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Schundler wants F-16s on permanent alert
Originally appeared in the Associated Press on Friday, October 12, 2001
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler said Thursday that he believes New Jersey's Air National Guard fighter wing in Atlantic City must be restored to permanent 24-hour "alert" status, ready to launch armed jets at a moment's notice.
During Wednesday's debate in Newark, Schundler said if the F-16s had been on alert Sept. 11, they would have been able to shoot down one of the hijacked airliners and save thousands of lives.
The 177th has been on 24-hour patrol since the Sept. 11 attacks, covering the Eastern seaboard from New York to Washington, said Lt. Brian Patton, wing spokesman.
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