Ohio Guard Aircrews Assist with Hurricane Response Ops

SALISBURY, N.C. - The CH-47 Chinook helicopter passed low over a small field, the low thumping sound of its rotor blades echoing throughout the surrounding hillsides as it did a slow arcing turn to circle back.

"I think we can set it down there," said the pilot over the internal crew communication system, approaching the field and then holding the aircraft in a hover just above treetop level. With trees, lampposts, uneven terrain and other obstacles surrounding the field - part of a golf course nestled in the hills of western North Carolina - it would be a tight fit.

A crowd gathered to watch, staying just to the edge of the landing site.

The aircraft slowly descended, a slight rotation or shift to the left or right as crew members called out obstacles and adjustments. With precise teamwork, the aircraft inched down until it gently touched ground.

Then, with rotors still spinning above, the crew got to work offloading cargo.

Aircrews with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, Ohio Army National Guard, have been flying a variety of missions throughout western North Carolina as part of response operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

So far, aircrews and ground transportation teams have distributed more than 1.4 million pounds of supplies to communities throughout the impacted region.

The Soldiers and the aircraft they fly are an integral element of getting food, water and other needed supplies to impacted communities in the region, many still inaccessible by road.

"The first day we flew missions, we landed in a spot where, when we went over the mountain, we saw the road completely destroyed," said Spc. Diego Effinger, an aircrew member with the unit. "We know people aren't getting in and out of there, so we're making sure that people get food and water."

Food and water have been their primary cargo, said Effinger, but it can also include other needed items, like diapers or cleaning supplies.

What supplies are needed where is determined by state and local emergency response officials, said Capt. Zach Johnson, a Chinook pilot with the unit.

"As quick as we can load it and get it out to the people and get it offloaded, we've got another mission lined up to get the next load and keep turning and burning," he said.

Missions can also quickly shift based on community need.

"You have to be flexible," he said. "This morning, we had multiple mission changes. We still ended up executing the same mission that we were given, but there's constant change coming from the needs of the citizens that are out there."

Sometimes, simply landing to offload those supplies can be a challenge, especially when an aircrew hasn't previously vetted the landing zone.

"What a local fire chief or just a regular citizen might think is a good landing spot may not necessarily be a good location," said Johnson. "Or they're expecting a smaller aircraft, like a UH-60 Black Hawk or a small civilian aircraft. They're not expecting a Chinook to come in."

The mountainous terrain has also brought challenges.

"We're often near max gross weight on the aircraft," said Johnson. "We're limited on power, and so we're really looking close at those numbers, taking into account the elevation of the landing zones so that we can have a proper power margin to safely get into the LZs."

For Effinger, watching all that come together and seeing how the pilots and crew mesh has been inspiring.

"We have great pilots and a great crew," he said. "They're incredibly good at their jobs. I'm really happy to be on this crew and be able to watch this, especially as lower enlisted, to see, wow, this is how good I can eventually get. I think that's really cool."

Johnson flew combat missions in Iraq and Syria and other crew members served in Afghanistan, deployments that helped them hone their flying skills, said Johnson. Most of Johnson's crew also graduated from the High-Altitude Army Training Site, a school run by the Colorado Army National Guard that focuses on flight operations in mountainous and high-altitude areas.

Though the days have been long and tiring, putting those skills to use as part of response efforts has been rewarding, said Johnson.

"Getting to fly and use our skills to help people is very rewarding," he said.

Effinger agreed.

"Every time we land, people just come out and huddle around us," he said. "Being able to see them, excited to see us, and knowing that we're making a difference is pretty awesome."

For more National Guard news

National Guard Facebook

National Guard X

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.