KC-135 helps rescue downed helo crew

Published May 17, 2004

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- On April 20, a KC-135 crew from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing took off on what was supposed to be a routine air refueling mission over Iraq. Yet before even reaching their air refueling track, the crew heard a call they had to answer.

"Mayday, mayday!"

An Army CH-47 Chinook carrying five people crash landed on the outskirts of Baghdad.

"We were the first aircraft to hear the call," said Capt. Joseph Markusfeld, the KC-135 aircraft commander. "We became the initial on-scene commanders and coordinated the search-and-rescue effort to the downed helicopter."

The KC-135 aircrew spotted the disabled aircraft and used the global positioning system to determine its precise location. The crew then began to vector two F-16s that were used to establish a combat air patrol. While the aircraft commander had to command and coordinate the SAR effort, the co-pilot took charge of the flight.

"The biggest challenge was communications. We had three radios going at the same time, and we even had to use hand signals and yelling to communicate," said co-pilot 1st Lt. David Jimenez.

"Trying to understand what was going on in cockpit was difficult and challenging," added Staff Sgt. Larry Pfeil, boom operator. In the rear of the jet, Sergeant Pfeil was managing receivers needing fuel for the SAR effort. He also performed as an air traffic controller, deconflicting aircraft on and off the boom.

Capt. Matt Darling, the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron flight surgeon, was in the jump seat on this particular mission.

"It was very impressive to see the crew carry out their primary mission and manage this unexpected tasking. They really demonstrated what they are trained to do," said Captain Darling, who is deployed from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.

Eventually, the F-16s established contact with the downed Army troops and took on-scene command. The five survivors were recovered by an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter. None of the survivors were seriously injured.

The downed helicopter was then destroyed by precision-guided munitions to prevent the asset from falling into enemy hands. Recovery of the survivors took only 45 minutes, demonstrating the speed and efficiency of SAR operations.

"The crew performed exceptionally... beyond expectations," said Captain Markusfeld, who is also from McConnell. "It's rewarding to know our Army brothers are going back to their families."