Oct. 12, 2020
In this episode Maj Lou "Shiner" Nolting and I talk about two sorties he flew while supporting operations in Afghanistan in 2011. "Shiner" is an HH-60 Air Force Pavehawk pilot, specializing in Combat Search and Rescue. On March 29th, 2011 "Shiner" and his crew were alerted to respond to an urgent evacuation of four critically wounded Soldiers. While setting up for a hoist extraction his aircraft came under heavy effective enemy fire. Rounds struck the main rotor, fuel tank, and number two engine. With a loss of power "Shiner" executed a pedal turn and plummeted forty feet in an effort to gain airspeed and save the aircraft and seven crew members.
Less than 30 days later, "Shiner" was tasked to rescue two army pilots downed in enemy controlled territory. During the initial insertion, his aircraft received enemy fire, striking his flight engineer. Over the next five hours "Shiner" and his crew would work to recovery the pilots and conduct a total of eight approaches.
For his efforts "Shiner" was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses.
