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An unusual CASEVAC platform
By Slab
As Marines, particularly Marine terminal controllers (i.e. FACs and JTACs), we tend to be a bit snobbish about our close air support. We, of course, prefer fellow Marines overhead, and tend to complain about all of the little things that the other services do that don't fit within our own picture of "How Things Should Be Done". One group that we often malign are the Army's Apache community. They have not trained in the same rotary wing close air support (RWCAS) tactics, techniques, and procedures that we have honed with our light attack helicopter community over the past 15 or so years. However, two recent incidents highlight that tactical and procedural differences do not make them lesser pilots, or any less courageous.
From Blackfive comes the first rescue of a wounded soldier from the 3rd Infantry Division in Ar Ramadi. After two attack weapons teams, consisting of two AH-64 Apaches each, responded to a firefight in Ramadi, and making a trip to LSA Anaconda to refuel, they found that MEDEVAC aircraft had yet to arrive to evacuate a critically-wounded soldier. One of the aircraft landed while another team provided overhead cover, and the copilot gave up his seat to the wounded soldier, strapping himself to the wing despite the heavy volumes of small-arms fire that had been directed at the supporting aircraft. They were able to get the wounded soldier safely to Camp Ar Ramadi for treatment.
Then, from Neptunus Lex and the WaPo we find out that yet another Apache crew took incredible risks to evacuate fellow soldiers. CWO's Steven Cianfrini and Mark Burrows had their OH-58D scout helicopter brought down by insurgent fire south of Baghdad. Apaches from Task Force Marne responded, with the aircraft piloted by CWO's Allan Davison and Micah Johnson landing to pick up the downed flyers. Once again, the copilot, CWO2 Johnson, gave up his seat and strapped himself to a wing, while CWO2 Cianfrini took the vacant seat and CWO2 Burrows strapped himself to the other wing. Blackfive had the video:
OK, I'll give it to those Apache guys. Very large stones. Boulder-sized. Bravo zulus all around, guys.
By the way, in case some of you don't remember, these are not the first instances of this technique being used. The Royal Marines actually used Apaches to go back for a missing comrade in Afghanistan this past January. Four Royal Marines from Zulu Coy, 45 Commando, inserted by Apache, and with the assistance of some of the aircrew, recovered the body of their comrade, L/Cpl Ford. Interestingly, there is a bit of a VMI connection to this story, as one of my Brother Rats was a member of Zulu Coy at the time.
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Comments
The aircrew that picked up the downed 58D pilots were from the 1st CAV, not Task Force Marne.
Another nit to pick, while the Royal Marines did use Brit Apaches to go look for a fallen comrade, An AH-64 crew belonging to C Company 1-227th Aviation Regiment won the DFC in 2004 for conducting a "Spur Ride"...http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/nov2004/a110404d.html
Kudos to all involved...especially my buddy from flight school CW4 Kevin Purtee 1-149th AVN.
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the helecopter gang has done so many things in years past (both civilian and military) that they should be granted head of chowline privledges in any messhall, messdeck, wardroom etc. that they happen to come upon. and furthermore a platoon of pfcs' should proceed them banging tamborines, blowing bugles and singing their praises wherever they should wish to go.
truly they have so much glory that they need not do anything for a thousand years and still be ahead of the curve.
think thats a little thick?
Naaaaaaaaah. not half way.
C