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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