Air Force team completes historic project at Bagram

Photo By Capt. Michael Meridith | Deployed Airmen from the 49th Material Maintenance Group at Hollomon Air Force Base, N.M., put the finishing touches on the Air Force's largest ever deployable aircraft hangar here. The hangar is intended to simultaneously house up to three of the 455th Air Expedtionary Wing's combat search and rescue HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters. The nine-person team erects and tears down similar structures throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

11.06.2007

Story by Capt. Michael Meridith 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

By Capt. Michael Meridith
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – A historic accomplishment here is simply part of the job for a traveling team of Airmen who have been enhancing Air Force missions throughout the region for the last two months.

The nine-person team, deployed from the 49th Material Maintenance Group at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., recently made history with the erection of the largest deployable aircraft shelter in the Air Force.

The team began construction on the 225-by-70-foot aircraft hangar on Oct. 22 and completed it on Nov. 5. The hangar, which is intended to simultaneously house three of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing's HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopters, dwarfs the Air Force's 150-by-70-foot "standard model."

"Normally, these shelters are designed to hold one aircraft. This is basically two and half shelters grafted together and is the largest one like it in the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Samuel Tran of Salem, Mo., who leads the team.

Tran's team, which deployed to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility in August, is the only one of its kind in the region, and as such stays in high demand. Because of their busy operations tempo, Tran says that accomplishments like the hangar are "just part of the job."

Prior to their arrival here, the team had already tackled several large projects including the erection of three 6,000 square-foot shelters and one 4,000 square-foot shelter and the dismantling of one 4,000 and one 8,000 square-foot shelter.

"It's very exciting, especially being part of a unique team that goes out and does stuff like this," said team member Staff Sgt. Adam Boubede of New Orleans. "We go out and get the job done as fast as we can, then move on and do it again. Everywhere we go it's something new: whether it's repairing, reconstitution or building the biggest ACH (deployable aircraft hangar) in Air Force history."

The four-month deployment is a first for several of the team-members, but many are satisfied to put home station training to use in support of expeditionary missions. "It's a good feeling," said Senior Airman Brad Hellberg of Lancaster, Pa. "Without us, they wouldn't have the shelter. Back at home we train for this, then we come out here and do the work."

According to Tran, the team has received a tremendous amount of positive feedback for their work, but added that their motivation is something that comes from within the team itself.

"We look at each job as a challenge and see if we can beat our own record. Our motivation is internal; it's not something that comes from the outside. We don't compromise safety for speed, it has to be a marriage between the two," Tran said.

• Date Taken: 11.06.2007
• Date Posted: 11.06.2007 11:46
• Story ID: 13680
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF