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Helicopter Squadron Receives Outstanding Achievement Award

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060629-12
Release Date: 6/29/2006 4:22:00 PM

By Ed Mickley, Commander, Mine Warfare Command Public Affairs

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (NNS) -- The “Blackhawks” of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 were presented the Frederick L. Feinberg Award, given to the helicopter pilot(s) who have made the most outstanding achievement in the previous year May 10.

Flying the MH-53E Sea Dragon, HM-15, based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, flew more than 3,700 hours in support of life-saving Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief in various locations around the globe during 2005.

“We were tasked with getting the job done, and the crews performed in an outstanding manner.” said Cmdr. Robert Bennett, commanding officer of HM-15, “The American Helicopter Society took note of these Sailors’ tremendous efforts.”

Immediately after the 2004 Tsunami in Indonesia, HM-15’s forward deployed detachment in Bahrain (Det. 2) responded with four MH-53E Helicopters to provide assistance. Bennett said that the complete detachment of 85 personnel answered the call within 72 hours of tasking and contributed significantly to Operation Unified Assistance.

“You could see how desolate it was,” said Lt. Ben Bowersox, a pilot of one of the MH-53Es that participated. “You could see the remains of roads, bridges and former foundations of homes that were completely leveled.”

“Lt. Bowersox was chosen as National Helicopter Association’s Region 5 Pilot of the Year for his significant contributions during calendar year 2005. He represents our squadron’s commitment to serving this country,” said Bennett.

The Blackhawks delivered 787,900 pounds of life-saving supplies and evacuated 1,892 people within a 7-week time frame.

“People came from everywhere, hundreds of women and children sprinting toward us, they were so desperate,” Bowersox added, “they wanted anything we had, packages of tents, clothes, rice, water and crackers.”

After hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast region, HM-15’s pilots and air crews were in position to provide immediate relief operations.

“Operating in saturated airspace, the detachment flew 362 flight hours delivering 585,201 pounds of life-sustaining supplies and evacuated 2,265 injured, sick, and homeless individuals,” said Bennett.

Operations included evacuating people out of hostile gunfire environments, including the Algiers Ferry Landing, or rescuing more than 4,000 evacuees from the New Orleans Convention Center. Bowersox added, “We spent two days at the convention center moving teens, the elderly, and toddlers, all who’d gone through extreme emotional distress.”

“In addition, the detachment conducted Side Scan Sonar operations in the harbors, ports and safety fairways for the Texas gulf coast, Gulfport, Miss. and Mobile, Ala.,” Bowersox added. “We surveyed over 940 linear nautical miles in 7 days, ensuring vital waterways were clear of obstructions, providing a rapid rebound to the regional and national economy.”

Throughout these lifesaving humanitarian operations by units both stateside and in Bahrain, the Bahrain-based detachment continued its tradition of reliable on-time logistics and airborne mine countermeasures support to the fleet.