Department of Defense

Fighters fly drug interdiction mission in Panama

By 1st Lt Charles J. Anthony

Fighter pilots and support personnel from the 199th Fighter Squadron, 154th Maintenance Squadron and 154th Aircraft Generation Squadron, returned from their second “real world” deployment this year, Dec. 3 and 4. Beginning Oct. 20, members of the 154th Wing deployed to Howard Air Force Base, Panama, in support of Operation Coronet Nighthawk.

The operation was part of a drug interdiction program using Air National Guard units to intercept and identify unknown aircraft attempting to enter the United States. Information gathered during intercept missions was forwarded to U.S. Customs officials, who them alerted U.S. law enforcement officials of the approaching aircraft. Apprehension of all suspects was conducted by civilian law enforcement officials. The number of scrambles and intercepts conducted by the 199th fighter pilots is not publicly releasable.

“We didn’t go over there expecting to completely stop the flow of cocaine corning into the country,” said Maj. Conal J. Brady III, fighter squadron pilot. “But we did make a dent in it and made it a lot harder for the drug runners.”

Another pilot, Maj. David M. Lilly, gave credit to the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies involved. “We were just part of an over-all drug interdiction operation, that’s been going on for a number of years, to stern the flow of drugs from South America to the U.S. mainland.” Lilly added that the deployment was very satisfying for him. “We helped keep drugs off America’s streets-that’s what we’re in it for. I don’t know what our future plans are, but I would definitely look forward to doing this again.”

Officials involved with Coronet Nighthawk say the operation has netted at least $100 million dollars worth of drugs every year since its inception. The interdiction mission has been the responsibility of the Air National Guard since August 1990.

– 1995 December Pūpūkahi pp. 1 & 7

From Oct. 21 through Dec. 4, 1995, 116 members of the 154th Maintenance Squadron, Aircraft Generation Squadron, and 199th Fighter Squadron deployed with F-15 aircraft to Howard Air Base, Panama, for Operation Cornet Nighthawk. The mission was to intercept and identify unknown aircraft suspected of attempting to enter the United States with illegal drugs. Information gathered during intercept missions was forwarded to U.S. Customs officials.

– 1996 Annual Report pp. 18-19