Marine Osprey pilots awarded DFCs
The Stars & Stripes reports that Marines MAJ Michael Hutchings and CPT David Haake are the first Osprey pilots to earn the Distinguished Flying Cross for their actions over Afghanistan on June 27, 2012;
Hutchings led his section in flying a reconnaissance raid force into an enemy area, according to his award citation. When he was flying in the second wave of the force, his Osprey was hit by rocket-propelled grenades and medium machine-gun fire, causing extensive damage to critical flight control systems, the citation reads.
Yet Hutchings was able to land and unload the remaining recon Marines and fly his crew safely back to their base at Camp Bastion. Once back, according to the citation, Hutchings “quickly reassessed the extraction plan” and returned to the site of the battle to bring the recon Marines home.
Haake also flew Marines into the firefight, according to his award citation.
Their commander, MG Robert Hedelund, said that it was just Marines taking care of Marines and Hutchings, in a manner characteristic of real heroes, said “I couldn’t have done anything without my Marines”.
Category: Real Soldiers
CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.
The sound of those Big Bronze Ones as they walk down the halls amongst us mere mortals.
Well done, Marine pilots, well done.
Many a mother, wife, daughter, and son will bless you for your extraordinary efforts, courage and actions.
Well done Marines. Props (no pun intended) to these to heroic pilots!
Kudos, Maj. Hutchings and Cpt. Haake. Damn well done; the recognition is well-deserved.
Nice to see the Osprey can take a few licks and keep on flying.
Gosh, gee whillikers, after seeing all the past and current media reports of controversy surrounding the fiscal practicality and questionable safety issues of the Osprey, the heroism of Major Hutchings and Captain Haake make the aircraft’s combat acquittal under enemy fire all that much sweeter.
CON-GRAT-U-LA-TIONS, Sirs ! ! !
You haven’t only just gotten yourselves decorated – – – ,
Oh no, YOU, with your flying abilities, have made aviation history!
Ain’t it neat knowing your descendants will be reading all about you in high school history books?
Outstanding!
Congrats, guys! Well done.
Bravo Zulu, sirs! Well done!
Semper Fi isn’t just our motto, it’s our way of life. While I applaud their courage, I would expect nothing less.
I personally have maintained ospreys and know people who helped return these aircraft to flying status afterwards. Yes, the aircraft may be costly, yes it may be a pain in the ass to fix, but the design that was 20+ years in the making is what saved so many lives that day. Everything down to the triple redundant systems ensured the crew survived as well as all those Marines that were able to get in and out of their objective with speed and efficiency. No one can put a price tag on the lives saved that day.
Marines….yeah, they’re that good. Well done gentlemen.