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Combat Air Patrols

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Revision as of 22:04, 30 December 2007 by Kmacka (talk | contribs)

The Combat Air Patrol (CAP) covering Washington D.C. and/or the Thurmont (Camp David) area is known as the Guard Dog CAP. Notices about CAPs can be found here - look at entries marked ZDC in the facility column.

Here are the units with callsigns that participate in CAP duty (with the associated callsigns):

  • DC ANG 113th Wing, 121st Fighter Squadron, BRAVE
  • NJ ANG 177th Fighter Wing, 119th Fighter Squadron, COSMIC
  • Eglin AFB FL 60th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, ARROW
  • Shaw AFB SC 79th and 77th Fighter Squadrons, 20th Fighter Wing, PITTMAN
  • USAF 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB 27th Fighter Squadron, HARASS
  • Vermont Air National Guard based at Langley, STYLE or DIAL (Nov 2007)
  • Langley 94th Fighter Squadron, RAPTOR
  • Seymour Johnson NC 334th Fighter Squadron/4th Fighter Wing, RAMROD
  • Langley 94th Fighter Squadron, SONIC (used during the CAP on 11/19/2007)

Guidance during the Guard Dog CAP is provided by North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Eastern Air Defense Sector(EADS) using callsign HUNTRESS The CAP is normally comprised of two F-15 or F-16 fighters and a KC-135 tanker for refueling support. A pair of F-22A Raptor fighters participated in Dec 2006, May 2007, Nov 2007, and Dec 2007 but this is a rare event.

Frequencies

All frequencies noted here are in AM mode

  • Andrews Air Force Base, MD is often used for a refuel stop ,a maintenance problem or if bad weather develops
  • HUNTRESS frequencies most often used for primary CAP control are 228.9 and 260.9. These frequencies have also been used for refueling.
  • DC-ANG will often use 139.7 as primary CAP freq
  • NJ-ANG has been known to use 138.2 as primary CAP freq
  • Refueling is sometimes performed on the primary frequency but most often on a separate boom freq. The most popular boom freqs currently are 320.6 and 324.0 but can be on any number of freqs. The boom freq is normally stated at the beginning of the CAP. These 2 frequencies haven't been noted used in some time.
  • The fighters and the tanker get clearance to enter/exit the CAP area using a Guard Dog (Washington Center) special frequency of 135.525 and 350.250. Most often the fighters will use 350.25 and the tanker 135.525 but can use either. The UHF frequency is new Dec 2006 ex-288.35. Also add 126.550 for an alternate VHF for Guard Dog, discovered on a Xmas CAP 2006
  • VT-ANG units have been noted on 138.0 for ops contact and 142.3 for air-air interflight
  • Shaw AFB (PITTMAN) units have been noted on the following freqs:
    • 79th Fighter Squadron (Tigers)
    • 138.025 last noted Jan 2006
    • 138.150 possibly V-8
    • 141.600 possibly V-9
    • 141.775 possibly V-10
    • 142.125 possibly V-11 June 2006
    • 236.550 brief use June 2006
    • 77th Fighter Squadron (Gamblers)
    • 139.825 V-8 used Jan, March 2007, 138.825 hrd Dec.2006; 143.8 hrd Sept 2006
    • 138.025 V-9 used Jan 2007, 141.750 used Sept.2006, Oct 2006 CAP
    • 140.375 V-10 used Sept.2006 during NYC CAP, Oct 2006 CAP
    • 141.675 V-11
    • 138.900 V-12 used Jan 2007 139.925 used Sept.2006
  • Eglin AFB (ARROW) units have been noted on 338.750 and 369.150. 259.55 was used during the Nov 2007 CAP
  • May 2007 RAPTOR units noted on 315.85 as a chitchat and talking to Guard Dog on 126.55. They later reverted to the usual 135.525 for Guard Dog. 350.25 was used throughout.
  • July and September 2007 HARASS fighters used 360.15 for interflight
  • July 2007 RAMROD fighters the following were used for interflight:
    • 300.125
    • 300.225
    • 300.325
    • 300.425
    • 301.325
    • 301.525
    • 302.075
    • 303.000
  • As of 1st October, the United States Coast Guard has taken over responsibility for low flying and slower a/c violating the ADIZ in this region
  • Flights and Tankers will often use the Nationwide FSS frequency 255.4 to get weather and other information from Leesburg Radio
  • Also check the UHF frequencies of the following for flights arriving/leaving the CAP;


Other Refueling freqs noted in the past
  • 6.76100 HF USB 'Tanker Common'
  • 139.875 McGuire tankers interplane
  • 143.825 McGuire Tankers Interplane; also VT ANG, Bradley ANGB A10s Ct. heard here
  • 228.000
  • 236.250 A/A Tanker refueling?
  • 238.900
  • 252.800 Tanker/refueling Aug 2007
  • 266.400 Tanker/refueling Aug 2007
  • 266.500 Tanker refueling Mar 2006
  • 276.500 AR Tanker Com 1
  • 294.800 Boom Freq tanker from McGuire
  • 295.800
  • 299.900 Refueling discrete noted June 06
  • 303.000 108th Refueling Wing @McGuire CP
  • 319.700 Tanker secondary/AR-328
  • 327.900 Refueling noted during Sept 06 CAP over NYC
  • 339.600 Refueling ops Aug 2007
  • 346.250 Refueling ops Aug 2007
  • 365.700 Refueling Boom freq
  • 387.800 Tanker Boom freq
  • 387.900 Tanker Boom freq
  • 396.200 A/A Refueling for Europe-USA flight June 2006


Thanks to TinEar for the writeup