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A Great Photo of Two F-16A's Flying Homeland Defense Over The Pentagon OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE --Two Air-Defense Fighter F-16A Fighting Falcons from the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 178th Fighter Squadron fly in formation Nov. 17, 2001 during a combat air patrol mission over Washington D.C. in support of Operation Noble Eagle. AIM-9X Sidewinder and AMRAAM medium range missiles are visible on the external wing rails. North American Aerospace Defense Command had more than 100 ANG and Air Force Reserve fighters from 26 locations providing homeland defense, with 100 additional fighters backing them up. Additionally, more than 20 ANG and AFRES tankers were airborne every day to keep fighters refueled. The USAF needed two wings of European NATO aircraft to conduct AWACS missions on both coasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg L. Davis) Click on the picture a really high res version