Marine Pilot Who 'Borrowed' Helicopter to End Sniper Situation Has Died

[rangerrebew]

Marine Pilot Who 'Borrowed' Helicopter to End Sniper Situation Has Died
 
19 Feb 2020
We Are The Mighty | By Joslin Joseph

Lt. General Charles "Chuck" Pitman passed away this past Thursday at age 84. His career spanned over 40 years, including three combat tours in Vietnam. He also was involved in Operation Eagle Claw, the attempted rescue of the American hostages in Tehran in 1980. He commanded an Air Wing and was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Marine Corps Aviation. He earned the Silver Star, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. But for all his achievements in uniform, Pitman is better known for ignoring military protocol and breaking a bunch of regulations so he could save lives.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/02/19/marine-pilot-who-borrowed-helicopter-end-sniper-situation-has-died.html

[PeteS in CA]

From the article:

That was the thought process of then, Lieutenant Colonel Pitman. On Jan. 7, 1973, Pitman was the commander of the Marine Air Reserve Training in Louisiana. Pitman had turned on the television to see a horrible scene unfolding. A gunman had taken position on top of a hotel and was shooting and killing police officers. The sniper had a full view of all on comers, and any attempt to enter the hotel was met with murderous gunfire.

Pitman didn't even think twice about asking permission to help. He grabbed another pilot and two crew members and jumped in a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter and headed toward New Orleans.
...
Pitman flew the CH-46 toward the hotel without any idea what he was actually going to do. He just knew he had to do something. When he arrived on site, Pitman located an empty parking lot next to the hotel. He landed, headed to the command center, and quickly became apprised of the situation. The cops on the scene sought his advice, and his years of service in Vietnam kicked in. Essex had the high ground, so Pittman would go higher.

He put several New Orleans police officers on the helicopter and took off. He started flying passes over the roof of the hotel, slowing down and turning so that the police could get a good shot. They could not. Essex would take shots at the aircraft from afar but would take cover the minute they closed in. Pitman noticed this and kept making passes to lure Essex into thinking this was his routine. Finally, after one pass, he turned immediately around and caught Essex in the open. The police in the helicopter unloaded on the sniper.

[sneakypete]

Marine Pilot Who 'Borrowed' Helicopter to End Sniper Situation Has Died
 

 He earned the Silver Star, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. 

For those of you who don't know,a DFC is a VERY big deal,and the only valor award that tops it is the Medal of Honor. Being awarded FOUR DFC's is practically unheard of.