Pilots from Alpha Troop, TF Shooter don their Stetsons before pre-flight, to remember the pilots of Adversary 11 and Adversary 22 who died Jan. 25, 2009, in Kirkuk Prov. From left, Capt. Scott Wohlford; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Justin Popp; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Filip Dziembowski of Warsaw, Poland; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Timothy French; and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sascha Wellenreuther.
KHOST PROVINCE – It was a solemn day at FOB Salerno, Jan. 25, for cavalrymen of TF Shooter. As aviators climbed into their cockpits, they placed their Stetsons on the dashboard of their aircraft to commemorate the memory of the cavalry troopers.
“One side of my brain feels it happened 2 years ago, while the other side seems to think it happened only yesterday,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Timothy French, the senior OH-58D Standardization Instructor Pilot of TF Shooter. “I really miss them.”
In the early morning hours of that tragic day, Adversary 11 and Adversary 22 were shot down during a combat op. The 4 aviators who lost their lives were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Phillip Windorski, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Tillery, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin Todd, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matthew Kelley. All were OH-58D Kiowa pilots of Bravo Troop, 6th Sqdn, 6th Cav Regt.
Commemorating the 2-year anniversary of their loss, brings many memories to those who served with them. One of the fallen pilots made a lasting impression on a young officer and new pilot. “Phil was one of the first instructor pilots I met, as well as the first I flew with when arriving to the unit,” said Capt. Zachary Valentine. “He was a professional in and out of the cockpit. He was a very hard worker, and most importantly, a family man.”
To others, each of them had unique attributes which benefitted the unit. The loss of which made it difficult to rebound. "A tragedy that massive was almost impossible to deal with,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bobby Guffey, a Kiowa pilot with Bravo Troop. “With Phil's leadership, the troop was strong. With Josh's comedy, we all found good memories. With Ben's quiet professionalism, we held it together. And with Matt's faith, we found God."
The current Bravo Troop cmdr highlighted the heroic legacy the fallen pilots left behind. “Remembering our fallen comrades is difficult,” said Maj. Luke Schmidt, the current Bravo Troop cmdr., “but it's important to never forget the blood, sweat and tears they shed for our country, and the ultimate sacrifice they made in maintaining our freedom, and a better way of life for the Iraqi people."
Pilots from Alpha Troop, TF Shooter don their Stetsons before pre-flight, to remember the pilots of Adversary 11 and Adversary 22 who died Jan. 25, 2009, in Kirkuk Prov. From left, Capt. Scott Wohlford; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Justin Popp; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Filip Dziembowski of Warsaw, Poland; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Timothy French; and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sascha Wellenreuther.
KHOST PROVINCE – It was a solemn day at FOB Salerno, Jan. 25, for cavalrymen of TF Shooter. As aviators climbed into their cockpits, they placed their Stetsons on the dashboard of their aircraft to commemorate the memory of the cavalry troopers.