warpedskydiver 0 #1 December 18, 2007 Hundreds remember Pave Low helicopter The MH-53 Pave Low will be decommissioned in October to make way for new aircraft GREG DAVENPORT Monday December 3rd, 2007 HURLBURT FIELD — Hundreds turned out at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park on Monday for a retirement ceremony — not for a person, but for the MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter 68-10928. The dedication of “Aircraft 928” to the air park was an important step in honoring an airframe that is scheduled for decommission next October, according to 1st Special Operations Wing commander Col. Brad Webb. “This is a great day for pilots and maintainers. The MH-53 has an outstanding legacy,” said Webb, who flew the MH-53 for 20 years. “(The decommissioning of the MH-53) pulls at your heart strings. If it needs to be to be in a place of honor, this is the place.” MARK KULAW | Daily News MH-53M Pave Low IV tail number 68-10928 sits on display at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park prior to Monday’s dedication ceremony. photo gallery: http://www.nwfdailynews.emeraldcoastphotoswest.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=384342 The MH-53 is being decommissioned to make way for new military aircraft coming into the arsenal. Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, noted that airmen have earned 13 Air Force Crosses and more than 140 Silver Stars in the MH-53. “(The MH-53) is just a remarkable piece of equipment,” Wurster said. “If you look at the influence these aircraft have had … it’s a privilege for me to be here.” Guest speaker retired Maj. Gen. Rich Comer, former 16th Special Operations Wing commander and MH-53 pilot, recalled the Mayaguez Incident and the assault on Koh Tang Island, in which Aircraft 928 and her crew earned a Silver Star. Comer said as a young pilot he had a lot of firsts during that mission and he learned a valuable lesson: The crews that operate the MH-53 are truly the heart and soul of the aircraft. “People are Pave Low,” the retired major general said. “The people that went out on the Mayaguez (mission) – of those 18 crews, 26 of the pilots were lieutenants. You older guys are veterans, (but) the younger ones are more important that the old ones. They’ll be the ones flying most of the (missions).” Aircraft 928 was bid farewell by the last man to fly her, Maj. Frank Cooper of the 20th Special Operations Squadron. Then a plaque with the history of the MH-53 was unveiled while two MH-53 helicopters flew by. Lt. Col. Vincent Becklund, 20th Special Operations Squadron commander, said the moment was bittersweet. While he was happy to see the MH-53 get honored, it reminded him that he is also responsible for the deactivation of his own squadron, which should be gone around the same time that the MH-53 is decommissioned. He insists that even though the airframe is going away, his airmen see a silver lining in the whole situation. “The guys are truly proud to fly the Pave Low, but what they really want to be is AFSOC,” Becklund explained. “The good thing is AFSOC is going like crazy (right now). I have 10 guys making the transition to CV-22s.” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #2 December 18, 2007 Wow....I remember the first one I ever got to fly on....this kind of thing makes me feel old. Technology marches on and new aircraft come along but the old birds certainly had a good run. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #3 December 18, 2007 Make 'em JUMPSHIPS! ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #4 December 18, 2007 Hey if it almost flies, people will jump it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
