TWO PAVE HAWK PILOTS EARN DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS

  • Published
  • By Stefan Bocchino
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) --  Two HH-60G Pave Hawk pilots at Kirtand recently were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic actions performed while deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

Capt. Christopher Palmer, 512th Rescue Squadron, chief of standardization and evaluation, and Capt. Marcus Maris, 512th RQS, student flight commander, were presented the Distinguished Flying Cross by Col. James Cardoso, 58th Special Operations Wing commander, during a Warrior Call at Kirtland AFB.

Maris distinguished himself during a mass-casualty evacuation mission in Watapur Valley, Afghanistan, on Nov. 14, 2010. He flew his Pave Hawk in extreme mountainous terrain and performed a precision hover and hoist while under enemy fire. During this maneuver, three pararescuemen were lowered to the ground. After that he departed to rejoin his wingman in a defensive pattern overhead. Once the casualties were ready for evacuation, Maris and his crew returned to the landing zone to evacuate 11 casualties and bring in medical supplies.

Palmer took part in two mass-casualty evacuation missions. He flew one on Nov. 12 and then was part of the same mission Maris was on Nov. 14. While on the first mission, a crew member was wounded and the primary flight controls were damaged. After bringing the wounded crew member back to base and despite the aircraft's degraded capabilities, Palmer and his crew returned to the landing zone to continue their mission. During the second mission, he engaged the enemy to provide cover for the other aircraft while it was lowering the pararescuemen. His fire suppression allowed for vital medical supplies and care to be provided to those injured on the ground and then their evacuation.

Both officers will use their experiences to help train the next generation of rescue pilots, and both are in line to be promoted to major.

"I could not be more proud," said Lt. Col. John Galik, 512th RQS commander. "It's an incredible job that they do. ... They will both bring that experience back and teach our young students coming in."