Pilots get bird's eye view Discovery launch Published July 7, 2006 By Senior Airman Bryan Franks 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (ACCNS) -- Pilots from the 58th Fighter Squadron had front-row tickets to one of the hottest fireworks shows in the country when they were flying top cover for the NASA's launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery at Cape Canaveral, Fla., on July 4. Maj. Timothy Luce and Capt. Tim Monroe, both pilots with the 58th FS, were flying in support of the Discovery launch, the first since the space shuttle Columbia accident in 2003. Protecting the skies above and around major events, such as the shuttle launch, is part of a larger mission known as Operation Noble Eagle - ONE. ONE is the name given to the military response to the type of terrorist attacks used on Sept. 11, 2001. Those attacks prompted North American Aerospace Defense Command to augment its mission and begin conducting surveillance and control of the aerospace over the United States as well as Canada. The 58th FS took over as the primary squadron flying the irregular air patrols in early May. "We can deploy personnel and jets anywhere in the United States to support the ONE mission" Captain Monroe said. For the pilots, this ONE mission is a little different than most irregular air patrols missions they take part in. "Most of our missions … we never get to see what takes place," Captain Monroe said. "The shuttle launch was different. I actually got to watch the event that I was protecting unfold right before my eyes - and it was an amazing experience." The F-15 pilots said they had a great view of the launch even though they could hardly make out the shuttle before the engines started. "We flew the irregular air patrols at , so initially it was hard to make out the shuttle," Major Luce said. "Once the engines ignited on the shuttle though there was no doubt the shuttle was launching."