Air Force officers earn Cheney Award

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WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Two Air Force Special Operations Command officers were recently awarded the Cheney Award for actions in southern Afghanistan, where they provided close-air-support for special forces on the ground.

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Duncan J. McNabb presented Majs. Bradley Downs, and Daniel Roesch the award in a ceremony at the Pentagon. Major Downs is an MC-130H Combat Talon II pilot and Major Roesch is an MC-130H Combat Talon II navigator.

"It is an extreme honor to present this to you today," General McNabb said. "You represent the very best of what the Air Force has to offer."

The two Airmen were flying a night mission together near Kandahar, Afghanistan, to drop off supplies to special forces on the ground, who were coming under attack from the Taliban during a major NATO mission.

"We knew those guys were really hurting out there, running low on supplies and ammunition," said Maj. Downs, who is stationed at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. "They needed those supplies, so we knew we had to get out there."

Using night-vision goggles and guidance from Major Roesch, Major Downs flew the C-130 low along a mountain ridge, flying between American and Taliban forces. They eventually dropped about 22,000 pounds of supplies within 15 yards of the target.

"When I heard they were only 15 yards off the target, I asked if that was the norm," said General McNabb. "(Maj. Downs) just smiled and said 'every time.'"

The two officers thanked their families, who were in attendance, as well as the senior leaders who attended the ceremony.

"Most importantly, we thank the aircrew who flew with us," said Major Roesch, who is stationed at Hurlbert Field, Fla. "Those enlisted guys really made this mission a success. They were in the back there, making sure everything happened. They all did an excellent job."

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. It was established in 1927 and is awarded each year to aviators for bravery in a humanitarian venture. Recipients have included one of the pilots who flew the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and '49 and a flight nurse for actions in Vietnam during Operation Babylift.

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