NYC-WTC_000174805

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

AFIP Letter / Vol. 159, No. .5 / October 2001 7

Operation Noble Eagle: Forensic dentistry plays essential role foliowins Pentagon terrorist crash AFlP’s Department of Oral and Maxillo­ to handle the expected casualties, Col 'll ’Av facial Pathology, under the direction of Pcmblc alerted the Central Panorex k-wja. i i Department Chair Colonel Charles Storage Facility in Monterey, Calif, that * Pemble, USAF, DC, played a critical role antemortem panographic dental x-rays of jw in helping to identify victims of the the military victims would be needed. Air Force Colrmei Charier Peirhle led the dental September 11"^ American Airlines Flight (Many servicemembers have a panograph, ideiirificuritm team al Dover 77 terrorist crash into the Pentagon. A or full-mouth x-ray on file. Panographs are total of eight AFIP military officers—five a valuable comparison tool for making existing dental conditions using antemor­ staff oral pathologists and three oral positive victim identification.) With tem and postmortem forms. A recent pathology residents—formed the core commercial air traffic grounded, however. innovation utilized at Dover was the investigative group at Dover. They were another source had to be found to transport digital postmortem x-ray. which relies on joined by two oral pathologists, one each the records overnight, and DoD officials sensors instead of film. The technique also from the National Naval Dental Center, expedited the delivery through a dedicated eliminates chemical processing, which Bethesda, Md, and the Naval Hospital, military aircraft. saves time and money and has minimal Portsmouth, Va. Supporting them were an For the next 5 days, the dental contin­ environmental impact. “We also chose to additional 43 personnel, including 9 gent worked 12-hour shifts, completing an utilize an automated comparison tool, dentist.s and 19 dental technicians from average of 22 exam.s a day. Col Pemble called WinlD," Pemble said, “primarily the 436*’’ Dental Flight at Dover AFB, also planned on using relief team.s of because we had over 170 potential deaths, Del, and 6 dentists and 9 dental techni­ dentists, technicians, a computer specialist, and many were civilians with varying cians from the 8P' Dental Squadron, and an administrative officer every 7 to !0 dental records. WinlD is a Microsoft Keesler AFB, Miss. “This combined days, in anticipation of even greater Access-based system that runs under support really proved to be the ideal casualty numbers. A.s recovery operations windows and can link the antemortem and situation for us,” Pemble noted. “Their slowed at the Pentagon, however, those postmortem dental charting to graphics.” presence allowed for rotation of personnel teams weren’t needed. “We were able to In the future, Col Pemble foresees the in making identification.s while also complete our assignment with the desig­ development of a dental image repository continuing to operate the Dover dental nated personnel,” said Pemble. to further assist in the identification clinic. Sick call and other essential dental Three week.s into the mission, dental process. “These are image.s that can be care continued uninterrupted.” identifications were performed in over captured digitally, or, if film, scanned and Preparation.s moved quickly on two 63% of the cases, and in 30% of the cases sent to the storage facility,” he said. fronts immediately following the Septem­ served as the sole method of identification. - Chri.'itop/ier C. Kelly ber 1 1 tragedy. As USAF dental personnel The AFIP staff utilized a number of at Dover prepared the mortuary facilities techniques, including the charting of pre-

Operation Noble Eagle: Forensic Toxicology staffers provide analysis A staff of 18 forensic scientists and administrative personnel in AFIP's Division of Forensic Toxicology worked overtime I I • following the September 11 Pentagon attack to aid investigator.s in determining the cause and manner of death. Experts conducted a number of test.s on specimens that were included m the final medical examiner reports. The division B< provides expertise following military incidents or accidents to aid in medical and criminal investigations. “Many of the personnel worked 12-hour days, including weekends, to complete thi.s mission in a timely manner. They did an outstanding job,” said Aaron Jacobs, COL, MS, USA, HM2 James E. Miller and SSgl Einilda Creenidge-Blake joined other division chief deputy medical examiner and head of the division. ntemhers in performing essential forensic toxicology testing.

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