MC-130J Crews Earn Award for Supporting Longest US Army Helicopter Mission Relying on Aerial Refueling | Aviation

MC-130J Commando II Crews Honored for Historic Aerial Refueling Mission During Contingency Operation.

Two MC-130J Commando II crews from the 9th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, have been awarded the prestigious 2023 Brig. Gen. Ross G. Hoyt Award for their exceptional service during a high-stakes contingency operation directed by the President of the U.S. This honor, established in 1994 by the Air and Space Forces Association, recognizes the top aerial refueling crew from the entire Air Force, including the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.

According to an official statement, the awarded crews played a pivotal role in supporting the longest U.S. Army helicopter mission that depended solely on aerial refueling. This historic mission involved helicopter crews flying for over 10 consecutive hours without the possibility of ground refueling, relying entirely on the two MC-130J Commando IIs to deliver fuel in-flight. The complexity and duration of this operation underscored the critical importance of aerial refueling in modern military missions, particularly those involving extended range…