The Sept. 11 attacks transformed the lives and missions of Airmen serving with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and across the U.S. Air Force. At the 111th Fighter Wing, A-10 maintainers watched the attacks unfold on live television before the base moved to its highest threat level and shifted immediately into heightened security and readiness.
For Airmen such as Brian Curry, Robert Custer and Brian Urbach, the attacks marked the beginning of years of deployments, combat operations and family separations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Twenty-five years later, they say Sept. 11 remains a defining moment that reinforced the importance of readiness, sacrifice, and cooperation across the military.
111th Fighter Wing “End of an Era”
For a new generation of Airmen who were not yet born when the attacks occurred, the veterans’ experiences serve as a reminder of how quickly a routine mission can change—and why military readiness remains essential.
