the United States air force (USAF)". This is the first time that the USAF Thunderbirds have toured Europe since 9/11 and the first time in its history that it has visited Ireland. The Thunderbirds are performing their precision aerobatic manoeuvres at the Salthill Air Show this weekend.
Once the entire flight team have taxied to a halt, in a brief ceremony Lieut Col Robbins unveils a Tricolour on the flag panel of the lead F-16. "We're excited to be here and to unveil the Irish flag on our jets," he tells The Irish Times. "We're very excited, because when you think of Ireland, it screams out freedom. And that's what this tour is about, coming and cementing that bond with countries and people who have decided that freedom is the base line of what they do."
During the course of this discussion, The Irish Times pointed out that the Irish see themselves to be a neutral state in this conflict; however, the Thunderbirds' pilots and ground crew are unanimous in their view that Ireland is an important ally of the US in the international war on terror. All of the pilots in the demonstration squadron have extensive combat experience in Afghanistan or Iraq, and most of them have passed through Shannon Airport in recent years en route to combat assignments.
MANY OF THE fighter pilots have Irish connections. One, Maj Ed Casey, whose mother is from Cork, is greeted at Shannon by his cousin Comdt Ronan Verling, a pilot of the 101st Squadron, Irish Aer Corps. Comdt Verling and the Aer Corps later bring the Thunderbirds team on a reconnaissance flight over Salthill to familiarise them with the display area. Two of the USAF's top flight personnel are women. Maj Samantha Weeks says that "approximately 25 per cent of the US air force is female".
In addition to being a fighter pilot, Maj Weeks is a qualified aerospace physiologist. She says that for physiological reasons female pilots are better able to withstand G-forces than men and that women are ideally suited for combat - especially in fast-jet attack roles. "Actually," she laughs, "if you look at the research, a short, fat, female who smokes, drinks and lifts weights ought to be the ideal pilot of the future." She adds that in training and in combat operations some female pilots have experienced as high as 12 Gs. But, she and her female colleagues observe, "even 9 Gs hurts like hell and it doesn't really matter if you're a guy or a girl."
Maj Weeks has served combat assignments in Iraq on Operations Northern and Southern Watch. During these missions, Maj Weeks and many other female fighter pilots flew out of Prince Sultan air force base in Saudi Arabia. She is keen to dispel the notion that aerial combat is a remote, "push-button" experience at a high-altitude remove from the battlefield.
She describes the "up-close and personal" nature of low altitude combat air patrols and the painstaking and risky process of being guided by radio to pinpoint targets by US ground forces - in what is referred to as a "talk-on" to target.
Maj Weeks also describes the impact of life as a fighter pilot on family life and the system of "cockpit to desk" rotations within the US air force that is designed to allow highly valued, highly-trained female personnel to have children and continue to serve as fighter pilots. "I intend, and I don't have a problem saying this, to have children as soon as this assignment with the Thunderbirds is concluded."
She is also clear about the purpose of the Thunderbirds' visit to Ireland.
"Ireland has taken a stand with the United States for freedom. We want to spread goodwill with Ireland and our other European allies. Ireland is supporting the United States in the war on terror and the Irish people are on the same page as us when it comes to freedom, human rights and democracy."
Maj Nichole Malachowski, whose great-grandmother comes from Mallow, Co Cork, agrees with her fellow Thunderbirds pilot that "Ireland is an important ally to the United States in the international war on terror. Fundamentally, Ireland's views on human rights and freedom are exactly the same as those of the United States. At a basic level, aside from the material support of Shannon, Ireland supports the war on terror simply by participating in democracy."
MAJ MALACHOWSKI HAS extensive combat experience as a fighter pilot extending back to 1999 and NATO's Serb air campaign, Operation Deliberate Forge. Flying an F-15E "Strike Eagle", Maj Malachowski flew combat missions into Kosovo from RAF Lakenheath in Britain. She later acquired over 180 hours of combat flying in Operation Iraqi Freedom after the allied invasion of Iraq in 2003. Like Maj Samantha Weeks, Maj Malachowski denies that fighter pilots are physically, intellectually or emotionally removed from the battlefield.
"I flew close air support missions for US and British troops fighting on the ground in Iraq. I've spoken to these British and American guys and girls on the ground, doing the 'talk-on' to targets. I would talk to them and get a first-hand feel for their situation. Coming in at low altitude to a target means you are very vulnerable to ground fire. And I've had everything thrown at me. From 'triple A' anti-aircraft fire, to shoulder-launched ground-to-air missiles to full-on SA-2 guided missile attacks on my aircraft. When someone is trying to kill you, you've got to concentrate on flying the plane and executing the mission. Concentration is key to survival."
When asked about close air support and the requirement to close with and kill the enemy, Maj Malachowski stated that she, like many other fighter pilots, didn't "feel comfortable talking about that aspect of combat on the record". Whilst the issue of killing is discussed openly within US military units and with US military chaplains and other support staff, Maj Malachowski's only comment about the matter was to say that "the rules of engagement in Iraq are very strict, and often we don't have to deploy our weapons at all. We come in low and fast and make a lot of noise. That's often enough to disperse the enemy."
The fighter pilots expressed the view that when weapons systems were deployed, targets were carefully selected and identified as legitimate for destruction.
Maj Malachowski, like Maj Weeks, is also keen to become a mother and have children. "The US air force has a comprehensive set of equality mission statements and equality policies called MEOs or Military Equal Opportunity policies. In addition, each air force base and air force unit has an MEO office with an equality officer you can approach in confidence to discuss equal opportunity issues with respect to gender, race - whatever.
"As a result, I'm proud to serve in an air force that allows me to excel as a woman. The MEO policies ensure that I'm in a professional environment that will allow me to become a mother and continue to serve in the US air force as a fighter pilot, whenever and wherever the US might need me in the future."
Ultimately however, Maj Malachowski feels that aerial combat is an environment that is indifferent to gender or ethnicity. "The F-16 is a machine that responds equally well to male and female pilots. The technology and the weapon systems rely on your capabilities as a pilot which require you to be confident, aggressive and decisive. But, most importantly, to be able to prioritise evolving crises and multi-task. Women are good at that. And in my experience flying close air support for infantry on the ground, those guys were always glad to see me coming - they didn't care that I was a woman. And neither did the enemy for that matter."
Salthill Air Show will be held tomorrow at 3pm.
Dr Tom Clonan is the security analyst for The Irish Times. He lectures in the school of media, DIT; tclonan@irish-times.ie