Soldiers from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, prepare aircraft for relocation prior to the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, Sept. 2, at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. To ensure the safety of Soldiers and their Families, HAF received evacuation due to the potential impact of the storm. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Savannah Roy, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Public Affairs)
As the sun crept through the clouds, the bright energizing red-orange hue painted the sky for what would be a surefire day to remember for an AH-64 Apache Helicopter to soar through the sky.
Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 17th Calvary Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division gathered to honor Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ernest “Tommy” Barela, an AH-64 Apache Helicopter pilot, with his final flight, Jan. 10, at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., after 20 years of service to the Army and the Soldiers he has mentored through the years.
The final flight is a tradition held in Aviation to honor the pilots and crew chiefs, which signifies the end of their Army career.
Born and raised in Albuquerque, Barela, a New Mexico...
01.15.2019 | HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, GEORGIA, US |
Story by Sgt. Ryan Tatum
Most often the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade is the main element in Savannah, Georgia's St. Patrick's Day Parade, however, with majority of the brigade supporting operations in Afghanistan they want to show support to the City of Savannah.
