Bombing runs easier than training flights, crews say

WASHINGTON -- Five airmen who flew missions in the first strikes on Afghanistan said they faced some anti-aircraft fire but didn't feel threatened.

"We face much more challenging sorties in our routine training," said a bombardier on a B-1B who identified himself as "Vinny" during a conference call with reporters.

He said his plane came under fire, but was not hit.

Air Force officials arranged the call with five pilots or air crew members involved in Sunday's strikes on the condition that their real names not be used. The airmen also were not allowed to discuss details of their missions such as whether they hit their targets or how many bombs they dropped.

The airmen said they had clear weather, accurate briefings and no major problems.

"Afghanistan was dark and quiet. That's pretty much the extent that I can describe to you," said a pilot called "Woodstock" who flew the lead B-52 bomber in Sunday's mission.

"My crews didn't encounter any threat we weren't prepared to deal with," he said.

When the planes departed, fellow airmen and soldiers lined the runway, waving American flags said Vinny. "I felt proud. It's like being a football player at Super Bowl day."

None of the crewmen said they personally knew anyone killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York. They said conversations aboard the planes was professional, not emotional, as the bombs fell.

But one of the B-52s in Sunday's raids recently had its nose section repainted with the legend, "NYPD, we remember," the B-52 pilot said.

"We all miss our loved ones very much, but we're all proud to do what we're here to do," said Vinny.