Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army
Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army
Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army
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along with a myriad of situations to test the commanders<br />
and battalion staff. The CMTC (OCs) cont<strong>in</strong>ued day and<br />
night. In situation after situation, tra<strong>in</strong>ers checked and<br />
re-checked battalion Standard Operat<strong>in</strong>g Procedures<br />
(SOPs) and overall tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g read<strong>in</strong>ess.<br />
After 3 weeks <strong>in</strong> the box, the battalion was ready to move<br />
back <strong>in</strong>to CMTC proper for clean-up and a day of rest.<br />
However, on the last night of tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, the 2-227th AHB was<br />
conduct<strong>in</strong>g a simulated AH-64 deep attack mission. The<br />
mission <strong>in</strong>volved two companies of 16 AH-64s. At<br />
approximately 0230 hours, the battalion S3 came to my tent<br />
for an unexpected and abrupt wake-up call. At 0200 hours,<br />
one AH-64 from the 2-227th had flown <strong>in</strong>to wires 30 miles<br />
south of our location. The aircraft had struck the wires with<br />
the tail rotor blades. This sudden stoppage of the blades<br />
caused the shaft of the tail rotor to break. The pilots then<br />
lost control of the aircraft and crashed <strong>in</strong>to the side of a large<br />
German distribution build<strong>in</strong>g. There was significant<br />
damage after the aircraft slammed <strong>in</strong>to the side of the<br />
build<strong>in</strong>g and crashed on a trailer parked at the load<strong>in</strong>g dock<br />
not five feet from the build<strong>in</strong>g. The trailer actually softened<br />
the blow, and the pilots escaped without <strong>in</strong>jury. Ironically,<br />
the trailer was filled with toilet paper. A team departed the<br />
battalion area the next morn<strong>in</strong>g for recovery of the crashed<br />
AH-64, while the rest of the battalion deployed to CMTC<br />
proper. The completely destroyed AH-64 spilled<br />
approximately 200 gallons of jet fuel, creat<strong>in</strong>g an<br />
environmental crisis. Firemen, the mayor, the police, and, of<br />
course, the media were there to give advice and guidance.<br />
This aircraft recovery turned <strong>in</strong>to a major mission—a highly<br />
visible one. The German authorities as well as the<br />
USAREUR cha<strong>in</strong> of command had a vested <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> the<br />
clean-up and recovery operation. The recovery took 6 days.<br />
All three of the battalion’s companies performed well <strong>in</strong> this<br />
unexpected and demand<strong>in</strong>g mission. So our vigorous<br />
predeployment tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g concluded with a very realistic<br />
mission that tested the unit’s mettle; but not without<br />
significant problems.<br />
200