View Full Version : California ANG
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Don't know if you guys have seen this going around, but California National Guard aviators let their big brass ones hang out on this one.
Two aircrews, a Blackhawk and a Chinook Flew at night with NODs through high winds with burning embers, heavy smoke and difficult terrain to rescue over 200 people completely cut off and trapped by fire with it closing in on them last night. They made multiple trips to get everyone out. CalFire waived them off and warned them do not go because the conditions were too dangerous. They said **** that and went anyway.
Second pic is view from the chinook cockpit on the ground while loading first group of people.
Our hats are off to the pilots and crew. I hope they are able to get you guys wheelbarrows big enough for your cajones.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/526x526/image_0dc5e1f893f01a7be8cfcc6c29800be283ca18f4.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x640/image_da5210afdfeb073eb8d304d1f257cdf3ef0e539c.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/561x561/image_dc4eaa40d6bc1ab100ad2b34a60f30bb066473d0.jpeg
treadigraph
10th Sep 2020, 09:09
Brilliant people!
The flip side of the coin: my sister in the US was telling me earlier on that one of the California fires was set by some asswipes using explosives during a "gender reveal party". WTF?
Barksdale Boy
10th Sep 2020, 09:16
Hats off indeed!
rotorrookie
10th Sep 2020, 09:24
When the going gets tough
The tough get going
TBM-Legend
10th Sep 2020, 12:43
Well done to the girls and boys of the Cal ANG. The pictures look like scenes from a Hollywood feature.
West Coast
10th Sep 2020, 18:51
Brilliant people!
The flip side of the coin: my sister in the US was telling me earlier on that one of the California fires was set by some asswipes using explosives during a "gender reveal party". WTF?
Unfortunately your sister is correct.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/08/us/el-dorado-fire-gender-reveal-update-trnd/index.html
chopper2004
10th Sep 2020, 19:00
Brillant. Work btw ANG is Air National Guard, not Army National Guard ARNG in this case ..
btw reminds me of a an army Ch-47A in Vietnam that evacuated 100 or so villagers ??
cheers
RAFEngO74to09
10th Sep 2020, 19:49
Brilliant people!
The flip side of the coin: my sister in the US was telling me earlier on that one of the California fires was set by some asswipes using explosives during a "gender reveal party". WTF?
Correct - and they could be liable for the entire cost of the firefighting operations.
Neighbors saw them trying to put it out with small waters of drinking water instead of calling 911 immediately !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukv9LRyjAXg
RAFEngO74to09
10th Sep 2020, 19:53
Nice to see the Vietnam War era S-64 Skycrane doing a good job as a fire fighting machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlbvKgp16hA
RAFEngO74to09
10th Sep 2020, 19:57
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIC3geY1WKw
This is also being discussed on the Rotorheads forum (https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/635320-over-200-rescued-national-guard-helicopters.html).
West Coast
10th Sep 2020, 22:04
Nice to see the Vietnam War era S-64 Skycrane doing a good job as a fire fighting machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlbvKgp16hA
I didn’t know until recently that in addition to rebuilding them that Erickson also manufactures new ones. Quite the operation.
racedo
10th Sep 2020, 22:12
Brilliant people!
The flip side of the coin: my sister in the US was telling me earlier on that one of the California fires was set by some asswipes using explosives during a "gender reveal party". WTF?
It is California so they had a firework for each gender and set them off, 69 genders later the fire started.
But I do think you are being hard on those people, they have had to go to their Safe Space because someone dared talk about being responsible for their actions.
As Greta would say "How dare you, How dare you", don't you know this is California, home of Swimming Pools, Movie Stars, F***tards.
tdracer
10th Sep 2020, 22:14
Unfortunately your sister is correct.
While incredibly dumb, at least that one was an accident - it's being reported that around a third of the fires burning in Washington state are believed to be arson. The death of a one year old child in one fire is being investigated as homicide (the child's parents are both hospitalized in critical condition) :ugh:
megan
11th Sep 2020, 00:13
WC, Erikson are in the process of taking over the type certificates from Bell for the model 214ST and B/B1, so we can expect to see some new builds I guess. As you say, Quite the operation.
.https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/september/10/erickson-acquires-bell-type-certificates
tdracer
11th Sep 2020, 02:43
More:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/590x493/image_8da9c45be38cc99aee2523857520194d65b9b145.png
The word "Hero" gets overused in today's society, but these guys and gals have definitely earned it :ok:
treadigraph
11th Sep 2020, 05:29
West Coast/RAFEng thanks - and I thought the idiots with BBQs on our local common during the dry spell were stupid: "but barbecues can be fun..."
just another jocky
11th Sep 2020, 06:34
The word "Hero" gets overused in today's society, but these guys and gals have definitely earned it :ok:
Absolutely! :D
4runner
11th Sep 2020, 14:50
What also isn’t mentioned is that the California fire departments left these people, or at least weren’t able to get to them. They were written off. Much like in Portland, the state was unable to deal with a situation and didn’t call them Feds, national guard or larger and more capable entity due to politics. Thankfully the military stepped up and did what they do. Thankfully in Portland, state law enforcement were able to be deputized by federal law enforcement and override local orders to arrest looters, murderers, arsonists and vandals. They were arrested by federal agents and are being charged federally.
West Coast
11th Sep 2020, 17:43
What also isn’t mentioned is that the California fire departments left these people, or at least weren’t able to get to them. They were written off. Much like in Portland, the state was unable to deal with a situation and didn’t call them Feds, national guard or larger and more capable entity due to politics. Thankfully the military stepped up and did what they do. Thankfully in Portland, state law enforcement were able to be deputized by federal law enforcement and override local orders to arrest looters, murderers, arsonists and vandals. They were arrested by federal agents and are being charged federally.
The event occurred in a National Forest, making it the responsibility of the Federal government, not state or local fire departments. When the way in is also the way out and it’s blocked by fire, options are limited.
Lonewolf_50
11th Sep 2020, 18:09
Much like in Portland, the state was unable to deal with a situation and didn’t call them Feds, national guard or larger and more capable entity due to politics. Thankfully the military stepped up and did what they do. Confused, I am. How are the national guard not military?
etudiant
12th Sep 2020, 00:46
Confused, I am. How are the national guard not military?
Afaik, the National Guard is called in by the governor of the relevant state. However, the President can deploy them as well. There was a Supreme Court ruling to that effect some years ago.
In this instance, I have no idea who called in the National Guard, but they saved lives big time.
West Coast
12th Sep 2020, 02:38
Afaik, the National Guard is called in by the governor of the relevant state. However, the President can deploy them as well. There was a Supreme Court ruling to that effect some years ago.
In this instance, I have no idea who called in the National Guard, but they saved lives big time.
They’re still military.
megan
12th Sep 2020, 02:41
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the militia air force of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It, along with each state's, district's, commonwealth's or territory's Army National Guard component, makes up the National Guard of each state and the districts, commonwealths and territories as applicable.
When Air National Guard units are used under the jurisdiction of the state governor they are fulfilling their militia role. However, if federalized by order of the President of the United States, Air National Guard units become an active part of the United States Air Force. They are jointly administered by the states and the Guard Bureau National , a joint bureau of the Army and Air Force that oversees the United States National Guard.
The ANG flew a variety of types in Vietnam, F-100 being one.The event occurred in a National Forest, making it the responsibility of the Federal government, not state or local fire departments
Across the United States Wildfire suppression is administered by land management agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army Corps of Engineers, and state departments of forestry. All of these groups contribute to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and the National Interagency Fire Center.
Airbubba
12th Sep 2020, 02:56
Well done to the girls and boys of the Cal ANG. The pictures look like scenes from a Hollywood feature.
Brillant. Work btw ANG is Air National Guard, not Army National Guard ARNG in this case ..
Once again the pilots and crews were from the California Army National Guard, not the Army, the Air National Guard or any of the other outfits mentioned.
megan
12th Sep 2020, 05:49
The crews and aircraft were from the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, an Army unit. Salute Gentlemen, or BZ in Navy lingo. Photos courtesy of unit FB.
Airframe: CH-47 from Stockton
CW5 Rosamond
CW2 Hlebain
SGT Esquivel
SGT Powell
Airframe: UH-60M from Fresno
CW5 Goding
CW2 Hernandez
WO1 Xiong (CE pending flight school)
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x426/119000457_3573880045970179_6095543484278759629_n_6608983b003 e5fb4348bb3868e0cbfd2d679172b.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x426/118885622_3573879902636860_3813620511446844314_n_1985515ff6e ebb9eb958e769b5a9cc894e448c2a.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x720/119043049_3573880205970163_3050816400527843635_n_a743d446583 ce424f826d1891549867bec3bf5a1.jpg
Airbubba
12th Sep 2020, 06:16
The crews and aircraft were from the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, an Army unit.
The 40th Combat Aviation Brigade is a California Army National Guard Unit. :D
Close enough for a Navy guy though. :ok:
megan
13th Sep 2020, 00:37
Close enough for a Navy guy thoughClose enough for government work bubba. :p Nickname: Sunshine Division. Shoulder patch: A dark blue diamond on which, in yellow, is the sun with 12 rays; the patch is worn diagonally. The semi-sunburst was suggested as the unit's shoulder sleeve insignia, and represents the Division's home of Southern California. The demi fluer-de-lis symbolizes service in France during World War I. The outer rim of the sun rays refers to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation award. The red arrowhead alludes to firepower of the Division and represents their assault landing at Luzon in World War II. The Torri gate. A symbol of the Far East, refers to the award of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
Get a pass? ;)
They're also fighting the fires with water drops, CH-47 and UH-60
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/720x960/118162401_10158441599498796_3089828115283353457_o_24a8235d11 cae6ac161b8dce1e8154ced315a374.jpg
Good Vibs
13th Sep 2020, 12:34
I would bet....not a "draft dodger" among them!:D
capngrog
13th Sep 2020, 17:21
I would bet....not a "draft dodger" among them!:D
The American military draft program ended on 01 July, 1973, 47 years ago, and the U.S. Armed Forces have been "all volunteer" since then. With that said, I think I catch your drift in that they are all "gung-ho", without a slacker amongst them. I have a very strict definition of what a "hero" is, but I believe that all seven of those men are REAL HEROS!
Cheers,
Grog
RAFEngO74to09
14th Sep 2020, 19:31
All 7 x aircrew just awarded the DFC in person by POTUS at a ceremony in CA.
capngrog
14th Sep 2020, 20:18
All 7 x aircrew just awarded the DFC in person by POTUS at a ceremony in CA.
That's great that the awards were made in a timely manner. Back in the bad old days (Vietnam), the awards process could be tortuous to put it mildly, with many awards being forwarded up and down the line until they were "lost in the shuffle". Of course, a few were made very quickly ... RHIP, ya know.
Cheers,
Grog
Lookleft
14th Sep 2020, 23:55
They were probably relieved that they were going into a hot extraction (no pun intended) without being shot at.
MPN11
15th Sep 2020, 10:00
Grateful for all their work in CA ... my daughter lives 6 miles west of the "Bobcat" fire, and is braced to evacuate. Her husband is ex-British Army, so a safe pair of hands in a crisis!