[Cletus.D.Yokel]

First, data point one.
It speaks for itself.
Those who know ORD and MDW and the routes between will understand.

Also Joe is in the air and I'll post some of that in just a moment because it is ponderous to me.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Next data point: this is happening now.
Please recall the tracking of [2] 757s earlier.
09-0015, the Northern most plane contains Joe ("empty callsign, natch) and has just taken off from Rockford.

Previous to 09-0015 taking off, 09-0016 (which was tracked to the ground in Peoria) took off and made that flight path.
It coincided with 09-0015 reaching altitude in the same vicinity.
Now, 09-0016 is landing back in Peoria.
Where, I am presuming, it will once again execute this decoy move for Joe when he leaves ORD at around 10PM and then fly the buddy-system back to DC.
I won't be awake to track.
This is the FIRST time Joe has used a decoy plane to fly over CONUS.