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Above and Beyond: Citizen Airman comes to the aid of RAF aircrew

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt Joe Simms
  • 22nd Air Force Public Affairs
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  The December homecoming of Tech. Sgt. Ed Wilkerson, 53rd Aerial Port Squadron, Pope Air Force Base N.C., had added significance for his home unit and a fighter squadron thousands of miles away.

The aerial porter returned after serving as a ramp NCOIC with the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, where he coordinated with other aerial port sections to ensure the safe on-loading and off-loading of transient aircraft.

One morning, as his shift was coming to a close, Sergeant Wilkerson and his team were waiting for clearance to cross the runway when his years of training and instincts took over.

"We were holding short for departing aircraft when we watched a recently fueled and fully armed Royal Air Force GR4 Tornado streak past with its left engine in flames," said Sergeant Wilkerson.

Sergeant Wilkerson and his group of aerial porters then saw two parachutes deploy moments before the jet continued through the runway, coming to rest several hundred feet from the crew, engulfed in flames and smoke.

"I saw the chutes come down but the crew wasn't able to slow down appreciably before they hit the ground," said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Wright, 315th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, who was with Sergeant Wilkerson's team at the time of the crash.

Sergeant Wilkerson, an EMT with a local rescue unit and Self Aid/Buddy Care instructor at Pope, immediately sped off in his vehicle to attend to the pilot, while the rest of his crew followed on foot.

"After I exited the vehicle, I ran to the pilot, who was trying to get up," said Sergeant Wilkerson. "I told him to lie back down and asked if he was hurt. (RAF pilot Gavin Fryer) replied, 'No, go check my nav.'"

Sergeant Wright soon arrived and, after ensuring the pilot was stable, Sergeant Wilkerson ran to the navigator who was lying motionless on his back.

Emergency personnel were arriving on the scene as Sergeant Wilkerson was cutting away at the tangled parachute cords from the navigator's harness when live ordnance from the jet exploded approximately 75 feet away.

"We felt the blast before we heard anything," Sergeant Wilkerson said. "Feeling the shock caused us all to get closer and stay as close to the ground as we could."

After the explosion, Sergeant Wilkerson and one of the first responders, carefully lifted and carried the navigator to an ambulance as 27mm cannon rounds began to "cook off" from the burning jet.

Once the navigator was loaded into the ambulance, Sergeant Wilkerson sprinted to where Sergeant Wright was attending to the pilot while rounds continued to fire from the wreckage. The two reservists were then turned back and told to drive to the protective shelters while medical and fire personnel took over the scene.

The RAF Squadron Leaders, both O-5, were admitted to medical centers with spinal injuries and have since recovered and returned to flying status.

Sergeant Wilkerson's actions that June morning were recognized by the 617th RAF Squadron and the navigator, Andy Fisher, he helped to safety. After leaving the hospital in Scotland and returning to work in a non-flying capacity, the Andy sent Sergeant Wilkerson a letter expressing his gratitude.

"The crash scene was extremely dangerous with our fully combat armed jet in flames," said the GR4 Tornado pilot. "It was a great relief to have someone arrive with us so quickly and I can only commend you for remaining so calm and collected throughout the rescue."

He went on to say "Please accept my sincere thanks for all your help that morning and please also pass on our thanks to any of our colleagues who were with you as well."

Sergeant Wilkerson has been nominated for the Airman's Medal for distinguishing himself through heroic actions and risking his life to get the two crew members to safety.