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the public.
     A “Thunder Bomber/Thunder Tanker” team was formed to demonstrate low-level air refueling. The team was comprised of the best
     bomber and tanker crews. They were given ample time and resources to develop a show-stopping display.
    Only integral crews were used and they practiced for endless hours to perfect the show. They did most of their work at the
     northwestern SAC base where the crews were permanently stationed. They worked slowly but deliberately to produce the desired
     results with maximum safety. They went over and over each separate part of their routine to achieve perfection. Every crew
     member knew he was an important part of the team. Each knew what to do and when to do it. The navigator teams on both aircraft
     coordinated to achieve split-second timing. The pilot teams practiced precise and minute control. Every move must be anticipated
     and perfected. The tanker crew had to know exactly what the bomber crew was going to do and vice versa. The gunner and boomer
     operator were responsible for keeping exact separation of the two aircraft. All the crew members learned to act like the fingers
     of one hand. The demonstration was going to be perfect. Then fate stepped in.
    On this day, the thirteenth day of the month, a series of maneuvers were to be rehearsed over the airfield. They were maneuvers
     that had been done before but that needed more polishing. The bomber was to flyby and then the tanker would do the same. After
     the simple flyby, both aircraft would move into position for a join-up and a pass of the viewing area in refueling formation.
     For the sake of realism a vacant lot that adjoined the runway at midfield was chosen to be the viewing area. It was easy to
     pick out from the air because it was the only vacant lot on the base side of the runway. It was flanked by the squadron building
     and an operations building and the far side formed the parking lot for the group of commercial shops known as the Base Exchange.
     The field was known to be a good place to watch the air show practice. A road that ran down the east side of the field was
     usually full of cars, but this day the road was almost empty.
    It was a normal busy workday for squadron personnel, but they were able to look up from their desks through the windows on
     the west end of the building for a clear view of the demonstration area. Mission-planning crews enjoyed watching the practice
     and critiquing the abilities of their fellow fliers. This form of friendly harassment was endured by the elite crews chosen
     for the demonstration teams. It kept them from getting too proud.
    On this particular day the crew study rooms were full of working airmen. But one of the watchers had nothing to do. Nothing
     that is except to fret and worry about his crew. He was the boom operator of the Thunder Tanker and should have been taxiing
     out to the runway. But the young sergeant was unable to be with them. He had come down with a cold and the Flight Surgeon,
     the flyers’ personal physician, had designated him DNIF, Duty-Not-Involving-Flying for the next couple of days. It was not
     his fault that he couldn’t be there with his crew. But he fretted just the same. He finally got in his car and drove out to
     the field to watch. He waved as the tanker with his crew and a substitute boomer taxied by for takeoff.
    As the sergeant sat in his car watching the two aircraft make multiple passes by the imaginary viewing stand he noticed a
     jogger on the road by the vacant lot. He recognized him as a pilot from his squadron and waved to him. Personal fitness was
     a must for the aviators and nearly everyone in the squadron engaged in jogging.
    The young boomer returned his attention to the aircraft floating above the field. Then at approximately one-thirteen, or thirteen-thirteen
     in military time, something happened.
    The mission planners in the squadron were slow to realize what was happening. One captain finally recognized that