The first site of the helicopter had Marines from the MWTC and Camp Pendleton preparing the aircraft for extraction. You can identify who is who by the red stripes on their uniforms. Those wearing the "Red Patch" are Marines who have completed the specialized training for landing support and sometimes traffic management. They are also versed in rigging and slingload operations and beach landings. Their lineage is an interesting one that of course dates back to the bloody work done by the Devil Dogs during their campaigns in the Pacific. A CH-47 Chinook crew from Bravo Company, 1-126


The first site of the helicopter had Marines from the MWTC and Camp Pendleton preparing the aircraft for extraction. You can identify who is who by the red stripes on their uniforms. Those wearing the "Red Patch" are Marines who have completed the specialized training for landing support and sometimes traffic management. They are also versed in rigging and slingload operations and beach landings. Their lineage is an interesting one that of course dates back to the bloody work done by the Devil Dogs during their campaigns in the Pacific. A CH-47 Chinook crew from Bravo Company, 1-126th General Support Aviation Battalion, was called to assist aviators from the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center from Fallon, Nev., on Jan. 5, 2012. One of their Navy MH-60S Seahawk's had crash landed during a training mission high in the Toiyabe National Forest near the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC), northwest of Bridgeport, Calif. All four crewmen aboard were able to walk away from the Dec. 21 incident but now the Navy wanted their aircraft back. The California Army National Guard flight crew from Stockton landed on a bald hilltop at 9,200 feet and was escorted to the crash site by Marines from the MWTC. Over the next few hours Marine rigging specialists from the Combat Logistics Battalion 17, specially called up from Camp Pendleton, worked with their fellow Devil Dogs trained in alpine, rock, and snow warfare, to prepare the pre-stripped helicopter for extraction. Taking guidance from a Naval MH-60S crew chief and the experts flying the tandem rotor hauling machine, the multi-service recovery team was able to pluck the 15,000 pound fallen bird, which was painted as an opposition force "enemy" aircraft, above the pine trees, down the canyon and back to the MWTC. Everyone watching, including representatives from the Forestry Service and the MWTC Environmental Office applauded the safe and successful operation. The aircraft, whic


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