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Kim Campbell (pilot)

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Kim Campbell
Campbell in 2003
Birth nameKim Nichole Reed
Nickname(s)"Killer Chick"
Born (1975-06-06) June 6, 1975 (age 49)
Honolulu, Hawaii
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1997–2021[1]
RankColonel[2]
Commands612th Theater Operations Group
355th Operations Support Squadron
Battles / warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Alma mater

Colonel Kim Nichole Reed-Campbell (born June 6, 1975)[3] is a retired United States Air Force officer and Command Pilot.[1] She was decorated for piloting her A-10 Thunderbolt II back to base in southern Iraq after taking heavy anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) damage in aerial combat over Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. After her tour of duty in Iraq ended, Campbell gave lectures throughout the United States about her experience, including one at the National Air and Space Museum. Campbell was promoted to the rank of major in 2006.

Colonel Campbell was Commander, 612th Theater Operations Group, Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, from July 2016 to June 2018. Her final assignment was at the United States Air Force Academy as the Director of the Center for Character and Leadership Development.[4]

In 2023, she was a visiting professor at Reichman University in Herzliya, Israel teaching Leadership & International Security.[5][6]

She is married to another A-10 pilot, Colonel Scott Campbell, whom she met at the Air Force Academy.[2]

Early life and education

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Campbell is the daughter of the former mayor of San Jose (and former USAF captain) Chuck Reed. She joined the Civil Air Patrol as a cadet at age 13 and made her first solo flight in a civilian aircraft over San Jose at age 17.

Campbell graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1997, where she was the cadet wing commander (the highest position a USAFA cadet can achieve), as was her father during his time as a cadet at the Air Force Academy; the first time that a father and daughter both served as cadet wing commander.[7] She holds a degree in International Security Studies from the University of Reading, and a Master of Business Administration from Imperial College London, which she undertook while on a Marshall Scholarship.

April 2003 incident

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During a mission over Baghdad on 7 April 2003, Campbell's aircraft (A-10A s/n 81-0987) suffered extensive damage from enemy fire. "We did our job with the guys there on the ground, and as we were on our way out is when I felt the jet get hit. It was pretty obvious — it was loud... I lost all hydraulics instantaneously, and the jet rolled left and pointed toward the ground, which was an uncomfortable feeling over Baghdad. It didn't respond to any of my control inputs."

She tried several procedures to get the aircraft under control, none of which worked; she put the plane into manual reversion, controlling the aircraft through a system of cables and pulleys.[8]

The A-10 immediately responded. "The jet started climbing away from the ground, which was a good feeling because there was no way I wanted to eject over Baghdad." With some technical advice from her flight leader, Lieutenant Colonel Turner, she flew the crippled plane for an hour back to the air base. "The jet was performing exceptionally well. I had no doubt in my mind I was going to land that airplane."

Landing was complicated by the damage the aircraft had sustained. She knew three other pilots had attempted to land using manual reversion. One had cartwheeled the aircraft and died.[9] "When you lose all the hydraulics, you don't have speed brakes, you don't have brakes, and you don't have steering."[10]

After landing, ground crews discovered that her A-10 had sustained damage to one engine and to the redundant hydraulic systems, disabling the flight controls, landing gear and brakes, and horizontal stabilizer. A detailed inspection revealed hundreds of holes from extensive flak damage to the airframe, and that large sections of the stabilizer and hydraulic controls were missing.[11]

Kim Campbell's A-10 suffered extensive damage.

For this action in aerial combat, Campbell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[12] "She's one of the few pilots who ever landed the A-10 in the manual mode," said General Richard Myers, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kim N, "KC" Campbell". Veterans Tributes. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b Irwin, Mark (Jan 19, 2018). "A Military Family". Rotary Club of Tucson. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  3. ^ Jane Erikson. "Her plane shot up over Iraq, Air Force captain completed a dangerous flight to safety". American valor. Archived from the original on 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  4. ^ Spradlin, Jennifer (Nov 10, 2020). "Academy grad leads CCLD, mentors cadets during uncertain times". US Air Force Academy. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  5. ^ Col. KC linkedin. "Likedin page". Linkedin. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  6. ^ Reichman University Syllabus, Col. KC course syllabus. "Archived copy". runi.ac.il. RU Herzeliyya. Archived from the original on 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2023-05-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ Gottlieb, Allie (2003-02-20). "Captain America's Rebellion". Metroactive News. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  8. ^ A-10 pilot explains how the Warthog can fly and RTB when it loses hydraulic systems
  9. ^ Persian Gulf War A-10 ABDR
  10. ^ Jason Haag (2004-04-01). "Wounded Warthog: an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot safely landed her "Warthog" after it sustained significant damage from enemy fire". Combat Edge. Retrieved 2014-12-23 – via thefreelibrary.com..
  11. ^ Capt. Kim Campbell USAF (2004-03-04). "GE Aviation Lecture. They Call Me "Killer Chick"". GE Aviation Lecture Series. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Archived from the original on 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
  12. ^ "Kim N. Campbell. Distinguished Flying Cross". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
  13. ^ Myers, General Richard (2003-05-01). "25th Eaker Lecture. The New American Way of War". United States Air Force Academy. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
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Interview to Cnl Kim "KC" Campbell

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