1st Air Cav pilots recognized for daring rescue

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | General David Petraeus, the Multi-National Force-Iraq commander, speaks with pilots during an awards ceremony at the Victory Base Complex, Iraq, July 27. The awardees helped rescue two OH-54 Kiowa pilots who were forced down by enemy fire July 2.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

07.28.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Nathan Hoskins 

1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

By Spc. Nathan Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – Four Apache pilots from 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division were among 12 who received awards July 27 for the July 2 rescue of two Task Force Marne pilots downed by enemy fire.

The awardees gathered at the Victory Base Complex in Iraq to receive their awards from Gen. David Petraeus, the Multi-National Force-Iraq commander.

Tumwater, Wash., native Chief Warrant Officer 3 Allan Davison and Del Rio, Texas, native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Micah Johnson, both AH-64D Apache attack helicopter pilots for Company A, 1st "Attack" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div., received Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Davison and Johnson helped the two downed OH-58 Kiowa helicopter pilots from 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, by landing in a hostile area and evacuating them with their Apache, said Davison.

An uncommon event unfolded as Johnson, the front seat pilot, let one of the Kiowa pilots take his seat in the Apache while he and the other Kiowa pilot strapped themselves to the outside of the aircraft and sat on the wings, said Johnson.

"It looked like they were both in pretty good shape, but one of them kind of looked like he had been through enough, like he was a little shocked, as I would be, too. I told him to get in front," he said.

Once the pilots were strapped in, Davison, the pilot in command, took off and headed to Baghdad International Airport where the pilots were dropped off.

While this was taking place, their Apache wingmen were circling above with Kiowa helos providing security.

These two pilots, Fairfax, Va., native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Seung Choi and Montgomery, Ala., native Chief Warrant Officer 3 Troy Moseley, were awarded Air Medals for their efforts.

Although awarded medals and recognized by the top commander in Iraq, the pilots' greatest reward was finding the downed pilots alive.

"We've seen a lot of aircraft shoot-downs," Johnson said in an interview after the rescue. "Everyone that we've all probably seen, it's resulted in burning aircraft and black smoke and usually catastrophic loss of life. If not loss of life, then there have been serious injuries. Just to see those two alive, it was amazing. It was great."

• Date Taken: 07.28.2007
• Date Posted: 07.30.2007 21:15
• Story ID: 11526
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ