Lakenheath Airman, Columbia City native, helps 'fuel the fight' for Southwest Asia unit

Photo By Master Sgt. Jenifer Calhoun | Airman 1st Class William Delaney, fuels distribution apprentice with the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management flight, communicates via radio with another fuels Airman during an engine run on an R-11 fuels truck while doing maintenance on the truck during operations at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on Feb. 1. Delaney is deployed from the 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England, and his hometown is Columbia City, Ind.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

02.05.2010

Story by Senior Airman Jenifer Calhoun 

380th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Working in a wing that has KC-10 Extender, E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System and U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft, there is quite a demand to keep them refueled for their next mission. For Airman 1st Class William T. Delaney, he and 40-plus other Airmen he works with keep "fueling the fight" -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Delaney is a fuels distribution apprentice with the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management flight supporting the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia.

In doing his deployed job, Delaney operates mobility fuels equipment such as the R-11 and R-12 fuels trucks to refuel aircraft. According to his Air Force specialty job description, he also maintains and operates petroleum-related facilities and equipment and performs quality analysis on products. Additionally, he performs operator maintenance on fuels handling equipment and facilities and prepares receipt, inventory and issue documents for fuels products accounting.

Delaney does all this from a base that provides more than 35 percent of the fuel to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

"What we do is very important," said Delaney, who is deployed from the 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England. "If it weren't for my job, the jets would not make their sorties and the 'light-alls' on the flightline would not be able to light up the night. As we like to say in fuels, without us, pilots are pedestrians."

In 2009, Delaney's flight pumped more than 188 million gallons of fuel to 9,500-plus aircraft. Additionally, his flight manages the off-loading of up to 60 fuel tank trucks a day which equates to about 600,000 gallons a day.

The airman first class, who has been in the Air Force for just over a year, is on his first deployment. He said he's proud to support the deployed fuels mission in any way he can.

"Every day, I issue the different fuels to the separate jets and various types of equipment that requires fuel around our deployed base," said the Columbia City, Ind., native. "I also work on bettering the shop by doing various jobs, such as painting and cleaning. I do my best to lend help to any section that needs help on any given day."

The first-term Airman also said he's happy to be a part of the military.

"It is a very honorable position to be able to this job," Delaney said. "I'm very honored to be able to do this for my country."

The 380th AEW is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The wing supports Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and Operation Enduring Freedom.

• Date Taken: 02.05.2010
• Date Posted: 02.05.2010 00:55
• Story ID: 44948
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)