Marines rescue downed pilot after fighter jet crashes in LibyaAbsolutely, positively awesome.
3/22/2011 By Staff , Headquarters Marine Corps ARLINGTON, Va.
— Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit rescued a U.S. Air Force pilot downed in Libya March 22. The F-15E Strike Eagle crashed in northeast Libya March 21 while flying in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, the joint coalition enforcing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 to protect the Libyan people from the country’s ruler. Using two AV/8B Harriers, two MV-22 Ospreys and two CH-53E Super Stallions carrying a quick reaction force, the Camp Lejeune, N.C., based Marines conducted a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel mission to recover the pilot. The Marine aircraft began launching off the the USS Kearsarge, which was roughly 130 nautical miles from the pilot - within 30 minutes of the crash - according to a senior Marine officer in the Pentagon. Marine officials attributed the quick reaction time to the versatility of the Osprey. "Total time from launch to return - 90 minutes roundtrip. That's what an Osprey gets you, that speed," the official said. According to official reports, the Harrier close air support element dropped two laser-guided 500-pound bombs in the area in support of the downed pilot. One MV-22 Osprey landed and extracted the pilot. Once extracted, the aircraft returned to the USS Kearsarge with the pilot. Navy Lt. Lauren A. Weber, a doctor with the 26th MEU, said the pilot returned in good condition. The cause of the crash is still under investigation and the names of the pilots will be released pending next-of-kin notification. The recovery force remains on standby while aviation assets are conducting operations in any environment. All seven Marine expeditionary units are trained, equipped and ready to conduct similar missions when called upon.
Forward deployed Marine Forces have once again proven their worth.
Marines and Rangers are good, but can't compare to dedicated USAF Parajumpers when CSAR is concerned.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the MV-22 may once again prove that the Osprey is indeed the best CSAR-X candidate.
why?
ReplyDeleteMarines and Rangers come more heavily armed...are dedicated Infantrymen...are tactically oriented toward sharp decisive actions...are accustomed to working in harsh environments...travel with dedicated Corpsmen or Medics that are mostly combat trained/experienced and have similar training/understanding of the units they're assigned to ...
so tell me why PJ's are so much better?
So the Air Force can save face and bring it's own home. Not having to have Marine Grunts save their pilots allows them to sleep better at night in their AC'ed air base in another safe country.
ReplyDeleteNothing against PJ's as they are seriously some of the best we have in the military but that's a job that Americas Forward deployed infantry can do easily enough. When I got to 1/8. My first squad leader had been on the Capt Scott Ogrady TRAP team. When I went on my first float they had given the mission to the 81mm mortar guys from weapons company. Add a high speed corpsman and you have no need for PJ's.
P.S. Funny you had that eurocopter SAR pics up and the next day basic MV22's get the job done faster.
i was wondering when someone would notice it! pure coincidence i promise!
ReplyDeletebut on a serious note...that's a job that going to be pure Grunt work from now on...the USAF i don't think can justify having that job anymore.
How did this work? Did the QRF launch and only go part way? It would've taken them most of that 90 minutes just to get there.
ReplyDeleteif they're flying at max speed for the MV-22 its a 17 minute flight...my guess is that the Navy hit flank speed to make a dash to the shoreline while the TRAP Team was mounting up....launch of Harriers...launch of Osprey...flight into target location....Harriers locate pilot...Osprey dashes in and picks him up.
ReplyDelete17 minutes both ways to cover 130km (80 miles)....277mph (cruise speed for MV-22...max is 350...and you have a short duration mission.
a certain high level official who is a former Marine believes that Osprey are good for CSAR more so than airlift.
ReplyDeleteSooo that means both the USAF and USMC, and by relationship USN, will have access to dedicated CSAR aircraft. Wonder how the Army feels about that?
RE: Why?
ReplyDelete"That Others May Live".
I've known and worked out with lots of PJs. Some are the greatest guys around, others are the biggest ****s around, in my experience ther were very few in between. All were extremely well trained and as tough as they come - especially mentally - like most of our 'elites' except they're also medically trained to just shy of a Physician's Assistant level (some would say 'as trained'). Here's a link to an old Airman Magazine article reposted on a PJ site: http://www.pararescue.com/unitinfo.aspx?id=490
Note the year of the article is 2000, and the name of the PJ-in-progress they feature. I remembered the name so when events later unfolded as they did, it broke my heart just a little bit more than otherwise.
Good on the V-22 and Harriers.
I Think if the USMC is closer in theatre than USAF PJ and can be there quicker to save a pilot, so be it, send in the Marines. To me, the difference that sets apart PJ's is the more intense combat training, evasion tactics, and higher medical skills. What I'd like to ask is, how did the CH-53E Super Stallions stay with V-22's and Harriers, they're half the cruise speeds? It also shows how important the STOVL aircraft like the V-22 and F-35B will be in these 21st century conflicts. What's left is to have a Sikorsky X2 mixed in there with Attack and CSAR designs, that would really complement the MEU role and ships like the USS America LHA-6 that is now under construction.
ReplyDeletei dont give a shit who is closer, whoever can get to that pilot quick enough and get them out of harms way should get in there, if PJ's, if Marines or an entire division, NO ONE LEFT BEHIND!
ReplyDelete53's weren't part of the package. MV-22's and Harriers. speed to target kinda rules out the 53.
ReplyDeletehonestly on deep missions the MV-22 will require fast movers...AH-1Z as fast as they are; are still too slow.
As SMSgt Mac pointed out, the PJ's medical skills trump those of 'regular' army/marine medics. The latter are by no means 'inferior' in any way, just that PJ's can operate in-theatre when everything goes ape-sh*t. That includes para jumping into theatre without support.
ReplyDeleteIf 'regular' USAF units are deployed, they can take PJ's (with their V-22s) as well.
TRAP/CSAR can be performed by forward marines/navy units, not to mention the outstanding US Army 'Pedro' units, but when you have to go deep behind enemy lines to retrieve and stabilize a wounded pilot, PJ's just seem the ticket.
If you can Parachutte in a Medic then you can send a bird to pick him up. With the Osprey's speed and range I don't see why if your going to send a C130 for the PJs to jump out of why not send an osprey flanked by F35's ? I think the need for a high speed low drag crash and rescue unit is outdated.
ReplyDeleteCouple things.
ReplyDeleteFirst I'm wondering if they had a CSAR unit airborne already "just in case".
Second with the speed of the MV-22 I'm thinking they need to make a gunship version of it for escort among other things. There is huge potential in the V-22 Airframe that the military has not even begun to tap. Just off the top of my head remember the Sea King AEW's the Royal Navy had? Now imagine a EV-22 AEW for use from the 'phib carriers.
I don't really think this is about which unit is better, it's really about having enought assets - troops and platforms where one needs them.
ReplyDeleteQuantity is a quality of its own.