David Wherley
 David Wherley    (pilot, 9-11/Premature death) | |
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| Born | 1947-02-09 |
| Died | 2009-06-22 (Age 62) Washington DC |
Cause of death | June 2009 Washington Metro train collision |
| Alma mater | Fordham University, University of Maryland |
| Spouse | Ann Strine |
On 9/11 Wherley ordered his pilots, who did not launch until after the Pentagon attack, to operate weapons free, meaning that they were permitted to shoot at will. | |
David Wherley was a United States Air Force Major General who was Commander of the District of Columbia National Guard.[1] On 9/11, as commander of 113th Wing, responsible for protecting Washington D.C., he gave permission to his pilots to shoot at will. He was killed in the June 2009 Washington Metro train collision.
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Career
Wherley began his military career in 1969 when he received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Fordham University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham, and in 1977 gained a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park.
9/11
On September 11, 2001, Wherley was commander of 113th Wing, the Guard unit responsible for protecting Washington D.C.. That morning, Wherley ordered his pilots, who did not launch until after the Pentagon attack, to operate weapons free, meaning that they were permitted to shoot at will. Wherley was mentioned on multiple occasions in the 9/11 Commission report.[2]
Death
On June 22, 2009, Wherley and his wife Ann were killed in the June 2009 Washington Metro train collision shortly after concluding a volunteer orientation program at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This was portrayed by the commercially-controlled media as an accident, but several people have suggested that this was in fact no such thing.
