MO Lawmaker Remembers His 9/11 Mission – And His Most Difficult Military Day

(MISSOURINET) – State Representative Mike Haffner of western Missouri’s Pleasant Hill recalls leading a U.S. Navy fight pilot squadron on September 11, 2001.

He led combat air patrols on the entire east coast as they flew to New York City that day to watch over the harbor.

Haffner was going head-on towards an aircraft that he was preparing to take out after air traffic control could not make contact with it.

The mystery plane ended up communicating and averting a disaster.

Haffner served in the Navy for more than 20 years.