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  • 标题:Aircrew honored for heroic mission - Air Force
  • 作者:Marnee Carlson
  • 期刊名称:The Officer
  • 印刷版ISSN:0030-0268
  • 出版年度:2002
  • 卷号:Sept 2002
  • 出版社:Reserve Officers Association of the United States

Aircrew honored for heroic mission - Air Force

Marnee Carlson

When the call for help came the evening of 7 December, the MC-130E Combat Talon I crew from the 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field, Fla., didn't hesitate to fly through enemy territory to assist their fellow special operators.

The 711th Special Operations Squadron crew's actions earned them one of the Air Force Reserve's highest honors, the Maj Gen Thomas E. Marchbanks Jr. Memorial Award, which ROA awards each year to the Reserve's most distinguished flight crew.

In the wake of 11 September, the 10 members of the Talon crew were among many Duke Field Reservists sent to Afghanistan to combat terrorism.

The Talon's mission is to transport and supply special operations troops in hostile territory. As the interim gas station of the skies, however, it was the aircraft's in-flight refueling capability that led to the 711th's heroic feat the eve of 7 December.

MC-130E pilot Maj Bruce (Air Force security precludes the use of last names) and his crew were on a routine five-hour mission when they overheard that four MH-53 Pave Low helicopters, returning from a flight deep inside enemy borders, were unable to refuel because their tanker's refuel hoses had been damaged.

On their own accord, the Talon crew moved up their own refueling rendezvous with the KC-135 Stratotanker so they could assist the four Pave Lows in distress. While the 711th crew made these arrangements, the Pave Lows landed 30 miles inside enemy territory to save fuel.

As the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. The crew's KC-135 had to cancel, forcing them to find another "tanker" of opportunity. Fortunately, they were able to get the precious fuel.

Time was slipping away, and the situation for the Pave Low crews was deteriorating rapidly. The helicopters had only enough fuel to lay low for an hour. The Talon crew was determined to help. After finally refueling, the MC-130 crew rushed into enemy territory.

"With fuel as low as they had, the helicopters had one chance to come up, get on the tanker, and get their gas," Maj Bruce said.

Luck was with them. The crew refueled the two most fuel-starved helicopters at 500 feet above ground and led them out of enemy territory. They then headed back for the last two Pave Lows. By the time they were refueling these helicopters, the crew was 17 hours into the workday and daylight was quickly approaching.

The Talon crew managed to get the MH-53s and their crews to safety before their cloak of darkness gave way to the morning sun. And, although the MH-53s were out of harm's way, the 711th had problems. The Talon had supplied the helicopters with so much fuel, they didn't have enough left to reach their home base. They had to divert to Pakistan.

Despite the events of their long day, crew members said they didn't do anything out of the ordinary. "There are a lot of people doing dangerous missions over there," said Capt Patrick, co-pilot and an air Reserve technician. "We just happened to get recognized."

The best recognition for the crew was that of their fellow service members.

"When the helicopter crews called on the radio and said "Thanks, you saved us,' that meant the world to us because we knew they meant it," said Maj James, electronic warfare officer. "When you can go out and save a brother in arms, that is what it is all about."

COPYRIGHT 2002 Reserve Officers Association of the United States
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

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