South Carolina, USA – On January 7, 2026, a U.S. Army LUH-72 Lakota helicopter from the South Carolina Army National Guard flew above a dense cloud layer while traveling to a maintenance facility in Mississippi for mission-essential upgrades.

The aircraft is assigned to the 2nd Security Support Aviation Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment, 59th Aviation Troop Command.

The helicopter crew included U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officers 4 Josh O’Handley and Caleb Wilkes, both pilots with the 2-151st SSAB, and Staff Sgt. Ken Burton, who served as a non-rated crew member instructor.

The mission was part of routine procedures to keep the Lakota fully operational for National Guard duties.

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