In one word, that's how the U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider gunship crews of Shadow 77 and Shadow 78 described the scene of Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 15, 2021.
"There were just cars and people everywhere trying to get on to the airfield," said 1st Lt. William Bachmann, 73rd Special Operations Squadron copilot aboard Shadow 78.
For the crews of Shadow 77 and 78, the mission to support the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan during Operation Freedom's Sentinel would go on to last nearly 30 hours combined – resulting in the evacuation of roughly 2,000 Americans.
Those members of the 73rd SOS were honored for their efforts as recipients of the 2021 MacKay Trophy during a ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Dec. 7.
The trophy, which is administered by the Air Force and the National Aeronautic Association for the "most meritorious flight" of the year by an Air Force person or organization, was presented to the crew by Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Allvin, alongside NAA President Greg Principato.
"Shadow 77 and Shadow 78 – you own, now, a special place," Allvin said. "Your name is on the same board with the greats … there's not many that can say that. You earned your way onto that by being the best Airmen that you could when the nation called upon you."
Not a matter of "if" but "when"
In the days and weeks leading up to Aug. 15, the gunship crews tracked the latest updates as Taliban forces made advances throughout Afghanistan.
At the time, the members of the 73rd SOS at Hurlburt Field
