Another aircrew honored

Eggs sends us a link to another story of aircrew bravery from a few months ago which resulted in the Distinguished Flying Cross for Staff Sgt. Joshua Reid and Master Sgt. William Fritsch and the Air Medal with Valor for Staff Sgt. Jason St John and pilots 1st Lt. Patrick Mount and Capt. Ryan Prince;

Upon landing, Reid, on Pedro 62, and Fritsch said they were not aware they were being engaged by small arms fire.

Once the PJs hit the ground, they had to engage the enemy.

Once Pedro 61 was back in the air, Fritsch spotted an insurgent readying a rocket-propelled grenade about 75 meters away. He engaged by shooting almost 200 rounds of .50 caliber fire.

“It had missed us,” he said. “That was just luck.”

Fritsch saw a second insurgent readying an RPG and immediately warned his crew. As the grenade exploded near his aircraft, he again returned fire.

Reid did the same from Pedro 62.

With 25 coalition soldiers on the ground, Pedro 61 and 62 placed themselves in a blocking position between the enemy and friendly forces, allowing two Army OH-58 attack helicopters to mark and destroy the enemy’s position.

“Any [mission] could turn into something like this in any given moment,” Fritsch said.

Reid and Fritsch said the mission was executed properly and safely due to their training.

Category: Air Force, Real Soldiers