American air commanders adapted to the situation as it was.

The air commander said they'd be on station within fifteen minutes.

Requests from the front lines went all the way to the top, where the air commander decided whether to act, when and how.

Have an immediate alarm put through to all local army and naval air commanders.

The air commander's radio was also hit, preventing communication with the other helicopters.

However, the organization was confused, with many air commanders not receiving their orders until the night of 18 January.

Their sensors detected 15 of the explosive devices in recent weeks, air commanders reported.

It must have been the Army air commander.

The new gun team called in after we'd made a dozen passes each, and the air commander herded them toward us.

Its air commanders have sought not just to pummel Serbian troops.

"Pretzels," the air commander called us, "it looks like we're going to need you until the new guns can get on station."

Allied air commanders admitted that the bombing did not measure up the expectations.

The air commander acknowledged with a curt "Roger" and continued giving directions.

Targeting was central to this strategy and he believed that air commanders would prove themselves by their choice of targets.

The air commander then ordered that once the depth charges were gone, all torpedoes would be shot, going from west to east.

The air commander spoke again: "Come right twenty-five degrees and stay low altitude.

For example, the rank that later became wing commander would have been air commander.

Had it not been wartime, all flights would have been grounded, air commanders said.

The local air commander had warned the planners that there remained only a few weeks' supply of aviation fuel.

Allied air commanders next began targeting German transport networks.

"A ground commander would be more sensitive to a potential ground threat than an air commander."

Ten minutes and three course changes later the air commander said, "Forty-four, this is Six.

"Pretzel," the air commander called, "the new gunnies are coming on station.

I watched the air commander's helicopter drift westward, still holding his altitude and awaiting the reserves.