by Master Sgt. Matthew Hilborn
Air National Guard Readiness Center Public Affairs
10/2/2013 - NATIONAL HARBOR, Md -- Quick
thinking and exemplary teamwork allowed an aircrew from the 167th
Airlift Wing to land safely after their Air Force C-5 Galaxy aircraft
sustained severe damage to its engines as a result of multiple bird
strikes during takeoff.
The West Virginia Air National Guard members received the Earl T. Ricks
Award during the 2013 Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference
and Technology Exposition here Sept. 16. The award recognizes Air
National Guard personnel for outstanding airmanship.
Those honored were Air Force Lt. Col. Jonathan Goldstein, Capt. Ryan
Hawk, 1st Lt. Samuel Harrison, Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Nicholson,
Master Sgt. Michael Kalbfleisch, Master Sgt. Devin Paskewich, Tech. Sgt.
Nicholas McFadden, Staff Sgt. Chad Witmer, Staff Sgt. Jordan Soltis and
Senior Airman Jeremy Barr.
"Both the unit and other training really prepare you for these types of
emergencies," said Master Sgt. Micheal Kalbfleisch, a 167th flight
engineer who was part of the aircrew. "In fact, there is a simulation
training scenario that we do once a year where you lose two of your
engines and have to handle the situation."
The fully loaded aircraft departed April 19 from Navy Station Rota,
Spain, en route to an Air Base in the Middle East in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom when the incident occurred. The crew assessed
the damage and was able take the appropriate actions saving themselves
and the plane.
Col. Shaun Perkowski, the 167th Air Wing vice commander, said the unit
is proud of the Airmen and how they handled themselves under duress.
"The way they worked together to safely land their crippled airplane was
simply outstanding," Perkowski said. "It took great technical skill and
knowledge, awesome leadership and a crew working together at their
best."
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