Gunship commander receives Cheney Award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The aircraft commander of an AC-130H Spectre gunship was named the recipient of the Cheney Award Oct. 6 for providing close-air support to troops on the ground in Afghanistan in May 2007.

The Cheney Award is presented each year to aviators who demonstrate an act of valor, extreme fortitude or self-sacrifice in a humanitarian venture. This year, the award went to a captain with the 18th Flight Test Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

On the day before he and his crew were headed home, Capt. Chad Bubanas and his crew took off on one last routine patrol mission over Afghanistan when they were radioed about a crashed CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Captain Bubanas coordinated the efforts of his 13-person crew, as they provided overhead support to the survivors as they came under direct fire from hostile forces.

"We called down to them on the radio and I spoke to a Soldier who had never gotten gunship support before, so he was a little rattled, but was able to confirm targets for us," said Captain Bubanas, an Aurora, Colo., native. "It was probably a six- or seven- hour ordeal and we were all over the place helping different units on the ground. There were Apache helicopters in the area, another Spectre and probably 15 units who called us in that day."

Soon after, Captain Bubanas and his crew were called to support special operations forces as well. He coordinated several support efforts and according to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, because of Captain Bubanas and his crew, American lives were saved that day.

"It just proves that Americans never leave a comrade behind," the general said during the presentation ceremony. "This award is a testament to that."

"Receiving this award from a fellow airlifter and special operations pilot really means a lot to my crew and me," Captain Bubanas said. "I really wish they could be here, but half of them are deployed and doing what they do best. But this award was a team effort for all of us."

Established in 1927, the Cheney Award is presented each year in memory of 1st Lt. William Cheney, who was killed in an air collision over Italy in 1918.


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