Airborne final assembly point, eighteen miles north of El Asciar, Libya

The lead C-141 and the other carrying the remainder of the infantry company left the low-level orbit, descended even lower, and headed for the coast. Lieutenant Colonel Squitiero, flying the lead aircraft, watched the second aircraft form on him, thirty meters higher and fifty meters behind. He spoke briefly into his lip mike, and both aircraft descended further, the leader flying in the ground effect, barely forty meters above the calm sea. Lieutenant Colonel Squitiero flexed his hands on the yoke. Nap-of-the-earth flying was even harder over land, and he could see the low bluff of the Libyan coast coming up fast ahead of his aircraft.