Tue, Feb 08, 2005
Squadron Won HAI's 2004 Law Enforcement Award
AgustaWestland has
congratulated the U.S. Coast Guard HITRON aircrew of Lt. Craig
Neubecker, Pilot, Lt. Shawn Koch, Co-Pilot, and Avionics
Electronics Tech, 1st Class, William Greer for winning Helicopter
Association International’s (HAI) 2004 MD Helicopters Law
Enforcement Award.
Operating in the Caribbean off the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter
Diligence, the aircrew executed the first-ever armed nighttime drug
interdiction of a high-speed “go fast” drug boat. The
crew intercepted the boat and disabled the engines with .50-caliber
machine gun fire after repeated warnings were ignored. The mission
resulted in the seizure of more than 6,000 pounds of cocaine with a
street value of $194.6 million, according to press reports. Based
out of Jacksonville, FL the HITRON squadron uses the AgustaWestland
MH68-A “Sting Ray,” a version of the well-known A109
Power customized for the Coast Guard by the Philadelphia-based
Agusta Aerospace Corporation.
“AgustaWestland offers its heartiest congratulations to
this HITRON aircrew for winning HAI’s 2004 MD Helicopters Law
Enforcement Award,” said Stephen C. Moss, president of
AgustaWestland Inc. “Their daring nighttime mission
demonstrated the flexibility and capabilities of the HITRON
squadron and its MH-68A helicopters.”The crew received the
award at the 2005 HELI-EXPO, held in Anaheim, CA. The crew has also
previously been presented with the Coast Guard Commendation Medal
for the mission.
The HITRON squadron’s primary mission is armed
interdiction of drug smugglers in the Caribbean. Since the
program’s inception, HITRON aircrews have successfully
interdicted over 85 tons of illegal drugs valued at more than $6
billion, of which $1.5 billion alone have been interdicted since
October 1, 2004. The squadron also undertakes Homeland Security
missions in locations across the country. The USCG recently
recognized the success of this unit by renewing the lease of the
eight MH-68A aircraft for another year.
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