Welcome to Episode 121 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

In Part Two of this three-part series, host Jon Gray resumes his conversation with Calvin Dockery and Dave Ritchie.

Both Dockery and Ritchie are U.S. Army veterans who flew MH-47 helicopters in the world-renowned 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment’s mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and combatant commanders. 

Known as “Night Stalkers,” these soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations. They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled precision. 

They employ highly modified MH-47 Chinook and MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and the assault and attack configurations of A/MH-6 Little Bird helicopters.

In this episode, Dockery and Ritchie debrief a mission they were a part of in the Korengal Valley, also known as the Valley of Death.

They talk about how the 160th trains with cities within the U.S. like they did in Los Angeles, and discuss what makes the 160th different from other Army aviation units.

They also talk about a mission when they flew in to rescue Jimmy Hatch after he was shot and critically injured on a mission searching for Bowe Bergdahl.

Jimmy Hatch was a guest from episode 100, titled Touching the Dragon. If you haven’t heard that episode the recording, go back and listen to it,

The Hangar Z Podcast would like to sincerely thank sponsors Garmin, Metro Aviation and CNC Technologies.