Aircraft Crash on Robert's Ridge | 160th Night Stalker | MH-47 Chinook Combat Aviator | Alan Mack

About This Episode
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Today we hear the Combat Story of a long time aviator and CH-47 and MH-47 pilot who spent years with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Alan Mack. Alan served over 35 years in the Army and retired with 6700 flight hours, including 3200 hours in NVGs. Alan survived an aircraft shootdown and multiple near death experiences in his time in uniform.
He was a part of iconic operations including Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operations Anaconda and Redwings, and many others he can’t discuss because they remain classified. He has two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars, a Legion of Merit, and 10 Air Medals, including one with Valor.
His nickname was The ‘Stache which is almost a requirement for an aviator but sadly that mustache is now gone but I have confirmed with my old flight school roommate who served with Alan that the nickname was indeed, The Stache!
Alan’s book “Razor 03: A Night Stalker’s Wars” chronicles so much more of his experiences in the elite special operations community for those who are left wanting more, to include some of the more personal and challenging family dynamics he experienced with years in combat.
I hope you enjoy this perspective from the inside the cockpit where we dive deep into some of the aviation psychology, personalities, and Chinook configurations, as much as I did.
Show Notes:
Alan Mack
Chapters
- 0:00Intro
- 0:55Guest Introduction (Alan Mack)
- 2:22Interview Begins
- 3:02Razor 03 A Night Stalkers War
- 4:10Bumper Hitching
- 7:26Enlistment
- 11:35Path to Chinooks
- 14:37WOJG
- 16:58Chinook Pilot Personality
- 20:51Loading the Chinook
- 24:54The Composition of the Chinook
- 33:40Right Ramp Left Ramp
- 38:51The Crew Chiefs
- 43:48Sending Apache Guys
- 45:26First time flying in combat
- 55:00We own the night
- 01:02:59Eras of war
- 01:09:40Alan's Teaching Days
- 01:23:01The Anaconda
- 01:59:48The Aftermath
- 02:04:35What did you carry into combat?
- 02:07:01Would you do it all again?
- 02:11:29Razor 03 A Night Stalkers War
- 02:13:36Listeners comments and shout outs


