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Dragon Lady ~ A Defend America Photo Essay
Defend America ^
| Feb. 21, 2004
| photos by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins
Posted on 2/21/2004, 10:02:15 PM by Ragtime Cowgirl
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Dragon Lady |
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Maj. Mark Mount from the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron begins to taxi a U-2 "Dragon Lady" out to the flightline at an undisclosed forward operating base in Southwest Asia, Feb. 10, 2004. The Dragon Lady is a high altitude reconnaissance platform that provides near-real-time surveillance imagery in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins
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Physiological technicians, Staff Sgt. William Nicholson and Senior Airman Courtney Flowers, suit up Maj. Mark Mount into a full-pressure suit much like an astronaut wears for his flight on a U-2 Dragon Lady. The suit required to counter the hazardous physiological regime of high-altitude flying. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins
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Maj. Mark Mount relaxes while he breathes 100 percent oxygen in his life-support equipment before his flight. U-2 pilots must breate oxygen for 60 minutes before takeoff to reduce the amount of nitrogen in their blood stream. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins
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Maintainers for the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron perform pre-flight maintenance on the U-2 Dragon Lady before its flight. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins
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Senior Airman Courtney Flowers, physiological technician for the 99th Expeditionary Air Reconnaissance Squadron, performs life support pre-flight preparations on the U-2 Dragon Lady. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins
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Maintainers for the 99th Expeditionary Air Reconnaissance Squadron prepare to launch the U-2 Dragon Lady U.S. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins
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Maj. Joel Boswell from the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron taxis a U-2 Dragon Lady to the flightline. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins
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A 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron's U-2 Dragon Lady waits for its next mission, parked in a hanger at an undisclosed forward operating base in Southwest Asia. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins
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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: gnfi; oef; oif; pictures; reconnaissance; surveillance; u2; usaf
To: MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; ...
~*U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft *~
99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron

Sixteenth Air Force, headquartered at Aviano Air Base, Italy, is one of two numbered air forces that comprise the U.S. Air Forces in Europe command. It is also the southern air component of the U.S. European Command. |
(cool pics)
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2
posted on
2/21/2004, 10:03:27 PM
by
Ragtime Cowgirl
("(We)..come to rout out tyranny from its nest. Confusion to the enemy." - B. Taylor, US Marine, 2/28)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
"Dragon Lady" Bump
3
posted on
2/21/2004, 10:07:48 PM
by
SAMWolf
(Contrary to popular belief Hamas has nothing to do with ham. If you throw ham at them they get angry)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thanks for the ping and the post!
An incredible aircraft!
4
posted on
2/21/2004, 10:11:01 PM
by
Ernest_at_the_Beach
(The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
WOW!
5
posted on
2/21/2004, 10:26:35 PM
by
MEG33
(John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I love that name!
6
posted on
2/21/2004, 10:28:43 PM
by
McGavin999
(Evil thrives when good men do nothing!)
To: McGavin999
After all of these, what is it, 50 years now? That is still one intimidating looking machine even if it is only a spyplane with no weaponry!
7
posted on
2/21/2004, 10:46:09 PM
by
El Gran Salseron
(It translates as the Great, Big Dancer, nothing more. :-))
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
In 1960 Pilot had to breath 100 percent oxygen for 60 minutes in his life-support equipment before his flight.
In 2004 Pilot had to take 1 Viagra and breath 100 percent oxygen for 5 minutes in his life-support equipment before his flight.
8
posted on
2/21/2004, 10:54:04 PM
by
TRY ONE
(NUKE the unborn gay whales!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
9
posted on
2/21/2004, 10:54:26 PM
by
facedown
(Armed in the Heartland)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
AIR FORCE!!
We're the smart ones, we send the officers out to fight.
10
posted on
2/21/2004, 11:17:37 PM
by
Valin
(America is the land mine between barbarism and civilization.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
11
posted on
2/22/2004, 4:04:53 AM
by
windchime
(Podesta about Bush: "He's got four years to try to undo all the stuff we've done." (TIME-1/22/01))
To: Ragtime Cowgirl; archy
I've never seen a U2 with a pod on top of the fuselage. Is that an ECM pod?
12
posted on
2/22/2004, 5:03:03 AM
by
yhwhsman
("Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small..." -Sir Winston Churchill)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
To: facedown
I can remember the day that one would get shot for just trying to take that picture........:o)
Thanks....Kewl Pic !
Stay safe !
14
posted on
2/22/2004, 5:38:24 AM
by
Squantos
(Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
To: Valin

Stay Safe !........:o)
15
posted on
2/22/2004, 5:43:38 AM
by
Squantos
(Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
To: yhwhsman
I've never seen a U2 with a pod on top of the fuselage. Is that an ECM pod? ELINT monitoring equipment. Chattering on the radio can be detrimental to your OPSEC.
In God we trust. All others get monitored.
-archy-/-
16
posted on
2/22/2004, 9:09:50 PM
by
archy
(Concrete shoes, cyanide, TNT! Done dirt cheap! Neckties, contracts, high voltage...Done dirt cheap!)
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