Air Force Gunship Crew Receives Awards For Saving 88 Lives

Air Force Gunship Crew Receives Awards For Saving 88 Lives

The crew of a heavily armed US Air Force gunship has been given awards this week for saving 88 lives during a fight in Afghanistan.

According to the 1st Special Operations Wing, five crew members assigned to the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship Shadow 71 with the 73rd Special Operations Squadron have received the Distinguished Flying Cross, while four other members received Air Medals for “extraordinary achievements” during a September 2019 mission in Afghanistan.

The Distinguished Flying Cross citation says that “the AC-130J crew provided nearly two hours of continuous close air support fire against multiple enemy ambushes, saving the lives of 88 American and Afghan Special Forces members.”

Business Insider reports: “The 1st Special Operations Wing said that the gunship crew engaged three enemy positions, providing fire support that allowed helicopter assault forces to land and evacuate wounded troops from the battlefield.”

The Distinguished Flying Cross was presented on June 22 to aircraft commander Lt. Col. Christopher McCall, weapons systems officer Capt. Jasen Hrisca, combat systems officer Capt. Tyler Larson, special missions aviator Tech Sgt. Jake Heathcott, and sensor operator Staff Sgt. Kyle Burden.

The four Air Medals for “extraordinary achievements” were presented to co-pilot Maj. Brian Courchesne and special missions aviators Staff Sgt. Alex Almarlaes, Senior Airman Brianna Striplin, and Senior Airman Thomas Fay.

“I always say gunships are a team sport; you really can’t do something like this without a great team. Shadow 71 has talent from front-to-back,” McCall said.

The Distinguished Flying Cross citation stated that “the professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by the AC-130J crew reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force.”

Business Insider reports:

“The AC-130J is the latest version of a US gunship with a combat history dating back to the Vietnam War. The 73rd Special Operations Squadron, according to the Air Force, was the first AC-130J squadron. It was activated at Hurlburt Field, Florida, which is where the awards were handed out this week.

Previously described by Air Force officials as a ‘bomb truck with guns on it,’ the AC-130J gunship is armed with a Precision Strike Package consisting of 30 mm and 105 mm cannons, as well as standoff precision guided munitions, including both bombs and missiles.”

According to an enlisted leader, the Ghostriders not only emboldened troops on the ground, they have saved lives.

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