Aero-News: Quote of the Day

ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues.

Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.

Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day.

Let us hear from you, folks!

Aero-News Quote of the Day

“While providing armed overwatch for an American and Afghan ground force, the friendly team was caught in a deadly ambush by a large insurgent force. The friendlies were engaged by small arms, heavy machine gun, and grenade fire from multiple defensive fighting positions. The crew of (the AC-130U) provided close air support to the friendly ground force with the (several) guns to allow the ground force the freedom to maneuver and provide care for friendly casualties. In order to protect the ground team from enemy personnel, the crew… expertly employed a gun at an unprecedented 12 meters from the friendly personnel. Due to the outstanding airmanship and bravery under extremely challenging circumstances, (the crew) destroyed ten defensive fighting positions, multiple enemy personnel, and three enemy technical vehicles, in order to save the lives of (many) friendly special operations forces personnel who would have otherwise perished in the enemy ambush.”

Source: From a citation describing 2017's Clarence Mackay Trophy winner's most meritorious flight of the year. This year, an AC-130U aircrew from Air Force Special Operations Command, which included one of 25th Air Force’s outstanding Airmen, was recognized with the honor.

FMI: www.af.mil