Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A group photo from the Fall Awards Dinner at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Va. (Courtesy photo)Members of Rooster 73 Flight pose for a group photo after being presented the 2013 Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year at the National Aeronautic Association Fall Awards Dinner Nov. 5, 2014 in Arlington, Va. The crew earned the award for their heroic efforts to safely evacuate American citizens and provide medical care to the passengers who were critically injured when their CV-22 Osprey came under heavy enemy fire during the mission. (Courtesy photo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Mackay Trophy returns to AFSOCPublished Nov. 14, 2014
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Jeff Parkinson
                    
                    
                    1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
            **HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) --**Under heavy enemy fire Dec. 21, 2013, the crew of Rooster 73 performed expert aerial maneuvers while simultaneously providing medical care to the critically-injured passengers on board their CV-22 Osprey.
The 8th Special Operations Squadron crew’s heroic efforts during the flight resulted in the safe evacuation of American citizens from the remote city of Bor, South Sudan, and earned them the 2013 Mackay Trophy, which was presented during a ceremony Nov. 5.
In 1912, Clarence Mackay presented the first Mackay Trophy to then-2nd Lt. Henry H. ‘Hap’ Arnold for a reconnaissance competition flown over Virginia and later deeded it to the National Aeronautic Association. Administered by the U.S. Air Force and NAA, the trophy is awarded annually for the "most meritorious flight of the year" by an Air Force person, persons, or organization.
When awarded, the recipient’s name is engraved onto the trophy where it is then displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Other notable Mackay Trophy recipients in the Air Force Special Operations Command include a 16th Special Operations Squadron AC-130H crew who received their award in 1990 for airmanship and outstanding professionalism during an aerial flight over the Republic of Panama during Operation Just Cause.
Another AFSOC MC-130H crew earned the Mackay Trophy in 1997 for overcoming hostile gunfire, three heavyweight air refuelings, and more than 13 hours flying 3,179 nautical miles to their objective. The crew successfully inserted a European survey and assessment team and extracted 56 people from the carnage and wanton violence in Brassaville, Republic of Congo. They achieved this goal while on the ground for less than 23 minutes.
"It's great to have the prestigious Mackay Trophy back in AFSOC. These crews earned it by performing flawlessly under extremely hostile conditions,” said Lt. Col. Travis Hill, 8th SOS commander. “I'm extremely proud of how they reacted; from the skills training and systems knowledge to the overall professionalism they displayed. It's an indication of the quality and level of excellence required by the crews we have in the CV-22 community and AFSOC."
After coordinating multiple air-to-air refuelings, the crews of Rooster 73 Flight successfully returned to Entebbe with the wounded still alive.
"Their dedication to duty, professionalism, bravery, courage and airmanship was on display during the aerial flight supporting a non-combatant evacuation order in the vicinity of Bor, South Sudan," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "The distinctive accomplishments of Rooster 73 Flight reflect greatly on the caliber of our United States Air Force Airmen."8th SOS 



CV-22 



Osprey 



Mackay Trophy 



Hurlburt Field

Related Links
        CV-22 crews save lives
                                July 30, 2014
                                In the early morning hours of Dec. 21, 2013, 8th Special Operations Squadron crews departed in three CV-22 Ospreys to evacuate American citizens from the remote city of Bor, South Sudan.The mission was proceeding as planned through three countries and 790 nautical miles. The Ospreys arrived at the Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil