Spy Planes

WHIDBEY ISLAND NAVAL AIR STATION, Wash. (Reuters) - The 24 Navy crew members of a U.S. spy plane detained in China for 11 days arrived back at their home base to a hero's welcome from thousands of relatives and supporters. About 5,000 people, many waving ``Welcome Home'' posters, American flags and yellow ribbons, gathered at the Naval air base on Washington state's Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, as the crew stepped off the military plane that flew …

…tell you we did it right,'' Osborn told reporters in Hawaii before boarding the flight for Whidbey Island. ``There are no apologies necessary on our part.'' Many in the crowd had moist eyes amid the flag-waving and emotional images of reunited families and the show of support was not lost on the arriving crew members. ``I've never felt so proud to be an American in my whole life,'' said Lt. Jeffery Vignery.