Minuteman Minute | Operation Noble Eagle

When terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the Air National Guard flew into action to support Operation Noble Eagle.

Hi, I’m Will Roulett, director of the National Guard Memorial Museum here in D.C., and this is your Minuteman Minute! On Sept. 11, 2001, the United States was attacked, and the Air National Guard flew into action. This picture depicts a pair of F-16A Air Defense Fighters from North Dakota’s 178th Fighter Squadron flying a combat air patrol over the Pentagon, in support of Operation Noble Eagle. Part of the 119th Air Wing’s “Happy Hooligans,” the 178th was stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, on Sept. 11. With fighter squadrons from the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Vermont, Wisconsin and more, the 119th flew combat air patrols over D.C. during the weeks and months that followed. Operation Noble Eagle is a combined United States and Canadian military effort to protect North America from another terrorist attack. The National Guard plays a central role in Noble Eagle, which encompasses military operations in homeland defense and support to civil authorities. Come learn about this – and a whole lot more – at the National Guard Memorial Museum. I’m Will Roulett, and that’s been your Minuteman Minute, brought to you by the National Guard Educational Foundation.