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This A-10 pilot repeatedly drew fire away from rescue helicopters during an intense firefight 10 years ago. He finally received an award for it.
Business Insider via msn ^
| 16 November 2021
| Ryan Pickrell
Posted on 11/16/2021 9:49:10 PM PST by blueplum
...Lt. Col. Mike "Vago" Hilkert, a pilot with the 303rd Fighter Squadron, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross last month for heroism during what has been described as "one of the most intense combat rescue missions of the Afghanistan war."
During that six-hour fight on April 23, 2011, Hilkert not only coordinated the warfighting efforts of 21 aircraft over dozens of frequencies, but he also intentionally put himself and his plane in harm's way repeatedly to draw enemy fire away from rescue helicopters.
The Air Force said Hilkert also helped save the lives of more than 30 people....
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: 303rd; a10; afghanistan; airforce; aviation; dfc; dogfights; hilkert; mikevagohilkert; usaf
they should make a movie about this lad
1
posted on
11/16/2021 9:49:10 PM PST
by
blueplum
To: blueplum
Amazing story of bravery and heroism. I can’t imagine doing all that work simultaneously while under heavy fire. Thanks for posting this.
2
posted on
11/16/2021 9:59:20 PM PST
by
ProtectOurFreedom
(“…in any great disaster, there's a Harvard man in the middle of it.” ~ Thomas Sowell)
To: blueplum
Let him patrol the Rio Grande valley.
3
posted on
11/16/2021 9:59:21 PM PST
by
rktman
(Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this? 😕)
To: blueplum
A-10s and the men who fly them are legend.
4
posted on
11/16/2021 10:17:16 PM PST
by
\/\/ayne
(I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper)
To: rktman
“Let [them] patrol the Rio Grande valley.”
Rabid Coyote hunters...
5
posted on
11/16/2021 10:28:28 PM PST
by
patriotfury
((May the fleas of a thousand camels occupy mo' ham mads tents!) )
To: ProtectOurFreedom
The man should be a Medal of Honor recipient.
6
posted on
11/16/2021 11:02:48 PM PST
by
july4thfreedomfoundation
(Donald J. Trump is my president, not the Commander-in-Thief, brain-dead Joseph Stolen)
To: \/\/ayne
7
posted on
11/17/2021 12:29:06 AM PST
by
stanne
To: july4thfreedomfoundation
8
posted on
11/17/2021 5:19:42 AM PST
by
jimfr
To: aviator; Hulka; Mr Rogers
Ping to Free Republic’s A-10 jockeys.
9
posted on
11/17/2021 5:29:46 AM PST
by
TangoLimaSierra
(⭐⭐To the left, truth is right-wing extremism.⭐⭐)
To: Jvette
Ping to the daughter of an A-10 jockey.
10
posted on
11/17/2021 5:30:42 AM PST
by
TangoLimaSierra
(⭐⭐To the left, truth is right-wing extremism.⭐⭐)
To: ProtectOurFreedom
And in a single seat basic jet. . .
11
posted on
11/17/2021 10:06:05 AM PST
by
Hulka
To: blueplum
12
posted on
11/18/2021 6:39:34 AM PST
by
Texas Fossil
((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
13
posted on
11/18/2021 11:03:17 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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