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I didn't know if you guys had heard this news or not, so I thought I'd pass it along:
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News Release
Public Affairs Office Building 115, Shamrock Street
Fort Rucker, Al 36362
Date: 2 Apr 2006
For more information: 334-255-2252
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
It is with great sadness that the Army Aviation Warfighting Center announces the loss of a great Army Aviation hero, Medal of Honor recipient CW4 (Ret.) Michael J. Novosel. Mr Novosel died on 2april 2006 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after an extended illness.
While Novosel's heroism as a combat pilot is well documented in the Army Aviation community, he will be remembered to many as a soft spoken gentleman who, even in retirement, made himself available to lecture at the Warrant Officer Career College and he also became a Senior Tactical Adviser in the Warrant Officer Candidate Program at Fort Rucker.
The Aviation Soldiers serving throughout the world express their deepest sympathy to Mr. Novosel's family.
"CW4 Mike Novosel was an extraordinary patriot who showed all Americans what it means to serve. He was an incredibly genuine person, who loved to talk with the generations of Soldier Aviators who followed about what it means to truly put your life on the line for one another and to never leave a fallen comrade behind. His gallantry and loyalty to his fellow Soldiers is an example we will all strive to live up to. His loss is felt not only by his family and the Army Aviation community, but by all those who knew and loved him," said Brig. Gen. E. J. Sinclair, Commander, U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center.
Biographical Information
Born September 3, 1922 and raised in Etna, Pa., Novosel became an aviation cadet in the U.S. Army Air Forces when he was 19 years old. After earning his commission and pilot wings on December 15, 1942, he instructed in the North American AT-6 Texan at Laredo Army Air Field, Texas. By December 1944, Novosel had logged more than 800 hours in the Consolidated B-24 Liberator supporting aerial gunner training. Then, he went to Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, to qualify in the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
In July 1945, following crew training in New Mexico, Novosel left for Tinian Island in the Pacific where he flew four combat missions with the 58th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy). After the end of World War II, he flew two missions to drop food to Allied prisoners of war in Japan. During the Japanese surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri, Novosel commanded a B-29 in a 462-ship fly-over. He then took command of the 99th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) and remained in the Pacific until the fall of 1947.
Following his service in World War II he was assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida, where he was a B-29 test pilot. In 1949, Novosel left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, at the grade of Major and attended the Air Command and Staff School.
Novosel was promoted to Lt. Col. with the Air Force Reserve in 1964 and requested active duty for service during the Vietnam War. When informed that the Air Force was over-strength in its senior grades, he vacated his position with the Air Force Reserves and accepted an appointment as a Warrant Officer Aviator with the U.S. Army.
Returning to combat as a "dustoff" (medivac) helicopter pilot, he served two tours in South Vietnam, flying 2,543 missions in the Bell UH-1 Huey while airlifting nearly 5,600 medical evacuees.
On October 2, 1969, Novosel received word of wounded South Vietnamese soldiers pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without air cover, he encountered ground fire so intense it forced him away six times. Courageously, he completed 15 hazardous extractions. On the last, just as a wounded soldier was pulled into the aircraft, the enemy unleashed a hail of fire directly at Novosel. Wounded, he momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but recovered and flew to safety. In all, he saved 29 men. He was nominated for and later received the Congressional Medal of Honor for these actions.
In March 1970, a UH-1 helicopter piloted by Novosel's son was shot down. The senior Novosel heard the "Mayday" call from 15 minutes away. With assurance from the aircraft commander that his son's crew had survived the crash and found shelter, Novosel completed his own mission before flying to their aid. The younger Novosel returned the favor seven days later when his father was shot down. Just 19 at the time, Mike Jr. flew to his father's rescue.
Following his heroic service in Vietnam, he served 3 years at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as chief pilot for the Army's Golden Knights parachute team. On occasion, he jumped with the team to maintain proficiency.
Novosel's next assignment was at Fort Rucker where he was an author and lecturer at the Warrant Officer Career College until 1976. An assignment in Korea as the Second Infantry Division's Aviation Safety Officer followed. In May 1983, Novosel was assigned new duties as the Aviation Center Senior Training, Advising and Counseling (TAC) Officer with the Warrant Officer Candidate Program.
At the time of his retirement on February 28, 1985, Novosel was the last active duty military aviator on flight status who had flown combat missions in World War II. Known as the "Dean of the Dustoff Pilots" Novosel was an aviator on flight status for more than 42 years. He accumulated 12,400 hours of military flying time of which 2,038 were flown in combat.
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God be with his family,
Frank |