It had at most one or two minutes to react to the unidentified plane approaching Washington, and the fighters were in the wrong place to be able to help.
( ( ( ( ( It ( ( had ( at ( most ( one ( or ( two minutes ) ) ) ) ) ) ( to ( react ( to ( ( the ( unidentified plane ) ) ( approaching Washington ) ) ) ) ) ) ) , ) and ) ( ( the fighters ) ( ( were ( in ( the ( wrong place ) ) ) ) ( to ( be ( able ( to help ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . )
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBD had) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (JJS most)) (NP (CD one) (CC or) (CD two) (NNS minutes)))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB react) (PP (TO to) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ unidentified) (NN plane)) (VP (VBG approaching) (NP (NNP Washington)))))))))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (NP (DT the) (NNS fighters)) (VP (VBD were) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (JJ wrong) (NN place))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ able) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB help)))))))))) (. .)))
The fighters could have helped if in position.
( ( The fighters ) ( ( could ( have ( helped ( if ( in position ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NNS fighters)) (VP (MD could) (VP (VB have) (VP (VBN helped) (SBAR (IN if) (FRAG (PP (IN in) (NP (NN position)))))))) (. .)))