Combat Story

Flying Special Operations MH-53 in Combat | CV-22 Osprey, Apache, and Cobra Aviator | Sean Borland

08.26.2023 - By Ryan FugitPlay

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Go to www.HelloFresh.com/50combatstory and use code 50combatstory for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years! Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we have a unique Combat Story from a long time aviator Sean Borland. Sean flew Cobras, Apaches, MH-53 Pave Lows, and CV-22 Ospreys providing direct support to war fighters pre and post-9/11. Notably, Sean was in the first set of aircraft to go into Afghanistan immediately after 9/11 as part of Air Force Special Operations flying the MH-53 in both combat search and rescue and multi-purpose infil and exfil operations for special ops units of varying flavors from white SOF to OGA. This is a deep dive into some of the technical aspects of aviation, particularly rotary wing, and some of the differences between the Air Force Special Operations aviation elements and 160th.  I hope you enjoy this wide ranging discussion and insight into the rotary wing side of operations as much as I did.  ======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Sean Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-borland-2b0b2045/ ======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:47 - Guest Introduction (Sean Borland) 01:37 - Interview begins 02:05 - Background in Aviation 07:07 - Media and influences 10:47 - Deciding to go Marines 17:10 - Flying guns 20:30 - HelloFresh 21:45 - Differences between Cobra and Apache 24:27 - Apache mentality in the 90's 30:32 - Going to FLERE?? 32:38 - Path to the Air Force 40:33 - Mision set of MH53 47:35 - Crew Configuration of MH53 50:42 - 9/11 and deployment 01:05:00 - First time outside the wire 01:28:18 - Fighter weapons school 01:32:48 - Challenging Operations 01:52:24 - Change to Osprey 01:58:44 - Close call Operation 02:07:13 - Sentimental items 02:08:44 - Would you do it again 02:09:28 - Vietnam History Flight 02:11:59 - Closing thoughts 02:12:39 -  Listener comments and shout outs

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