Three rescue airmen assigned to Nellis AFB, Nev., received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for heroic actions in Afghanistan. They are: Maj. Keith Altenhofen, 561st Joint Tactics Squadron instructor pilot; MSgt. Joshua Fetters, 34th Weapons Squadron flight engineer; and TSgt. Christian Corella, 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron aerial gunner. On April 4, 2009, then Staff Sergeant Corella manned his .50 caliber machine gun through a blinding sand storm as his HH-60 helicopter helped evacuate a wounded Afghan soldier, saving his life. Corella is also credited with saving the lives of 40 US special forces soldiers that same day by redirecting their convoy after it had come under enemy attack. In separate action on May 19, 2009, then Captain Altenhofen and Fetters conducted three successful personnel extractions with their HH-60, overcoming heavy enemy fire and a critical engine failure to save three wounded soldiers. They also got much-needed supplies to friendly ground forces. (Nellis report by SrA. Michael Charles)
‘Angry Kitten’ EW Pod Tested on Search-and-Rescue HC-130
April 17, 2026
The Air Force recently tested its “Angry Kitten” electronic warfare pod on an HC-130J during Exercise Bamboo Shield, showing the pod can turn the rescue platform into a command-and-control node and protect it from enemy radars.The tests follow what could be the pod’s first use in combat after it was…