Active 1997-present Role Aeromedical evacuation Garrison/HQ Pope Army Airfield | Country United States Part of Air Mobility Command | |
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Branch United States Air Force | ||
The 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (43 AES) is a unit of the United States Air Force. It is part of the 43d Airlift Group at Pope Army Air Field, North Carolina. It is a component of Eighteenth Air Force and Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force, and is part of the air force component of United States Transportation Command.
Contents
43 AES provides tactical aeromedical evacuation for U.S. troops and regional Unified Commands using C-130 Hercules and other aircraft. The unit is manned by flight nurses, Medical Service Corps officers, aeromedical evacuation technicians, medical administration and logistics technicians, and radio and communications operators.
History
On 1 April 1997, the 23rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron was inactivated and the 43 AES activated as part of the 43d Airlift Wing under Air Mobility Command.
In April 1999, the 43 AES deployed to Tirana, Albania in support of Operation Noble Anvil. As part of Task Force Hawk, AES personnel provided support to Army V Corps. Twenty-seven missions were flown on opportune C-17 and C-130 aircraft resulting in the safe and timely transfer of service members to include one injured security police dog.
On 7 October 2001, The US began its war on terrorism and Operation Enduring Freedom began. Later that month, personnel from the 43 AES, were the first aeromedical forces to deploy overseas. Since January 2003 members of the 43 AES have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Members of the 43 AES also deployed in support of joint operations related to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005.
43 AES became part of the 43d Airlift Group on 1 March 2011 when the 43d Airlift Wing inactivated.
In July 2014 the squadron was participating in an exercise involving a hostage rescue scenario, when Staff Sergeant Timothy Wright was struck and killed by a Humvee. Despite immediate response measures, SSgt Wright died of his injuries a short time later. Col. Elizabeth Shaw, the unit commander, was relieved "due to a loss of confidence in her ability to command" following the release of the ground accident investigation board report. Lt. Col. Russ Frantz was named interim squadron commander pending appointment of a new commander.
Decorations
The 43 AES has been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award nine times.