Brown, Paul David (Oral history)

American airman served with US Air Force in US, 1986-1987; served with 2/60th Communications Sqdn US Air Force in GB, 1987-1990; served with United States Central Command in Saudi Arabia, 1990-1991; served with 4404 Provisional Group, 4404th Command Sqdn in Saudi Arabia, 1997-1998

REEL 1 Aspects of period as airman with United States Air Force in US, 1986-1987: background and reasons for joining United States Air Force; process of joining and posting to communications; pattern of basic and technical training including communications equipment; role in communications. Aspects of period as airman with 2/60th Communications Sqdn United States Air Force in GB, 1987-1990: first impressions of Britain; accommodation at RAF Fairford; contact with RAF Brize Norton; messages sent; details of message encryption; receiving of messages; focus of energies against Soviet Union; importance of RAF Fairford; details of NATO exercises; description of protests at RAF Fairford; organisation of base; involvement of base in bombing of Libya, 15/4/1986; situation in Middle East; US attitude to Iraq and watching of news; missiles at RAF Fairford; description and role of RAF Greenham Common. REEL 2 Continues: contact with protesters including details of camp; description of break-ins at RAF Greenham Common; story of t-shirts made at RAF Fairford; details of protest at RAF Greenham Common; description of base; presence of RAF; attitudes to protesters including denial of their existence; background of protesters including impressions of British civilians; reasons for visits to RAF Greenham Common; contact with protesters; contact with and details of reconnaissance aircraft including refuelling; training for war with Soviet Union; question of expectation of war; Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Warfare training including changes during Gulf War. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of operations as airman with United States Central Command in Saudi Arabia, 9/1990-4/1991: background to posting in Saudi Arabia; flight to Riyadh; details of Automatic Digital Network (AUTODIN) communications system; duties in Riyadh; advice given on life in Saudi Arabia including memories of Saudi Arabian sailor, story of incident with female soldier and arms carried by Military Police; description of offices occupied; inoculations; Nuclear, Chemical and Biological equipment issued; further details of duties including speed of putting on Nuclear, Chemical and Biological suit; sending of war warning message; reactions to start of air war including involvement with operational communications and story of exercise in Britain; proximity to and contact with RAF; prior knowledge of Scud missiles; reaction to Iraqi air activity. REEL 4 Continues: problems from shortage of communications staff; increase in communications before start of ground war; reaction to seeing beaten British pilots on television; bombing of National Guard barrack at Dhahran; discussion of air campaign; concerns about possibility of Israeli involvement including opinion of American moves to prevent this; opinion and scenes of Patriot missiles; cases of friendly fire and subsequent events in base; awareness of ground war; knowledge of Highway of Death; reactions at end of war; learning about events in Northern Iraq; involvement of Saudi Arabian forces; inoculations; problems with dysentery; events following end of war; period in Nebraska including training. REEL 5 Continues: story of pilot training exercises in Nevada; support for air activities in Kosovo; background to posting in Saudi Arabia. Aspects of period as airman with 4404 Provisional Group, 4404th Command Sqdn in Saudi Arabia, 10/1997-4/1998: events during posting; scenes of Lockheed U2s; work and relationship with Saudi Arabian civilians. REEL 6 Continues: details of No Fly Zone and other sanctions against Iraq; bombing of Iraq; opinion of the bombing; discussion of Saddam Hussein and US Foreign Policy in Middle East; changes in communications technology during service. Aspects of period as civilian in US from 2000: civilian work; impact of 11/9/2001 terrorist attacks on life and work; initial thoughts about perpetrators; activities of Force Protection Cell and story of first hearing about Osama Bin Laden while in Gulf, 1997-1998; knowledge of Osama Bin Laden within US.