~HELICOPTER TIME LINE~
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1980 - January 01; The 701st TASS was inactivated. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1980 - January 28 - February 24; ARRS provided rescue support for the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, NY. Four UH-1N's flew 150 flying hours and 59 sorties, resulting in five saves. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1980 - February 01; The 601st TASS gained possession of an additional CH-53C, #70-1630 helicopter that had been reassigned from the 602nd. TACWg. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1980 - April 14; Two CH-53's from the 601st TASS, crews' unkn, were flown from Germany to Torrejon AB, Spain, to aid in the recovery efforts of a downed F-4. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1980 - May 14 - 17; In the wake of the unsuccessful U.S. attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran on 24-25 April 1980, the nation's leaders searched for replacement helicopters for use in another joint rapid deployment force in case of future contingency actions They selected the ARRS HH-53H "Pave Low III's that were just becoming operational. Therefore on 14 May 1980, the USAF Vice Chief of Staff ordered the reassignment of the nine HH-53H's from MAC/ARRS inventory to the 1st SOW of TAC at Hurlburt Field, FL. On May 17th eight of these helicopters were flown from Kirtland AFB, NM., to Hurlburt Field, FL. The ninth HH-53H was under modification at Pensacola NAS, FL.http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1980 - May 18 - June 04; UH-1N helicopters and aircrews from the 304th ARRS initiated a large rescue operation following the volcanic explosion at Mt. St. Helens, WA on 18 May 1980. Later, other ARRS units participated. The AFRCC at Scott AFB, IL, coordinated rescue operations and recorded a total of 101 saves. Of this number, the 304th saved 61 persons. In all USAF, Coast Guard, Army and Civil Air Patrol forces worked 17 days and flew 932 hours during 568 missions. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1980 - June 02 - June 16; Six ARRS UH-1N's were airlifted by a C-5 to Indian Springs AAF, NV. and participated in combat rescue operations from June 06 - June 16. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1980 - July 01; Two CH-53's from the 601st TASS, crew's unkn, deployed from Germany to a location 40 miles away from Zaragoza AB, Spain, during the first week of the month, to aid in the recovery efforts of a downed F-4. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1980 - July 18; HH-53C #69-5786 of the 1550th ATTWg., crewed by Lt. Col. Norm Foley (P), Capt. Russ Rakip (CP), Capt. Randall Davis (CP), Tsgt. Thomas Ortiz (FE), Sgt. George Washington (CC), Sgt. Dan Phelps (AG) and Sr. Amn. Jay Schatte (?), crashed at the San Juan County Airport, UT. The helicopter lost cyclic roll authority and crashed, rolled over and burned, due to aux tank fuel imbalance during the Honey Badger Exercises at Dugway Proving Grounds, UT. Of the seven men onboard, the crew chief, SRA. Jay Schatte, was killed and five were injured. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & Russell J. Reffitt facebook post |
1980 - September 11; Det. 13, 33rd ARRS, Osan AB, Korea, saved 94 flood victims in the wake of Typhoon Orchid. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1980 - September 19; Det. 4, 37th ARRS at Little Rock AFB, AR moved personnel and equipment to the area following a Titan missile mishap at Damascus, AR. and evacuated injured personnel, resulting in three saves. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1980 - September 22; HH-3E's were involved in the 20,000th ARRS save when involved in the rescue of survivors of a beached Philippine destroyer. A total of 14 Philippine seamen were saved. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1980 - October 04 - 05; Resources from the 71st ARRS including a HH-3E crewed by Capt. John J. Walters (P), Capt. William T. Gillen (CP), SSgt. Michael J. EngelsE (FE), SSgt. John F. Cassidy (PJ) and Sgt. Joseph M. Rios (PJ), saved 65 lives after a fire broke out aboard the Prinsendam, a Dutch tourist ship, located approximately 125 miles south of Yukatega, AK., in the Gulf of Alaska. The ARRS RCC at Elmendorf AFB, AK., coordinated a rescue effort involving forces of the U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force and Canadian Forces. A supertanker, the Williamsburg, was soon on the scene. All 520 passengers and crew were successfully evacuated. SSgt. John F. Cassidy and Sgt. Joseph M. Rios, both PJ's, jumped from and HH-3E and helped hoist-lift survivors from lifeboats to the helicopter. One of the survivors, Herr Emil Russ, was so grateful that he sent the 71st ARRS a check for $1,000. A substitute check was later donated to the Jolly Green Scholarship Fund. Maj. John J. Walters, was awarded the MacKay Trophy for this mission.http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013,pdf & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackay_Trophy & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Prinsendam_(1973) |
1980 - November 21; Several USAF units, coordinated by the AFRCC, responded to a fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. A total of 79 saves were credited to all units, including 17 saves by the 302nd SOS of the AFRES. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1980 - December 19; Two HH-53C's from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, #68-10363 crewed by Capt. Wayne Anderson (P), 1st Lt. Lyle Koenig (CP), Sgt. William Martin (FE), Sgt. Anthony Hughes (PJ), SrA. Lee Tashjian (PJ) and A1C Brian Trubee (PJ) along with flight surgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Alfred Studwell (FS) and #68-8286 crewed by Maj. Jerald Brown (P), Capt. Raymond Beltz (CP), SSgt. Wade Lehman (FE), SSgt. Kenneth Musnicki (PJ), SSgt. William Prebble (PJ) and SrA. Jeff Christopher (PJ) along with A1C James Reese and A1C Michael Cunningham from the base fire department crash crew rescued two survivors and recovered the body of a crew member from their USMC CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter from Futenma's Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron that had crashed on a remote area of Okinawa. #363 rescued the two injured Marines and rushed them to medical care while #286 remained on scene recovered the deceased Marine. Newspaper article facebook post by Bill Martin |
1981 - month & day unkn; HH-3E #68-18282 of the 38th ARRS at Osan AB, Korea,crashed and rolled down hill. No other details are available at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/TailNumbers/68-18282.htm |
1981 - May 26; Two CH-53's from the 601st TASS, crews' unkn, deployed from Germany to West Freugh, Scotland to assist in the recovery of parts from an F-111 which crashed in rough terrain the previous year. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1981 - September 29; HH-53B #66-14435 of the 1551st CCTW at Kietland AFB, NM, crewed by Capt. J. P. Grant Jr. (AC), Capt. Randy K. Jensen (P) 2nd Lt. Richard J. Wendin (CP), Sgt. Terry O. Chancy (IFE), Sgt. Luis Caraballo (FE) and Sgt. Robert E. Hoon (CC), crashed, when a main rotor blade sturck a tree and the helicopter impacted the ground during evasive maneuver training. It crashed at the 6,000 ft. level of 11,301 foot Mount Taylor. Capt. Grant, 2nd Lt. Wendin, Sgt. Chancey, Sgt. Caraballo were all killed in the crash, Capt. Jensen and Sgt. Hoon both received burns over 80% of their bodies. Capt. Jensen died from his injuries on 26 November 1981 and Sgt. Hoon died from his injuries on 28 October 1981. http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570 & http://peacetime-casualties.findthebest.com/1/36387/Randy-K-Jensen & http://www3.gendisasters.com/new-mexico/16641/grants-nm-helicopter-crash-sep-1981 |
1981 - October 01 - 09; A CH-53C from the 601st TASS, crew's unkn, deployed from Germany to Pisa, Italy to assist in the recovery of a crashed A-10 aircraft. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1982 - June 11; UH-1F #65-7913 from Det. 9, 37th ARRS at Whiteman AFB, MO., crewed by Capt. Richard Conrardy (P), 2nd Lt. James Hebert (CP), crashed 57 miles southwest of Whiteman AFB, MO, killing both crew members along with four members of the 352nd Missile Security Squadron, SSgt. Richard Bohling, Sgt. Thomas Meredith, Sr. Amn. Marion Pace and Sr. Amn. David Jones. They were on a routine mission providing security for an Air Force vehicle convoy transporting weapons systems from Whiteman AFB, MO. to a launch silo near Passaic, MO. when part of a main rotor blade separated causing the tail boom to be severed and the helicopter crashed and burned in a rural area 30 miles south of Kansas City, Mo. |
1982 - July 27; HH-53C #69-5792 (Call sign "Jolly Green 43") from the 1551st CCTW at Kirtland AFB, NM crewed by Maj. Barry Walls (P) Capt. Pat Behnke (CP), 1st Lt. Hardy Delay (CP) and SSgt. Aylwyn Fortner (FE), impacted the ground and crashed following a decent from a night time refueling mission, killing the crew of four. hhtp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1980%E2%80%931989) |
1982 - September 01; A UH-1F of Det. 2, 37 ARRS at Ellsworth AFB, SD. crewed by Capt. Albert Trumble (P), 2nt Lt. Marsha L. Allen (CP) crashed 15 miles NW of New Underwood, SD., when components of the helicopters tail rotor assembly sheared off. 2nd Lt. Allen was killed; Capt. Trumble and passenger SSgt. Kenneth R. Gill were injured. |
1982 - September 10 - 12; ARRS logged its 20,000th save during a mission to rescue survivors of a beached Philippin destroyer near Laong. A total of 14 Philippine seamen were saved by ARRS forces. President Reagan passed his personal congratulations as ARRS attained this significant milestone. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1984 - January 09; A UH-1N #69-6644 (Call sign "Alpha 44") of the 20th SOS, Hurlburt Fld., FL. crewed by Capt. Dyke H. Whitbeck (P), 1st Lt. Thomas L. Hamby (CP), SSgt. Edgardo L. Acha (FE) and SSgt. Paul B. Cartter (AG) (Whitbeck, Hamby and Acha were killed and Cartter was seriously injured) that was on an "Operation BAT" mission, crashed at sea off of Nassau, Bahamas after it suffered double engine failure. Also killed in this accident were three Strike Force men and one DEA Agent, with Cartter and two Strike Force men surviving. 8 Jan 2016 facebook post by Bruce Davis & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_accidents_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
1984 - April 07; A CH-3E 65-12794 (Call sign "Jolly Green 18") from Det. 15, 39th ARRWg., crashed while flying surface surveillance for a scheduled launch of a Trident 1 missile from the USS Georgia, shortly after 2 a.m., about 60 miles off the coast of Patrick AFB, FL. Three survivors were recovered before the helicopter, found floating upside down, sunk to its final resting place 2,400 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. The survivors were Capt. William Fizgerald (P) and Lt's James O'Heam (CP) and Scott Schafer (CP). Killed in the crash and not recovered were Captains Jan F. Fuchs (ES & M Ctr.) and David K. Shaffner (ES & M Ctr.), TSgt. Ronald L. Martinez (FE), SSgt. Mark R. Judy (PJ) and A1C James A. Ferreira (PJ). http://www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123407703 |
1984 - September 02; HH-3E #66-13290 of the 38th ARRS at Osan, Korea, crewed by Jim Parks (P), Pete Sullivan (CP), unkn (FE) was aiding flood victims in the Soul area when it suffered mechanical difficulty and made a forced landing on top of three homes. On September 06, 1984 it was lifted off the homes by an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter and returned to Osan AB for repairs. None of the crew or eight Koreans on board were injured. MiG Alley Flyer new article Wednesday, September 19, 1984, Osan AB, Korea |
1984 - October 17; HH-53H "Pave Low" #73-1647 of the 20th SOS participating in exercise "Cope Thunder 85-1" crashed into a ridgeline in Crow Valley, near Clark AB, Philippines, during a night TF mission in a heavy rain squall and was destroyed, killing its crew, Maj. James S. Prowell (P), Capt. Michael W. Skeen (CP), TSgt Thomas "Rocky" M. Ortiz, Jr. (FE), SSgt. Robert G. Barker (FE), TSgt. Wayne Johnson (AG) and Sgt. Max B. "Paco" Lincks, Jr. (AG). http://www.rotorheadsrus/documents/mh_53_philippines_html |
1984 - November 14; MH-53J #73-1650 of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. John Kelly (P), Capt. Dave Harris (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (FE), TSgt. Jerry Price (AG), unkn (AG), and unkn (unkn), autorotated to a field near Pope AFB, NC. when the tail rotor gearbox separated from the aircraft in flight. The helicopter landed hard and was not repairable, all seven crewmembers and eight Army Rangers on board were injured, three seriously, including Lt. Col. Bo Johnson, who was also aboard. Cause of the mishap was failure of the TGB pylon mount lugs due to corrosion. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1985 - January 14; An Air Force helicopter from Kirtland AFB, NM, crew unkn, along with an Air National Guard helicopter rescued Laurel Auchampaugh and Todd Fredrick after their car had went off a cliff in the Overlook parking oval, White Rock, NM. No other details are available at this time. The New Mexican, Santa Fe/Northern New Mexico, Tuesday, January 15, 1985 page 1 |
1985 - January 15; HH-53C #68-10355 (Call sign "Arris 01") from the 6594th Test Group at Hickam AFB, HI., crewed by Capt. David D. Mason (AC), Capt. Stephen Pindzola (P), 2nd Lt. Russell H. Ohl (CP), SSgt. Kyle Dwane Marshall (FE), SSgt. Daniel R. Reihman (FE), SSgt. John Robert Gilbert (PJ) and Sgt. Robert A. Jermyn (PJ), crashed due to a main rotor blade failure, onto the deck of the ship "Asian Beauty", killing the entire crew, while attempting a shipboard rescue 540 miles north of Honolulu. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/hh_53c_at_hickam_afv_hi.html |
1985 - January 26; MH-60G #82-23707 was written off. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ |
1985 - June ??; HH-3E 69-05812 from the 71st ARRS at Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by Quinn (P), Randy McCanne (?) and Brad Opatz (FE), crashed while attempting to land and rescue a private pilot who had landed on the glacier and broke his landing gear. While trying to land the helicopter rolled to the right and was cut in half ending upside down on the glacier. The crew was banged up and bruised but didn't have any serious injuries. The HH-3E was recovered, repaired and put back into service. No other details are available at this time. Facebook post by George Kleinbaum 5 Jan 2015 |
1986 - February 18 - 22; The 129th ARRGp. and the 41st ARRS employed four HH-3E's and two HH-53 helicopters and three C-130's to assist flood victims of the Russian and Yuba Rivers of northern California. The crews evacuated 520 flood victims, saved 33 lives, and supplied more than 3,000 sandbags to Army troops at the disaster site. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013,pdf |
1986 - May 21; MH-53J #73-1651 of the 20th SOS at Hurlburt Field, FL. crashed when it impacted a ridgeline at night during formation approach at Exercise "Elated Cyclone" near Nellis AFB, NV. Maj. Richard Brims (P) was killed in the crash. The accident report was highly classified and no other detail are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=1338&f2mod=83 & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1986 - May 29; A UH-1 from Det. 2, 37th ARRS at Ellsworth AFB, SD, crewed by Capt. Brian H Snider (P), 2nd Lt. David H. Gordon (CP), crashed shortly after 3 p.m. in a field NW of Bear Butte, about 5 miles NE of Sturgis, ND. Both pilots and passengers Sr. Amn. Donald Heitkamp, A1C Berry P. Holmes and SSgt. Charles L. Huskey were killed in the crash. One passenger, A1C Latania Hugule survived the crash but was in serious condition. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/uh_1_ellsworth_afb_1986.html |
1986 - October 30; HH-53C #68-10354 of the 6514th Test Sq. at Hill AFB, UT., settled with power and crashed short of LZ during a ridgeline approach at 9,500 feet, on Swasey Peak, 120 miles southwest of Hill AFB, UT. The helicopter was destroyed in post-crash fire. The crew and all passengers successfully egressed the aircraft without any significant injuries. |
1987 - July 17; HH-53C #67-14994 "Black Knight" was converted and rolled out as the first MH-53J "Pave Low III" Enhanced MH-53J. The 20th SOS took possession of this first Pave Low III Enhanced MH-53J when it was flown to Hurlburt Field, FL., on this date, from NARF at NAS Pensacola, FL. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
1987 - August 14; A UH-60A (Call sign "Hawk 47") from the 55th ARRS at Eglin AFB, FL. crewed by Capt. Ralph Gehringer (IP), Capt. Jeffery Stevens (P), Maj. Kenneth O. Reinhard (CP) and Sr. Amn. Jeff Beseke (FE) crashed, killing all onboard, in a wooded area of Ft. Bragg, NC., near Pope AFB, NC. while on a training mission. http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/article_0e7ae519-d247-5cf9-a7bd-57c2cafe581.html |
1987 - September ??; MH-53J # 73-1648 crashed during a CAPEX exercise, killing one Ranger. The helicopter was recovered, repaired and put back in service. No other details are available at this time |
1988 - March 20; Two MH-60G's from the 55th SOS at Eglin AFB, FL., conducted a record flight from Antigua to Eglin AFB, FL., traveling a distance of 1,640 nautical miles in 11.1 hours. The MH-60G's refueled six times while in transit. AFCOC FaceBook post August 20, 2013 |
1988 - April 26; A Pave Low from the 20th SOS, crewed by Colonel Weikel (P), Maj. Mike Letica (CP) and crew were conducting a night training mission with NVG's, was carrying a Flight Surgeon, Capt. Kory Cornum, on board when they were called upon to locate a U.S. Army helicopter that had landed with a mechanical problem while transporting a patient who had suffered a severed arm. The crew located the helicopter, transferred the patient to the Pave Low, Capt. Cornum immediately comforted her and made sure the severed arm was properly cared for as the Pave Low took off and delivered the patient directly to the hospital in Mobile, AL. where surgeons were able to re-attach her arm. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1988 - May 01; The 21st SOS was reactivated at RAF Woodbridge, England. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
1988 - September 01; HH-3E #65-12781 with the California Air National Guard, 129th ARRGp. from Moffett Naval Air Station, CA. crewed by Maj. Terry A. Nelson (P), Lt. Col. Leslie E. Spencer (CP), Sr. Amn. Steven E. Courtney (FE) and SSgt. Steven E. Carlyle (PJ) was on a local two day searcha and rescue training mission with the 27th TASS. The departed George AFB, CA. at 09:07 am to participate in the first exercise scenario, a simulated survivor pick up with an OV-10 Bronco escort. The scenario was conducted in the northwest sector of the 29 Palms Marine Corps Reservation restricted area R-2501N. One OV-10 pilot was on board the helicopter as an observer, another was playing the survivor role on the ground. After a routine pick-up, the HH-3E departed the range, returning back to George AFB with both OV-10 pilots, 1st Lt. James K. Dooley & 1st LT. Patrick L. Henry on board. While leaving the training area, the aircraft struck a ridge ten feet below the crest. The helicopter became airborne again for 450 feet before impacting the back side of the same ridge. After the second impact, the aircraft rolled to the left and started burning. The impact forces and fire destroyed the helicopter killing all six on board. http://joeidoni.smugmug.com/Aircraft-Crash-Sites/HH/26836549_6RFLxN#!i=2248004896&k=dwn4Nsx |
1988 - October 20; HH-53H #70-1629 and MH-53J #68-8286 were damaged while conducting a training mission at Ft. Pickett, VA. HH-53H #70-1629 was damaged when the crew encountered a "brown out" condition and had a hard landing. MH-53J also encountered a "brown out" condition in a hover, drifted left and hit a power pole, power line, and some large trees and crashed about 75 feet from the LZ. The helicopters were recovered, repaired (costing $6.7 million) and put back into service. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1989 - January 15; Two MH-53J's #'s 66-14431 & 69-5796, with 66-14431 piloted by Capt. Dennis Jones, and MH-53J 69-5796 was piloted by Capt. David W. Freeman, from the 21st SOS at RAF Woodbridge, UK., along with a HC-130N from the 67th SOS rescued 32 crew members from the 42K ton bulk carrier Yarrawonga that was floundering in an Atlantic storm 360 nautical miles northwest of Shannon, Ireland. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/Airforces%20Monthly%20No.12%20March%20SOS%20Rescue%20Article,%20Larry%20Wielgosz%20collection.a.pdf & |
1989 - March 12; CH-3E #65-15692 (Call sign "Pony 12") of the 71st SOS from Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ., crewed by Maj. Donald D. Thomas (P), Lt. Col. Lawrence M. Rolle (CP & Sq. CO), MSgt. Malte Breitlow (FE) and TSgt. William E. Slaven (FE), crashed at about 1935 hours 20 miles northwest of Tucson in a desolate desert area in an uninhabited area adjacent to the Sahuaro National Monument. The helicopter was number two of a two ship in trail formation on a planned night infiltration mission and was carrying an 11 member Army Special Forces Team from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group assigned to Fort Bragg, NC. The Special Forces Team members were Capt. Ivin L. Broussard, Capt. Alan C. Brown, MSgt Roger D. Berryhill, Sgt. 1st Class Larry K. Evans, Sgt. 1st Class George A. Wayne, SSgt. John W. Bigler II, SSgt. Kenneth W. Campbell, SSgt. Robert L. Griswold, SSgt. Kevin R. Livengood, Sgt. Larry D. Endress and Sgt. Terry M. Hollway. All aboard were killed instantanly in the crash and subsquent fire. The accident investigation determined that the cause of the crash was a main rotor blade failure. http://armyaircrews.proboards.com/thread/306/ch-accident-12-mar-tucson?page=1 |
1989 - March 14; HH-3E #67-14719 of the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, crashed near Lye Island in 800 feet of water, killing three crewmembers, Capt. Tom Bauer (P), 1st Lt. Mike Hodges (CP) and MSgt. Eliud Torres (FE). No other details are available at this time. |
1989 - October ??; HH-53C #67-14996 of the 55th ARRS at Eglin AFB, FL. went out of control during aerial refueling over the Gulf of Mexico and crashed into the water, killing all on board. No other details are available at this time. |
1990 - August 05; The 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI received its first two MH-53J's and the squadron began flying a mix of MH-53J's and HH-3's. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1990 - September 26; The 31st SOS at Clark AB, PI received two more MH-53J's and the H-3's were shipped back to the United States, and the 31st SOS was a full-fledged MH-53 squadron. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - January 14; UH-1N #69-6635 of the 6512th Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. John Augustine (P), Maj. Alan D. Resnicke (CP), SSgt. Robert Lovell (FE), SSgt William Tyler (FE), crashed killing Capt. Augustine & SSgt. Lovell and injuring the other two. No other details are available at this time. The mission was a night instructor upgrade during which the main drive shaft failed. |
1991 - January 17; Two flights of two MH-53 #68-10356, #68-10367, #68-10369 & #70-1649, one piloted by Capt. Corby Martin with Lt. Col. Rich Comer as co-pilot, the other piloted by Capt. Ben Pulsifer and the second flight with one MH-53 piloted by Capt. Michael Kingsley and the other by Maj. Robert Leonik. Each flight of two MH-53's led four AH-64's as the took off at 0100 hours local time as part of "Task Force Normandy" to lead the strike force to open the war "Desert Storm" attacking Iraq early warning radar sites. Trailing in combat rescue support were two HH-60's from HCS-4/5 and two MH-60's from the 55th SOS. The MH-53J's believed to have flown this first attack mission of the war are believed to be 68-10367 (lead), 68-10369, 70-1630 and 68-10356. http://www.dstorm.eu/pages/en/usa/mh-53j.html & "Combat Search And Rescue In Desert Storm" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.mh-53pavelow..com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
1991 - January 19; Two MH-53 "Pave Lows" of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Minish, Capt. Paul Harmon, Capt. Ken Sipperly, unkn pilot, TSgt. Troy Arce, SSgt. Mike Hulin, Sgt. Rob Turner, Sgt. Jeff Mucha, Sgt. Ismael Gonzalez and Sr. Amn. Martin Brown, attempted the rescue of an F-16 pilot, Maj. Jeff Trice (Call sign "Stroke 65") after he ejected from his aircraft was shot down by a SAM in the Baghdad area. Maj. Trice was able to fly about 1/2 way back to Saudi Arabia before he was force to eject. Unknown to the "Pave Low" crews, he was captured immediately by Bedouin tribesmen and the rescue attempt was unsuccessful. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - January 21; The first successful USAF combat rescue since the Southeast Asia War was accomplished when a MH-53J #68-10930 (Call sign "Moccasin 05") of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Tom Trask (P), Maj Mike Homan (CP), TSgt. Jim Peterson (?), Sgt. Craig Dock (?), MSgt. Tim Hadrych (AG), TSgt. Greg Vanhyning and Sgt. Ben Penningon (PJ) rescued USN F-14 (Call sign "Slate 46 Alpha") pilot, Lt. Devon Jones who had been shot down deep behind enemy lines in Iraq. The USN F-14 radar intercept officer, Lt. Lawrence Slade, was captured by Iraq forces before he could be rescued. http://www. dstorm.eu/pages/en/usa/mh-53j.html & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - February 07; Pave Lows of the 20th SOS commanded by Capt. Martin, Maj. Homan, Capt. Kingsley and their crews along with two MH-60's from the 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR led the first insertion mission for the Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) into Iraq. Over the next three weeks Pave Low crews, commanded by Maj. Homan, Capt. Corby Martin, Capt. Mike Kingsley, Capt. Tim Minish, Capt. Kevin Ewing and their crews, flew eight insertion missions leading and sometimes being lead by helicopters of the 1st of the 160th SOAR. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - February 12; A Pave Lows of the 20th SOS led a 55th SOS MH-60G and two 71st SOS MH-3E's on a mission to insert SEAL elements into the water of the northern Gulf. Over the next 11 days, Capt. Harmon, Capt. White, Capt. Sipperly and their crew led several repeats of this mission. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - February 17; Pave Lows of the 20th SOS commanded by Capt. Minish, Capt. Tim Brown and their crews led another mission with three MH-47's and two MH-60's to insert a ground team deep into Iraq. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - February 22; Pave Lows of the 20th SOS led by a crew consisting of Capt. Joe Turnage (P), Capt. Brad Webb (CP) and crew flew as part flew as part of a four ship formation to insert more allied teams in support of the operation that started on February 17, 1991. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - February 23; Pave Lows of the 20th SOS commanded by Capt. Mike Kingsley, Capt. Frank Gray, Capt. Jeff White, Capt. Joe Turnage, Capt. Mike Beard, Capt. Kevin Ewing and Capt. Ken Sipperly led crews that flew up to 150 miles into Iraq inserting ODA road watch teams. The next morning February 24, 1991, Gen. Schwarzkopf unleased his allied ground forces. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - February 26; Pave Lows of the 20th SOS led by Capt. Tom Trask and crew led a flight of Pave Lows and several helicopters from the 1st of the 160th SOAR on a mission to deliver two teams of Army Rangers to neutralize a heavily defended communications center near the Jordanian border. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - February 27; Three Pave Lows, flown by Capt. White, Capt. Webb, Capt. Minish and crews, led six other helicopters on two sorties into the Kuwait International Airport to deliver teams to secure the field for Allied use. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - February 28; The Allied Coalition forces had achieved all of their objectives, and President Bush declared a cease-fire, effective at 8 a.m. Kuwaiti time. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - February 28; Just before the cease-fire Pave Low Capt. Webb and crew helped deliver the first U.S forces to the American Embassy so that it could be returned to U.S. control. Three Pave Lows led by Capt. Doug Moore and crew flew into the Kuwait International Airport carrying 13 personnel. Two of these crews were then put on rescue alert there. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - March 01; A Pave Low led seven other helicopters into western Iraq to recover more JSOTF members. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - March 04; Three Pave Lows flew deep into Iraq to recover more JSOTF teams and their vehicles and ODA's emplaced to support the ground campaign. Capt. Jeff White led one of these flights with Capt. Tim Leahy, a brand new Pave Low pilot as his co-pilot. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - May 28; A MH-60 Pave Hawk from Eglin AFB, FL. crashed off Antigua in the Caribbean, injuring six of eight aboard. hhtp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military _aircraft_(1990%E2%80%931999) |
1991 - June 09; Three of the 31st SOS MH-53J's were flown to NAS Cubi Point, PI, when Clark AB, PI was ordered evacuated due to the pending major explosion of Mt. Pinatubo, located just 10 miles southwest of the air base. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - June 10; The fourth MH-53J of the 31st SOS was flown after completion of some heavy maintenance, to NAS Cubi Point, PI, when Clark AB, PI was ordered evacuated due to the pending major explosion of Mt. Pinatubo, located just 10 miles southwest of the air base. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - June 12 - 15; At 8:50 a.m. Mount Pinatubo erupted and over the next few days the ash, mixed with rain from tropical storm, Typhoon Yunya leaving Clark AB covered with up to 10 inches of muck. Clark AB was no longer a functioning facility. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - June 26 - 29; The three flyable MH-53J's of the 31st SOS were flown aboard the USS Midway in Subic Bay, PI. to be sealifted to Okinawa. On 29 June 1991 these three MH-53J's were flown off the USS Midway to USMC Air Station Futenma, located six miles south of Kaden. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - July 05; The remaining MH-53J of the 31st now flyable after repairs was flown for NAS Cubi Point, PI to USMC Air Station Futenma to join the rest of the 31st SOS fleet. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1991 - October 10; UH-1N #69-6634 of the 6512th Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, CA. disintegrated and caught fire at about 8,000 and crashed while on a routine parachute training mission. Killed in the crash were Capt. Jay David Burdett (P), SSgt. John R. Anderson (Aerial photographer), SSgt. Kurt H. Ellington (Survival Instructor) and two other crew members were thrown free of the helicopter an parachuted to safety. http://articles.latimes.com/1993-01-09/local/me-902_1air-force-officials & http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyorlean/mtalbb8.htm |
1991 - October 25; HH-1H #70-2461 from Grand Forks AFB, ND crashed while on a medical mission near Dahlen, ND. with a crew of 4 (Sherman, Moore, Olson, Wegner) being fatally injured. Gene Becker Facebook comment 23 Oct. 2013 |
1991 - October 30; HH-60G #88-26110 of the 102nd RQS, New York Air Guard was written off. No other details are known at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ |
1992 - March 02; Two HH-53 Pave Lows from the 1551st FTS rescued 26 lost backpackers from a wilderness area about 180 miles southwest of Albuquerque. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1992 - October 29; A MH-60G Pave Hawk of the 55th SOS at Eglin AFB, FL. crashed into the Great Salt Lake, near Antelope Island, UT., killing five US Army Rangers and seven Air Force Special Operations Airman. Only the pilot survived. hhtp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1990%E2%80%931999) |
1992 - December 01; The 21st SOS was relocated from RAF Woodbridge to RAF Alconbury, England. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
1992 - December 17; The last three H-3E's, #69-05806, #67-14714 and #67-14723, at Kirtland AFB, NM departed for the 'boneyard' at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. #806 was crewed by the squadron commander, Mike ?, Capt. J. D. Nelson, MSgt. Tim Colts, TSgt. Dave Waldorf and SRA Jim Hills. #714 was crewed by Capt. David Pacone, Lt. Col. Charles Griffen, SSgt. Wayne Giffin and Tsgt. Earl Hamilton. #723 was crewed by Capt. Neal Alson, Lt. Col. Dale Cook, CMSgt. Jack Mazery, TSgt. Mike Thomas and SSgt. Dave Arvirez. Facebook post 14 Dec. 2014 by Richard H. James |
1993 - January 05; Colonel Russell and Major John Brainerd, of the 21st SOS, were awarded the Cheney Award for the actions of their Pave Low crews on 5 January 1993 to recover an injured French officer from Zakho, Iraq. The flew their aircraft into northern Iraq at night in snowstorms and icing conditions and receiving enemy ground fire to recover the injured French officer and deliver him to critically needed medical care at Incirlik AB, Turkey. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1993 - September 01; HH-3E #69-5809 of the 38th ARRS, Kadena AFB, Okinawa crashed when the blades hit a pole. No other details are available at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/TailNumbers/69-05809.htm |
1993 - September ??; HH-60G #91-26355 of the 210 RQS, Alaska Air National Guard was written off. No other details are known at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ |
1994 - January 10 - 11; Two HH-60G crews (Call sign "Rescue 206 & 208") from the 56th RQS at NAS Keflavik, Island received the 1994 Cheney Award for thier January 10-11, 1994 rescue of six Icelanders from their sunken rescue tug, just off the coast of Vodvlavik, Iceland. This rescue was accomplished at night during extremely bad weather conditions. Crew members known to be involved in this mission include Lt. Col. Jim Sills (P), Capt. Gary Copsey (CP), Capt. John Blumintritt (P), Capt. Gary Henderson (CP), USN Flight Surgeon Lt. Rich Assaf (FS), Sr. Amn. Jeff Frembling (FE), A1C Bill Payne (FE), Sr. Amn. Jesse Goerz (PJ) and Sr. Amn. Matt Wells (PJ). http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123412883 & Facebook post by Gary Copsey |
1994 - May 05; A MH-53 from Hurlburt Field, FL. rescued the pilot of a F-15C from the Gulf of Mexico after he had safely ejected from his F-15C about 5 miles south of Port St. Joe, FL. hhtp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1990%E2%80%931999) |
1994 - June 26; A HH-60G from the 305th Rescue Squadron at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), was responding to a rescue of a stranded hiker in the Sierra Ancha Mountains. Their HH-60G Blackhawk autorotated into the steep canyon, where it sustained significant damage. The engine continued to run for an hour after the crash, and there was a small fire that resulted as well. One crewmember was pinned between the helicopter and a boulder resulting in amputation of his leg above the knee. Three other crewmembers received minor injuries. The Air Force crew was assisting rescuers from Gila County Sheriff’s Department Rescue Team.. |
1994 - October 06; A HH-60G (Call sign "Jolly 04") from the 33rd RQS at Kadena AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Edward Karlson (P), Capt. William Alston (CP), Sr. Amn. Frank Zurawski (FE), Sr. Amn. Richard Setaro (PJ) and Sr. Amn. Jason Kutscher (PJ) crashed at Joch Weon, Korea, killing all of the crew. The "Jolly 04" crew were TDY to Korea to provide SAR alert coverage for USAF fighter aircraft assigned to bases in the Republic of Korea. The flight profile on the night of the accident was a training night vision goggle (NVG) flight. "Jolly 04" flew into high tension wires and subsequently crashed. It is believed that all of the crew members died on impact. http://www/pjsinnam.com/klod/Setaro.htm |
1995 - June 06; MH-53J #68-10932 crewed by Capt. Jonathan Owens (P), Capt. Carlos Halcomb (CP), SSgt. Jeffery Franco (FE) Sr. Amn. Erik Fricsons (FE), SSgt. Jonathan P. Herman (AG) and SSgt. Rick Shore (AG) and had catastrophic input drive shaft failure on the #2 engine while on short final to a helipad at the Koon-Ni Range, Korea, ruptured fuel and oil lines caught fire, aircraft burned in LZ and was completely distroyed. The crew was able to escape the burning aircraft without injury. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1995 - September 06 - 07; MH-53 pilots Capt. Charles (Mark) Harmon and Captain Paul Moncrief and crews of "Knife 44" and "Knife 47" entered Bosnia, on 6 September 1995, in the dark of night and at low level, utilizing the Pave enhanced navigation capability and the crew's night vision goggles attempting to rescue the crew of a French Mirage 2000K (Call sign "Ebro 33") that shot down on the morning of 30 August 1995. The French crewmen were not located. These same MH-53 Pave Lows again entered Bosnia on 7 September 1995 in a second attempt to recover the crew of "Ebro 33" and both aircraft received damage from enemy ground fire and again, the crew of "Ebro 33" could not be located. Captain Harmon and Captain Moncrief were dually awarded the 1995 Cheney Award for their outstanding leadership of the mission. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1996 - ? ??; HH-53B #66-14429 of the 1550th ATTWg. crashed at Vance AFB while conducting incentive flights for UPT students. The helicopter was rebuilt and returned to service. No other details are available at this time. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570 |
1996 - January 31; UH-1N #68-10773 of the 512th SOS (512th RQS) crashed at Kirtland AFB, all six aboard survived. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=92 |
1996 - April 03; Two MH-53's of the 20th and 21st SOS, operating from Brindisi, Italy, one (Call sign "Facet 23") crewed by Capt. Steve Kelly (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), the other (Call sign "Facet 23") crewed by Capt. John Conley (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), launched and proceeded to Dubronvnik, Croatia to aid in the search for a USAF CT-43, carrying the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. Ronald Brown and possibly as many as 30 personnel on his team, that had reportedly crashed. The crash site was located; however weather prevented the helicopters from landing at the site. Two additional "Pave Low's (with the Call signs "Facet 20 & 26") were sent to the Dubronvnik, Croatia airport carryiing a command and control team to aid in the recovery of the bodies. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1996 - April 04; The four "Pave Low's" operating from the Dubronvnik, Croatia airport and in spite of bad weather, were able to retrieve, by hoist, the bodies of 20 of the personnel on board the crashed CT-43 (see entry above on 03 April 1996). "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1996 - April 05; Two "Pave Low's" operating from the Dubronvnik, Croatia airport and in spite of terrible weather, were able to retrieve, by hoist, the remaining 15 bodies of the personnel on board the crashed CT-43 (see entry above on 03 April 1996). "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1996 - April 08-17; Four "Pave Low's" from the 20th & 21st SOS participated, along with other JSOCA forces, in the "Operation Assured Response" mission, evacuating 2,126 people from 76 countries from the fighting that was taking place in Monrovia, Liberia. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1996 - April 15-18; Two "Pave Low's" from the 551st SOS was sent to assist in the recovery operation for an A-10 that had crashed in the Rocky Mountains near Eagle, CO. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1997 - December 30; A HH-60G (Call sign "Rescue 321") of the 301st RQS at Patrick AFB, FL, crewed by Capt. Phillip Kennedy, Capt. Al Lupenski (CP), TSgt. Guillermo Toca (FE), SMSgt. Dana Beach (PJ) and Sr. Amn. Dave Biddinger (PJ) rescued six sailors, in high seas, from the sinking 493 foot freighter "Merchant Patriot". There were a total of 28 crewmen from the freighter that were rescued in conjunction with several USCG H-60 "Jayhawk" helicopters. http://www.jollygreen.org/Stories/Merchant%20Patriot%20Rescue%20Mission%20Report.html |
1998 - May 21; A HH-60 (Call sign "Jolly 06") from the 56th Rescue Squadron rescued the captian of a Russian trawler, over 235 miles off the coast of Iceland, after he had been stricken with a heart attack. Facebook post by Scott Swanson 07/12/2013 |
1998 - June 05; UH-1N 69-6616 of the 36th RQF written off. No other details know at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/786/ |
1998 - September 03; Two HH-60G's Pave Hawks #'s 88-26105 & 91-26359 (Call signs "Jolly 38 & 39") of the 66th RQS at Nellis AFB, NV. collided in midair and crashed, 25 miles north of Indian Springs, NV. just west of Quartz Peak in the Pintwater Mountain Range, during a routine night training mission killing all 12 crewmembers on board the two helicopters. "Jolly Green 38" crew consisted of Capt. Greg W. Lewis (P), Capt. Phillip Miller (CP), SSgt. Kevin M. Brunelle (FE), SSgt. Kenneth W "Kenny" Eaglin (FE), MSgt. Matthew Sturtevant (AG) and Sr. Amn Jesse D. Stewart (PJ). "Jolly Green 39" crew consisted of Lt. Col. William H. "Hal" Milton (P), Capt. Karl Youngblood (CP), TSgt. Jeffery R. Armour (FE), SSgt. Adam Stewart (FE), Sr. Amn. Justin Wotasik (PJ) and 2nd Lt. Michael Harwell (MEP). http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1998/sep/04/twelve-killed-in-nellis-helicopter-crash/ & http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ |
1998 - October 22; MH-53J #66-14431 of the 58th SOWg. was destroyed by a USMC pilot on an acceptance check flight after NADEP depot maintenance at MCAS Cherry Point. It took off with no oil in the intermediate gear box, which subsequently seized up while in a hover. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570 |
1999 - January 28; A MH-53 Pave Low (Call Sign "Cowboy 22") from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), on instrument check-flight out of Hurlburt Field, rescued the pilots after 45 minutes in the water after both had ejected from their F-15C's when they had a mid-air collision at 35,000 feet over the Gulf of Mexico during a 2 versus 3 Dissimilar Air Combat Training mission 80 miles S of Eglin over Eglin water range. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of _aircraft_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
1999 - February 04; A MH-53J Pave Low (Call Sign "Skat 08") from the 21st SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) landed aboard the USS Monongahela (AO-178) operating in the Mediterranean Sea to make an emergency evacuation of a seaman with appendicitis and transported him to a hospital in Lecce, Italy.http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
1999 - March 28; A MH-53J #67-14495 (Call sign "Moccasin 60") from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Cardoso (P), Capt. John Glass (CP), SSgt. Bill Clemons (FE), TSgt. Ed Hux (FE), MSgt. John Dubuisson (AG) and Sr. Amn. Chris Bloomfield (AG), a MH-53J (Call sign "Moccasin 61") from the 21st SOS, crewed by Capt. Shawn Cameron (P), Capt. Daley (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) along with a MH-60G (Call sign "Gator 07") from the 55th SOS, crewed by Capt. Chad Franks (P), Capt. Matt Glover (CP), unkn (FE), SSgt. Eric Giacchino (PJ) and Sr. Amn. John Jordan (PJ) proceeded to rescue an F-117 (Call sign "Vega 31") pilot, Lt. Col. Dale Zelko who had been shot down by Serbian forces just south of the city of Ruma. The rescue was accomplished by MH-60G "Gator 07" with the two MH-53J's flying 'gunship' cover during the rescue. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1999 - May 02; A MH-53J #67-14495 (Call sign "Skat 11"), crewed by Capt. Landreth (P), 1st Lt. Tom Lang (CP), SSgt. William "Scooter" Kerwood (FE), Sr. Amn. Vince DePersio (FE), Sr. Amn. Erik Fricsons (AG) and Sr. Amn. Grady Galvin (AG) and Tsgt. Lou Orrie (AG), and a MH-53J #70-1625 (Call sign "Skat 12"), crewed by Capt. Tom Long (P), 2nd Lt. Dan Nielsen (CP), SSgt. Dan Weimeer (FE), SSgt. Barry Berschneider (FE), SSgt. Dub Scott (AG) and SSgt Bill Kerwood (AG) along with a MH-60G (Call sign "Skat 13"), crewed by Capt. Bill Deneham (P), 1st Lt. Tom Kunkel (CP), SSgt. Rich Kelly (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) proceeded to rescue a F-16C (Call sign "Hammer 34") pilot, Lt. Col. David Goldfein who had been shot down by a SA-3 fired by Serbian forces about 40 miles southwest of Belgrade. The rescue was accomplished by MH-60G "Skat 13" with the two MH-53J's flying 'gunship' cover during the rescue. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1999 - June 02; MH-53J "Pave Low" #68-10364 (Call sign "Pave 02") from the 20th SOS at Hurlburt Field, FL., crewed by Capt. John Glass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and SSgt. Kurt Upton (AG), crashed and was destroyed near Camp Mackall, NC., when the pilots lost situational awareness during and unexpected brown-out condition during their final approach to a landing zone. SSgt. Kurt Upton (AG) died of injuries suffered in the crash, the five other crew members were not seriously injured. |
1999 - October 03; UH-1N #69-6602 from the 37th Helicopter Flight, 90th Space Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, WY, and crewed by 1st Lt. Sean Stevens (P), 1st Lt. Joseph Alkire (CP), Capt. (Dr.) Kyle Van De Graff (Flt. Surgeon) and TSgt. Lawrence Mason (MT) crashed approximately 60 miles south southwest of F.E. Warren AFB, WY. The helicopter was on a search mission for a missing three year old boy. The pilot, co-pilot and Med. Tech. suffered minor injuries. The Flt. Surgeon and a civilian, Mr. Mark Sheets, that was aboard suffered fractures and contusions. The helicopter was damaged beyond repair. |
1999 - December 15; HH-60G #87-26006 (Call sign "Jolly 12") from the 332nd Expeditionary Rescue Sq., 332nd Air Expeditionary Gp., Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, crewed by Capt. Anderson (P), 1st Lt. Rahman (CP), Tsgt. Hodges (FE) and SSgt. Rogers (AG), landed hard and rolled over, approximately 27.3 miles southeast of Al Jaber AB while making an approach to Bigfoot Landing Zone while conducting tactical training. All crewmembers safely egressed the helicopter following the crash with only muscle strains and minor cuts and bruises. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2000/HH-60_AlJabar_15Dec99.pdf |
2000 - August 02; MH-53M #69-5784 of the 21st SOS, 352nd SOGp., RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom crashed on a training flight. The helicopter landed in an eight foot depression and the tail rotor impacted the ground causing significant damage to the helicopter. All crewmembers received only minor injuries. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2000/MH-53_Mildenhall_2Aug00.pdf |
2000 - December 13; A MH-53M of the 20th HS at Hurlburt Field, FL., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. T. J. Carmichael (FE), SSgt. Gary Mishey (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), was diverted from a local training mission to rescue the pilot of a F-16 who had ejected from his disabled aircraft, about 20 miles off the coast of Apalachicola, Florida. "On Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
2001 - October 14; HH-60G #97-26776 (Call sign "Jolly 83") of the 41st Rescue Sq., Moody AFB, GA., crashed into the Kissimmee River near MacDill AFB, FL., while on a Combat Search and Rescue Exercise, after the helicopter made a steeply banked right turn at low level which they were not able to recover from prior to impacting the river. The crewmembers were able to safely egress the helicopter with minor injuries. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/HH-60_Near_MacDill_14Oct01.pdf |
2001 - November 02; MH-53M #69-5791 of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Frank unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Clint unkn (FE), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), went down in extremely hazardous weather conditions in the mountains and was lost in Afghanistan. A 21st SOS MH-53 that was part of the flight (Call sign "Knife 04") crewed by 1st Lt. Mike Holder (P), Capt. Jay Humphrey (CP), SSgt Vince DePersio (FE), SSgt. Chad Ackman (FE), SSgt. Mark Wolcott (??), SSgt. Al Aguinaldo (??), SSgt. Paul Orse (??), Sgt. Bill Adams (??) and Sr. Amn. Jason Andrews (??). The crew of "Knife 04 received the 2001 Mackay Trophy for their actions rescuing the crew of the downed MH-53. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod-83 & hhtp://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/512.html |
2002 - January 10; MH-53 #68-10363 of the 551st SOS, 58the SOWg. at Kirtland AFB, NM crashed at 0328 hours while on a SAR mission approximately 22 miles north northwest of Durango, CO. The six man crew and a civilian SAR responder escaped with minor injuries. The helicopter was severely damaged with a loss value of $5,303,376.00 and the helicopter was recovered and released by the AIB to be reconditioned. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/MH-53_DurangoCO_10Jan02.pdf |
2002 - January 24; MH-53M #67-4994 of the 21st SOS, 352nd SOGp. Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, United Kingdom suffered extensive damage to the main rotor blades when they stuck an antenna aboard the USNS Kanawha in the western Mediterranean Sea while they were attempting a night landing on the ship. There were no injuries to the crew of the helicopter or anyone on the ship. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/MH-53_USNSKanawha_24Jan02.pdf |
2002 - March 18; MH-53M #68-8286 of the 20th SOS was lost in Afghanistan. No other details are available at this time. http://www.heis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 |
2002 - May 21 - 22; A call came on the early evening to rescue two injured passengers aboard a storm-damaged yacht, the Persuader, in rough seas approximately 450 miles off the southwest coast of England. Answering that call was a combined Team Mildenhall effort resulting in hoisting the injured man and woman aboard an MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter and transferring them to a civilian hospital. Those involved in the daring rescue placed it among their most harrowing experiences. Because the yacht was out of range of British air and sea rescue vessels, the 21st Special Operations Squadron was called upon. The duration of the mission stretched across two days and required about 90,000 pounds of fuel via aerial refueling. The two Combat Shadows received about 56,000 pounds during three aerial refuelings from KC-135s, and the two Pave Low helicopters received about 32,000 pounds during nine aerial refuelings from the two Combat Shadows. It was the longest non-stop rescue performed from the British Isles. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
2002 - May 30; HH-60G #89-26201 Pave Hawk of the 304th Rescue Sq., 939th Rescue Wg., Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, OR. crewed by Capt. Grant Dysle (P), Capt. Chris Bernard (CP), Martin Mills (FE), Andrew Canfield (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) crashes on Mt. Hood while attempting a rescue three critically injured climbers who had fallen into a crevasse. While trying to maneuver to land on the 45 degree slope of the mountain, while in a hover the wind shifted suddenly and the main rotor blades impacted the steeply sloping terrain. The helicopter began to roll side over side down the mountain slope. The helicopter rolled seven and one half times before coming to rest inverted, approximately 200 feet below the site of impact. The seven man crew egressed safely with non-life threatening injuries. The HH-60G sustained $4,750,385.00 in damages. This accident was videotaped by an orbiting news helicopter and shown on network TV news shows. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/HH-60G_Portland_ExecSum_30%20May%2002.pdf & Air & Space Mag. Aug. 2014 |
2002 - August 08; UH-1N #69-6612 of the 512th Rescue Sq., 58th SOWg., Kirtland AFB, NM crashed on pad 8 of an auxiliary field approximately 5 nautical miles south of the Albuquerque International Airport while on a training flight. The five man crew was not injured and the aircraft was technically destroyed. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/UH-1N_Kirtland_8Aug02.pdf |
2002 - August 12; HH-60G #97-26779 of the 41st Rescue Sq., 347th Rescue Wg., Moody AFB, GA. on temporary assignment to the 41st Expeditionary Rescue Sq., 416th Air Expeditionary Gp. and while it was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, performed an unplanned landing and rolled over to its left side shortly after takeoff in a mountainous region of southwest Afghanistan. All crewmembers safely egressed the helicopter with only minor injuries. The HH-60G sustained an estimated $2,833.141 in post impact damage. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/HH-60G_Moody_12Aug02.pdf |
2003 - February 13; MH-53M #68-10930 (Call sign "Chalk 4") of the 20th SOS, 16th SOWg., Hurlburt Field, FL. on a special operations team training mission near Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait, was damaged upon landing when the nose landing gear collapsed, intruding upon flight control tubes, causing un-commanded movement of the flight controls. This cause the rotor tip path to dip excessively, resulting in main rotor blade contact with the ground and failure of the tail structure. There were no fatalities among the six crewmembers and 11-man special operations team. The helicopter damage value was over 15 million dollars. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2003/MH-53M_Kuwait_13Feb03.pdf |
2003 - March 19; MH-53M #67-14993 of the 20th SOS was written off 19 Mar. 2003. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 |
2003 - May 22; MH-53M #73-1648 of the 20th SOS, Hurlburt Field, FL. while operating at an overseas operating location, sustained damage to its main rotor system due to failure and separation of the main rotor head balance weights and the associated mounting bracket and bolts. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/mh_53m_hurlburt_fld_2003_html |
2003 - March 23; HH-60G #97-26778 (Call sign "Komodo 11) of the 347th RW, 41st RQS, crewed by Lt. Col. John Stein (P), Capt. Tamara L. Archuleta (CP), SSgt. Jason Hicks (?), MSgt. Michael Maltz (PJ), SSgt. John Teal (?) and Sr. Amn. Jason Plite (PJ) crashed while on a medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. The helicopter was doing a night low level air refuleling when is disconnected and impacted the terrain. Six crewmembers were fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. |
2003 - October 01; The CSAR forces and mission was switched from Air Combat Command to Air Force Specal Operations Command. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
2003 - November 23; MH-53 Pave Low #70-1625 (Call sign "Beatle 12"), of the 20th SOS, crashes during a combat mission about nine miles from Bagram AB, Afghanistan. Killed in this crash were Maj. Steven "Steve" Plumhoff (P), SSgt. Thomas "Toim" A. Walkup Jr. (FE), MSgt. William "Bill" J. Kerwood (FE) and TSgt. Howard "Howie" A. Walters (AG) and Sergeant Major Phillip R. Albert (U. S. Army), 8 others on the mission survived, 1st Lt. Christopher C. Richardson (CP), SMSgt. Wayne C. Lopez (AG), 2nd Lt. William H. Waggy (passenger), SSgt. Jonathan Purser (passenger), Specialist Diane C. Gilliam (passenger), Specialist Gary L. Craig (passenger), Specialist Juan C. Aguilera (passenger) and Specialist Demetrius C. Kincaid (passenger). The MH-53M experienced #2 engine failure and could not maintain single engine flight and while attempting a precautionary landing the remaining engine lost power and the helicopter landed fast on a level, rocky river bank, subsequently ran into a 3-foot-high embankment that severed the tail boom, rolled left and came to rest inverted. A post-crash fire rapidly consumed the aircraft. |
2004 - April 13; MH-53M #69-5797 of the 20th SOS was hit by a RPG at Zawbaa, Iraq. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 |
2004 - April 16; Two HH-60G's crews from the 38th & 41st RQs at Moody AFB, GA., rescued five soldiers from the crash of a U.S. Army CH-47 helicopter in Iraq despite battling a blinding sandstorm and being attacked by SAM's and small arms fire. The crew of HH-60G (Call sign "Jolly Green 11") was 1st Lt. Bryan Creel (P), Capt. Joseph Galletti (CP), Sgt. Vincent J. Eckert (FE), SSgt. John Griffin (??), SSgt. Patrick Ledbetter (??) and the crew of the other HH-60G was Capt. Rob Wrinkle (P), 1st Lt. Gregory Rockwood (CP), TSgt. Michael Preston (FE), TSgt. Paul Silver (??), SSgt. Matthew Leigh (??), SSgt. Michael Rubio (??) and Sr. Amn. Edward Ha (??). The two HH-60 crews received the 2004 Mackay Trophy. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf & http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/512.html |
2004 - October 20; HH-60G #87-026014, Pave Hawk, (Call sign :Halo 42") of the 66th Rescue Sq., Nellis AFB, NV., 347th Rescue Wg., Moody AFB, GA., crewed by Maj. Kevin R. Haff (P), 1st Lt. Benjamin R. Scheutzow (CP), A1C Jesse M. Samek (FE), Sr. Amn. Vanessa E. Dobos (AG), SSgt. Paul Schultz (PJ) and SSgt. Scott J. Bilyeu (PJ), crashed while on a medical evacuation mission approximately 146 nautical miles northwest of Kandahar AB, Afghanistan. The helicopter encountered a 'brown out' condition, impacted the ground and rolled down a hill 5-7 times coming to a rest on its right side approximately 180 feet down the hill from the point of impact. The flight engineer, A1C Jesse M. Samek, was killed and PJ SSgt. Scott J. Bilyew was severely injured. The four remaining crewmembers sustained non-permanent injuries. The helicopter was destroyed. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2005/HH-60G_Nellis_20Oct04.pdf & http://www.foia.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090731-024.pdf |
2005 - May 11; HH-60G #82-23728 (Call sign "Ghost 69) of the 512th Rescue Sq., 58th SOWg. at Kirtland AFB, NM on an instructor proficiency training sortie impacted the crest of a small knoll, on the Angel Fire Vietnam Memorial property, and then violently rolled left, ejecting the flight engineer, TSgt. Scott A. Bobbitt, from the cabin, then came to a rest on the upper left side of the fuselage. The flight engineer, who was on his "fini" flight prior to retirement, was killed. The pilot and co-pilot were treated for minor injuries. The helicopter caught fire shortly after impact. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2005/HH-60G_ExecutiveSummary.pdf |
2005 - August 29; Hurricane Katrina strikes the U.S. Gulf Coast, devastating New Orleans and surrounding area. USAF and other services begin massive relief operations, including; four HH-60's and 100 airmen for SAR from the 55th RQ, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.; four HH-60's, aircrews, pararescuemen, and maintainers for SAR from the 563rd RGp. Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.; AFSPC units from F. E. Warren AFB, WY., Malmstrom AFB, MT., Minot AFB, ND., and Vandenberg AFB, CA. provided UH-1N's and crews; the 16th SOS from Hurlburt Field, FL. provided HH-60G's; the 347th RQ Wg., Moody AFB, GA., provided HH-60's and crews for SAR and the 920th RQ Wg., Patrick AFB, FL., provided three HH-60G "Pave Hawks" for SAR. http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/airpower/Pages/box090505katlist.aspx |
2005 - November 05; USAF receives its first TH-1H, a modified UH-1H to be used for training. http://www.airforcemag.com/mahazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
2006 - April 03; The CSAR forces and mission was switched from Air Force Special Operations Command back to Air Combat Command. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
2006 - June 18; A UH-1N "Huey" from the 40th HS at Malmstrom AFB, MT. crewed by Maj. Newton (P), Capt. Shane Werley (CP), TSgt. Jay Orr (FE), Dr. (Capt.) Ki Lee Milligan (FS) and Capt. Holli Bellusci (Flight Medic) recorded their first night save of 2006 when they rescued an injured, 25 year old, woman by hoist, near Canary Peak northwest of Gardner, MT in the Beartooth Mountains area. This was the unit's 364th save. http://malmstrom.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123027573 |
2006 - July 24; Two HH-60's of the Alaska National Guard and a Coast Guard helicopter rescued all 23 crew members from an Asian cargo ship, the "Cougar Ace" that was taking on water south of the Aleutian Islands. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/23-sailors-rescued-near-alaska/ |
2006 - November 16; The first CV-22 "Osprey" arrives for duty at Hurlburt Field, FL., where it is assigned to the 8th SOS. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
2007 - September 07; MH-53M Pave Low IV #69-05794 (Call sign "Cowboy 21") of the 20th SOS at Hurlburt Fld., FL. piloted by Lt. Col. Eugene Becker crashed about 5 miles south of Crestview, FL after suffering tail rotor gear box failure while in a hover. Two of the seven crew members aboard, Col. William Nelson (FS) and A1C Bradley Jordan (AG) were injured. |
2007 - October 05; The CV-22 participates in its first search and rescue mission. The aircraft and crew assigned to the 58th SOWg. at Kirtland AFB, NM., was in the air within 1.5 hours of notification. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
2007 - October 09; The 21st SOS was inactivated at RAF Mildenhall, England. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
2007 - November 29; HH-60G #91-26401 of the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Sq., 451st Air Expeditionary Gp. at Kandahar AB, Afghanistan received between 3.7M and $6M in damages. The helicopter was landing in brown out conditions while on a medical evacuation mission to pack up a two-year-old Afghan female. After the hard landing the crew elected to continue the mission. |
2008 - September 27; The MH-53' flew their last combat missions in Southwest Asia and were sent directly from last combat mission to retirement. The "Pave Lows" had served for 40 years, including combat in the Vietnam War. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
2008 - September 30; Air Force Special Operations Command ends operational use of the MH-53 "Pave Low" helicopter. The last six in service completed combat operations in Southwest Asia on 27 September 2008 and were being transported back to the states for retirement. The "Pave Lows" had served for 40 years, including combat in the Vietnam War. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
2009 - June 30; TH-1H #73-21840 of the 23rd Flying Training Sq., 58th SOWg. at Fort Rucker, AL. experienced a hard landing due to loss of tail rotor thrust approximately 43 miles west of Cairns Army Airfield, AL. The pilot and two student pilots were treated for minor injurie. The helicopter sustained $6.7M in damage. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2009/TH-1H_FortRucker_30Jun09.pdf |
2009 - July 24; A UH-1N of the 40th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Maj. Ryan Dahlin (P), Capt. Andrew Ackles (CP), MSgt. Scott Andrews (FE), Col. Marcel Dionne (FS) and SR Amn. Kenvin Keophakdy (MT), completed the 374th "save" for the squadron when they resced Julie Elwell, 49, who was hiking along Belt Creek in Sluice Boxes State Park, located about eight miles south of Belt, MT., when she lost her footing and fell more than 30 feet, hit a ledge and landed in the creek. Family members with her pulled her from the creek and local emergency responders had stabilized her when the helicopter arrived to hoist her aboard and transport her to Benefits Hospital. http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123161504 |
2009 - December 11; HH-60G "Pave Hawk" crashed landed after receiving heavy machine gun fire in an LZ and force landed 2 miles away, the aircraft was later destroyed. The co-pilot suffered minor injuries. hhtp://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/hh_60g_afghanistan_2009.html |
2010 - April 06; UH-1N 69-6618 from the 1st HS at Andrews AFB, MD., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) was involved in an incident where it suffered a hard landing accident in Brandywine, MD. No other details are known at this time. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY10.html |
2010 - June 09; A HH-60G #89-26201 (know at "Snow Ball" - see entry 30 May 2002) and crewed by Capt. David A. Wisniewski (P), 1st Lt. Joel C. Gentz (CP), SSgt. David C. Smith (FE), TSgt. Michael P. Flores (PJ), Sr. Amn. Benjamin D. White (PJ) unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) was struck by hostile fire and crashed in southeastern Afghanistan. 1st Lt. Gentz, SSgt. Smith, TSgt. Flores and Sr. Amn. White were killed in the crash. Capt. Wisniewski died on July 2, 2010 from injuries received during the June 09, 2010 crash. Two other crew members were injured. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ |
2010 - August 08; UH-1N #69-6625 of the 40th HS, Malmstrom AFB, MT. with a crew of three who were not injured and a injured hiker, was involved in an hard landing accident and turned over on its side, while on a night medevac mission of an injured hiker at Wise River Airport, MT., southwest of Butte, MT. No other details are know at this time. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY10.html & http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/786/ |
2011 - March 10; A UH-1N of the 54th HS, from Minot AFB, ND., crewed by Capt. Matthew Sutliff of the 91st Missile Wing (P), 1st Lt. Nelson (CP), TSgt. Jason Fifield (FE) and SSgt. Michael Wright (FE), rescued civilians Jason Nelson and Dennis Schmierer, in the very early morning hours, from their pickup, more than 500 yards from dry land, after it had been swept away by rising flood waters about two miles south of Savage, MT. http://www.kpax.com/news/military-helicopter-rescues-montana-men-swept-away-in-flood-waters/ |
2011 - April 27; UH-1N #69-6603 of the 512th Rescue Sq. 58th SOWg. at Kirtland AFB, NM., crashed, rolled over and was destroyed in the post-crash fire, while on a hoist training mission at a remote LZ near Kirtland AFB, NM. During the hoist training the forest penetrator snagged on a stationary F-111 capsule causing loss of control of the helicopter. All the (unkn) crew exited without major injuries. The helicopter was destroyed by a fire that ignited shortly after impact. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2011/UH-1N_Kirtland_ExecSum_27%20Apr%2011.pdf |
2011 - March 10; A UH-1N of the 54th HS, from Minot AFB, ND., crewed by Capt. Matthew Sutliff of the 91st Missile Wing (P), 1st Lt. Nelson (CP), TSgt. Jason Fifield (FE) and SSgt. Michael Wright (FE), rescued civilians Jason Nelson and Dennis Schmierer, in the very early morning hours, from their pickup, more than 500 yards from dry land, after it had been swept away by rising flood waters about two miles south of Savage, MT. http://www.kpax.com/news/military-helicopter-rescues-montana-men-swept-away-in-flood-waters/ |
2011 - May 26; Two HH-60G "Pave Hawk" crews from Det. 1, 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, rescued three critically wounded U. S. Army Pathfinders Soldier's from an active mine field in Shorbak District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Guardian Angel Team Member, Sr. Amn Zachary C. Hoeh (PJ) was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross with "V" device for his actions during the rescue. http://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Documents/2014/August%202014/Hoeh_DFC.pdf |
2011 - July 07; A UH-1N of the 40th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Capt. Leo Gracik (P), Capt. Kurt Ponsor (CP), SR Amn. Michael Frank (FE), Col. Marcel Dionne (FS) and Sr. Amn. Kenvin Keophakdy (MT), completed the 374th "save" for the squadron when they resced Julie Elwell, 49, who was hiking along Belt Creek in Sluice Boxes State Park, located about eight miles south of Belt, MT., when she lost her footing and fell more than 30 feet, hit a ledge and landed in the creek. Family members with her pulled her from the creek and local emergency responders had stablelized her when the helicopter arrived to hoist her aboard and transport her to Benefits Hospital. http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123161504 |
2012 - June 13; CV-22B #06-0032 of the 8th SOS at Hurlburt Field, FL. crashed on the Eglin AFB range north of Navarre, FL., during a routine training mission. All crew members were rescued. http://www.helis.com/database/cn/4892/ |
2012 - August 04; Two HH-60G "Pave Hawk" crews from the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan completed a 7.5 hour, 329 mile mission, under enemy fire, rescuing six wounded New Zealand soldier, and Afghan soldier, an Afghan national and recovered the remains of two New Zealanders killed in action. The crews of "Pedro 83", Capt. Michael H. Kingry (P), Capt. Matthew M. Pfarr (CP), MSgt. Scott Spangler (FE), Sr. Amn. Josha Brown (AG) Capt. Matthew Carlisle (Combat Rescue Officer) and of "Pedro 84", Capt. John Larson (P), Capt. Gavin H. Johnson (CP), TSgt. Scott D. Lagerveld (FE), SSgt. Robert G. Wells (AG). Aughttp://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/page/204/February%202014/0214rescue.aspx |
2012 - August 06; USAF officials announce the service has created a new enlisted aviator field - 1A9X1 Special Missions Aircraft - that will encompass aerial gunners and flight engineers who serve aboard the HH-60G "Pave Hawks" and CV-22 "Osprey" and loadmasters who serve on AC-130 gunships and special operations non-standard aircraft. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
2013 - February 25; UH-1N #69-6660 of the 54th HS, 91st Missile Wg., Minot AFB, ND on a remote area hoist training mission approximately 10 miles south southeast of Parshall, ND., rolled over during an emergency autorotation due to failure of the #2 tail rotor driveshaft flexible coupling. The pilot and co-pilot were not injured and the two flight engineers and one passenger were treated for minor injuries. The helicopter sustained damage to the main rotor, transmission, main driveshaft, fuselage and landing gear with total loss valued at $2,365,515.00. |
2013 - March 23; HH-60 (call sign "Komodo 11) crewed by Lt. Col. John Stein (P), 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta (CP), SSgt. Jason Hick (FE), SSgt. John Teal (FE), MSgt. Michael Maltz (PJ) and Sr. Amn. Jason Plite (PJ) crashed, about 18 miles north of Ghazni, Afghanistan, while attempting to save 2 Afghani children. All crew members were killed in the crash. http://www.pjsinnam.com/war_on_terror/komodo_11/komodo_11.htm |
2013 - June 05; The last operational USAF UH-1H 73-21721 was transferred from Hurlburt Field, FL. to civilian use by the New York State Police's aviation unit as part of the Law Enforcement Support Organization Program. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/1136 |
2013 - August 05; HH-60G Pave Hawk #91-26354 (Call sign "Jolly Green 12") of the 33rd RSq., Kadena AB, Japan, crashes approximately 14 miles NE of Kadena AB in Okinawa's Central Training Area near Camp Hansen while on a training mission. TSgt. Mark A. Smith (FE) was fatally injured in the crash and subsequent fire which destroyed the helicopter. Three other crewmembers were injured but survived. |
2013 - September 12; HH-60G Pave Hawk #88-26106 of the 129th RSq., California Air National Guard, Moffett Federal Airfield, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (SMA) and unkn (SMA), along with a civilian member of the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew were participating in a California Joint Task Force Domestic Support, Counterdrug operation. The civilian was being hoisted from the helicopter when he mistakenly hooked the hoist cable to a non-load bearing D-ring on his tactical vest, once he had his full weight on the hoist the non-load bearing D-ring brook and he fell approximately 40 feet to his death. Executive Summary Aircraft Accident Investigation, HH-60G T/N 88-26106, Sequoia National Forest, Springville, CA., 12 Sept.2013 |
2014 - January 02; A HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued Devan McDowell, about 5 1/2 miles east of Koliganek, AK., who went missing while snowmobiling from Koliganek, to Levelock, AK. http://www.nationalguard.mil/News/ArticleView/tabid/5563/Article/7589/alaska-air-national-guard-member-rescue-snowmobile-operator.aspx |
2014 - January 07; A HH-60G Pave Hawk #88-26109 (Call sign "Jolly Green 22") of the 56th RSq. crashed, on marshland on the North Norfolk Coast of England, during a night training mission from multiple bird strikes. All crewmembers were killed in the crash, Capt. Christopher Stover (P), Capt. Sean Ruane (CP), TSgt. Dale Mathews (FE) and SSgt. Afton Ponce (FE). http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/4-us-airmen-killed-in-pave-hawk-crash-on-england-coast-1.260936 |
2014 - February 25; A HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued a four snow machiners, Jason Coffey, Tara Coffey, Robert Milligan and Jonathan Hines of Wasilla, AK. http://www.alaskapublic.org/2014/02/27/4-snowmachiners-rescued-by-alaska-air-national-guard/ |
2014 - March 04; A HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued an injured Iditarod musher 61 miles southeast of McGrath, AK. http://www.military.com/daily-new/2014/03/07/alaska-air-guardsmen-rescue-iditarod-musher.html |
2014 - March 10; A UH-1N of the 54th HS, Minot AFB, SD, crewed by Capt. Matthew R. Sutiff (P), 1st Lt. Kyle B. Nelson (CP), TSgt. Jason L. Fifield (FE) and SSgt. Michael R. Wright (FE), rescued two men trapped in the bed of their truck in Savage, MT., when an ice flow caused the river to overrun its banks. http://www.minot.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=1234-3178 |
2014 - April 02; A HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. conducted a medevac mission for a 2-week-old infant from New Stuyahok, AK., early in the day. Then that evening rescued Nicholas Janes and his sons, ages 11 & 15, who were overdue on a hike on the Crow Pass Trail between Gridwood and Eagle River, AK. http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20140413/ak-beat-alaska-air-national-guard-rescues-sick-infant-stranded-hikers-separate |
2014 - April 24; A HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued a man, by hoist, from his sinking raft in the Cook Inlet approximately one mile from Fire Island. http://www.nationalguard.mil/News/ArticleView/tabid/5563/Article/8732/alaska-air-national-guard-member-rescue-man-from-sinking-raft.aspx |
2014 - April 30; HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued a four uninjured survivors of a Cessna 172 crash at the toe of the Skilak Glacie, AK. The four men rescued were Soldotna, AK., residents Logan Sutton, Levi Sutton, and the pilot Donny Joachim along with Reid Nelson of Cokato, MN. http://www.nationalguard.mil/News/ArticleView/tabid/5563/Article/8732/alaska-air-national-guard-member-rescue-man-from-sinking-raft.aspx |
2014 - May 25; UH-1N #69-6622 (Call sign "Air Force Rescue 22") from the 40th HS "Pathfinders" at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Capt. Jay Murnyack (P), 1st. Lt. William Lynn (CP), TSgt. Michael Duffney (FE), TSgt. Justin Nissen (FE) and Lt. Col. Ramon Yambo-Arias a(FS) recorded their 400th rescue when they located and rescued a 50-year old man who was hiking the Bear Creek Overlook Trail in the Bitterroot National Forest (about 150 miles from the base) and had went off the trail and fell 30 ft. breaking his leg. Then just minutes after touching down back at Malmstrom AFB following this rescue, the same helicopter crew (except for the Flight Surgeon, who was Maj. Rhodora Beckinger) was dispatched for another one, this time for an avalanche victim on Red Mountain near Butte, Mt. (about 150 miles from the base) and recording the unit's 401st rescue. http://www.afgsc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123412432 |
2014 - August 27; HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 210th Rescue Squadron of the Alaska Air National Guard crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ and unkn (PJ) rescued two men, early Wednesday morning, near Coal Creek, AK., after their aircraft had crashed late Tuesday evening. http://www.ktuu.com/news/ak-air-guardsmen-rescue-2-from-coal-creek-plane-crash/27761472 |
2014 - September 20; A UH-1N (Call sign "Rescue 13") of the 36th RQF, 336th Training Support Squadron at Fairchild AFB, WA. and crewed by Capt. Erik Greendyke (P), Capt. Josiah Hart (CP) SSgt. Jeremy Burnite (SMA) and Maj. David Oldham (FS) rescued Ammi Midstokke, a female rock climber, who had been injured and entrapped by a 1.5-ton boulder. This was the 688th rescue for the 36th RQF. Http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/500030/injured-idaho-hiker-rescued-by-fairchild-crew-aspx |
2014 - December 05; A CV-22 of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Jonathan Seagle (P), Capt. John Vandenbemden (CP), SSgt. Spencer Seymore (FE) and SSgt. Daniel Teel (FE), while deployed, responded to a special operations assault force that had came under heavy fire from enemy combatants. Their timely actions led to the successful evacuation of critically wounded ground personnel, while under enemy fire, after landing in an extremely difficult, 80-foot restricted-visibility landing. After departing the LZ the crew made the first CV-22 shipboard contingency landing aboard a U.S. Navy vessel to deliver the wounded for immediate surgery. The CV-22 crew members were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for Valor for their actions on this mission. http://www.cannon.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/136/Article/625225/green-hornet-crew-receives-highest-aerial-honors.aspx |
2014 - December 15; A HH-60G "Pave Hawk" from the 129th RQW at Moffett Federal Airfield, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued a sick 24 year old male, from the 65 foot commercial fishing vessel "Temptation" about 160 miles at sea off the coast of Monterey, CA. http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123434468 |
2015 - March 26; A HH-60G "Pave Hawk" of Air Force Reserve Command from the 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Sq. deployed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued two pilots of a Saudi Arabian Air Force F-15S from the Red Sea after the pair ejected during a strike sortie in Yeman. Air Force Magazine Daily Report, Tue, Mar. 31, 2015 |
2015 - July 05; A UH-1N from the 40th HS at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Capt. Matthew Finnegan (P), Maj. Jeffery Miser (CP), SSgt. Ryan Oliver (SMA), SSgt. Daniel Marchick (SMA) and Capt. Melonie Parmely (FS), rescued an injured female hiker in the Big Horn Mountain Range roughly 15 miles west of Buffalo, WY. at approximately 5:20 a.m. This rescue marked the 408th save for the 40th HS. |
2016 - January 05; A HH-60G in Afghanistan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), on a mission to attempt the recovery of a U.S. special forces team, was damaged when its rotor blades reportedly struck the wall of a compound. The mishap occured in the Marja district of southern Helmand province. No other details are know at this time. "Combat Aircraft", March 2016, page 20 |
2016 - January 18; A UH-1N from the 37th Helicopter Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, WY., crewed by Capt. Stephen Jones (P), 1st Lt. Mathew Brox (CP), Lt. Col. Michael Clay (Medic) and SSgt. Brice Marshall (FE), rescued Two snowmobilers in southern Wyoming. http://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/2612/Article/643861/helicopter-crew-saves-two-lives-during-search-and-rescue-mission.aspx |
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