In honor of the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, Master Sgt. Michael Trahant, 192nd Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion technician, shares how he was impacted by the events of that tragic day. In 2000, he transferred from the U.S. Army to the Air Force and was assigned to the 102nd Fighter Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. "On that Tuesday [9/11], it seemed like just another day in the jet engine shop," he said. "We were all conducting whatever maintenance was needed. I was assigned to the back shop working on an F100-PW-100 jet engine for the F-15. At around 8:30 a.m., the klaxon announced "battle stations" and we all ran to the main garage door that was open to the flightline to watch the jets leave. It was a full burner takeoff straight to supersonic. After learning that the twin towers were hit, and then the Pentagon, we knew we were going to war." During this somber time, Trahant and his shop were in disbelief. As dual-status technicians, airmen in the shop worked set hours. Even though they could not be put on official orders right away, every member volunteered to work 24/7 operations. Not one person said no. Their mission was to provide engine and flightline maintenance to keep the F-15s flying 24/7. "It was one of the worst, and proudest, times of my career," he said. (U.S. Air National Guard photo illustration by Staff Sgt. Kellyann Elish)
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 09.15.2021 14:51 |
| Photo ID: | 6837181 |
| VIRIN: | 210911-Z-ME883-001 |
| Resolution: | 7225x4823 |
| Size: | 6.79 MB |
| Location: | HAMPTON, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, 9/11 20th Anniversary remembrance, by SSgt Kellyann Elish, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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