C-130 crew cited for saving lawmakers

[unhappycamper]

C-130 crew cited for saving lawmakers
Staff report
Posted : Friday Feb 29, 2008 16:02:32 EST

The C-130 crew that saved the lives of three senators and a congressmen by avoiding enemy rockets has been honored by Air Mobility Command.

The crew, with members from Pope Air Force Base’s 2nd Airlift Squadron, 43rd Airlift Wing, and 43rd Operations Support Squadron, returned to North Carolina from Southwest Asia on Feb. 19.

During the deployment, the crew was transporting Sens. Mel Martinez, Richard Shelby and James Inhofe and Rep. Bud Cramer from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan. As the plane took off Aug. 30, navigator 1st Lt. Robert Davidson detected three rockets fired at the aircraft. Pilot Maj. Paul Pepe took evasive maneuvers to avoid the first shot as his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Robert Gillis, worked with Davidson and loadmaster Staff Sgt. Adam Monroy to identify the positions of the other rockets. Pepe was able to avoid each rocket and switch to an escape route.

The other crew members were loadmaster Staff Sgt. Kyle Anderson, flight engineer Staff Sgt. Charles Jones and flight surgeon Capt. Jessica Kehren.

AMC officials awarded the crew the 2007 Field of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aviator Valor Award upon the their return to Pope. The award is given for conspicuous acts of courage or valor performed during aerial flight, either combat or non-combat, according to a base press release.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/airforce_c130award_senators_022908w/

[hobbit709]

1. Too bad it was those four that were saved.

[pretzel4gore]

2. david was slinging rocks...

poor frickin Goliath, crapping hisself every time a seagull takes off....