September 11th Remembering 25 Years

Ret. U.S. Air Force Col. Tim Duffy, Ret. U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeremy Powell, and U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Pete Morrison share their experiences as National Guard members involved in the immediate response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Powell was the first U.S. military member alerted to the attacks and corresponded an aerial defense response, Duffy was an F-15 Eagle pilot who launched minutes after Powell called pilots to their battle stations, and Morrison was involved in the immediate response supporting first responders at Ground Zero. Video by Capt. Jamie Mason, Master Sgt. Erich Smith, Master Sgt. Whitney Hughes, Dave Wilkinson, and Jon Soucy

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Video by David R Wilkinson
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A Pilot's Perspective. The 102nd Fighter Wing on September 11, 2001. Col. Tim "Duff" Duffy (Ret.)
Massachusetts National Guard Public Affairs
Sept. 11, 2026 | 6:43
On a clear September morning, 25 years ago, a call came into Otis Air National Guard Base that set two F-15 pilots from the 102nd Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, in motion.

Col. Tim “Duff” Duffy and Maj. Dan “Nasty” Nash were on air defense alert when they were scrambled in response to reports of a hijacked airliner. They launched from Cape Cod and headed toward New York City, not yet knowing the full scope of what was unfolding.

Minutes later, American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center.

What followed was a mission unlike anything they had ever trained for. Flying toward a city under attack, Duff and Nasty found themselves at the center of one of the defining moments in American history.

For the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, we remember that morning through the eyes of Col. Duffy, one of the Massachusetts Air National Guard pilots who answered the call that day.
This is his story.

As we listen to Col. Duffy’s account, we also remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives that morning, the families and loved ones left behind, and the brave first responders who ran toward the danger. Their courage, sacrifice and service are forever woven into the story of Sept. 11.

We remember those we lost. We honor those who answered the call. We will never forget.
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A Pilot's Perspective. The 102nd Fighter Wing on September 11, 2001. Col. Tim "Duff" Duffy (Ret.)
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External Articles
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