This post deserves to educate people to this surviving warbird. The MH-53M on display is a true warbird. Warbirds fall into all categories. Not just WWII. Not just stiff wings. This one happens to be a fling wing. I am fortunate enough to have worked and flown on her. The following words below were taken from the National Museum of the USAF. MH-53M 68-10357 =
The aircraft on display was assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron and its last flight was a combat mission in Iraq on March 28, 2008. During its 38-year career, this helicopter participated in many important missions. It carried the "command element" on the mission known as Operation Kingpin, to rescue American prisoners of war thought to be held at the Son Tay prison near Hanoi, North Vietnam. It is the last among the five HH-53s that participated in that raid. After Vietnam, it also flew in many more combat engagements including Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom before it was retired.
Flown in nearly every contingency since the Vietnam War, the MH-53 has proved to be extremely durable and highly decorated.
"We checked the records and found that this fleet of only 72 aircraft has racked up a combat record of 140 Silver Stars; an average of two Silver Stars per airframe over their lifetime," said Lt. Gen. Wurster. "It is hard to believe that any other aircraft in Air Force history could have such a remarkable and compelling story of heroism."
The MH-53M stands as a representative of not only its own rich history, but also as a record copy off which we will launch countless stories of the men and women who have built, flown, crewed and maintained these aircraft," said Metcalf. "We are honored and privileged to have this responsibility."
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsh ... p?id=12439
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