Six Air Force Reserve
Command airmen on Monday received Distinguished Service Crosses for their actions in landing their C-130 airlifter safely after it was struck by enemy ground fire in Iraq on Oct. 26, 2004. The aircrew from the 440th Airlift Wing, Milwaukee, Wisc., saved their aircraft, themselves, and 57 soldiers on board. The enemy fire burst the No. 1 engine into flames and caused the aircraft lost fuel, oil, electrical power, and structural components. The fire spread, engulfing the wing. The Reservists, who also earned the AFA Outstanding Reserve Aircrew Award, are: Lt. Col. John Loranger, Maj. Rolf Breen, Capt. Jason Schroeder, MSgt. James Grigsby, TSgt. Robert Sczesny, and SSgt. Daniel Hayes.
Members of the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing helped save 11 airplane crash survivors off the coast of Florida on May 12. The Reserve Airmen were flying an HC-130J Combat King II and an HH-60W Jolly Green II on a routine training flight when a Coast Guard call diverted…