Grissom maintainers offer hands-on experience at air show

Photo By 1st Lt. Katrina Heikkinen | Twelve Grissom Airmen from the 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron volunteered at the 43rd Annual Vectren Dayton Airshow in Dayton, Ohio, operating an interactive flight deck and boom pod display June 24-25, 2017. From left to right are Staff Sgt. Keith Diamond, Master Sgt. Craig War, Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Wilson, Senior Airman Michael McNally, Master Sgt. Corey Fields, Tech. Sgt. Derek Nolley, Master Sgt. Kenneth Rowe, Staff Sgt. Kelsey St. Clair, Senior Master Sgt. Douglas Stogsdill, and Staff Sgt. Joshua Schumacher. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Katrina Heikkinen)  

DAYTON, OHIO, UNITED STATES

07.05.2017

Story by Staff Sgt. Katrina Heikkinen 

434th Air Refueling Wing

DAYTON, Ohio -- One aspect of sharing a story is its ability to be seen through the eyes of a storyteller, and a group of Airmen from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana, recently did just that at one of the nation’s largest airshows.

Twelve Airmen from the 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron of the 434th Air Refueling Wing operated Grissom's interactive flight deck and boom pod display at the 43rd Annual Vectren Dayton Airshow in Dayton, Ohio, offering the public a rare hands-on experience to learn about the wing's mission whilst exchanging stories as Citizen Airmen.

"Rain, sleet, or shine - these twelve Airmen have been doing a great job out here and I'm very proud of them," said Master Sgt. Craig Ward, 434th Maintenance Group crew chief. "These Airmen take a lot of pride in their work and seeing them share their stories to other people and their knowledge has been a great experience."

The displays are part of a 434th ARW program that uses members from all functional areas of the base to supports events such as airshows, open houses and community outreach programs.

Although the air refueling mission may seem ambivalent to those who've never witnessed it, the 434th ARW's interactive displays serves to share, educate and foster relationships with audiences who may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn through hands-on experiences the air refueling mission of the U.S. Air Force.

"We are here to show that not only is Grissom still operational - we have a big role in the Air Force and its air refueling mission," said Senior Master Sgt. Douglas Stogsdill, 434th Maintenance Squadron fabrications flight chief and event supervisor. "Having this interactive display and our volunteer Airmen also [inadvertently] serves as a great recruiting tool and an opportunity to hear from older Veterans and retirees about their experiences."

While waiting to see the displays visitors had an opportunity to speak with Airmen about their experiences in the Air Force.

"This is my second time volunteering at [this] air show and I plan on keep coming back to volunteer here," said Staff Sgt. Kelsey St. Clair, 434th Maintenance Squadron structural aircraft specialist. "l love seeing the people, I love hearing veterans' stories. Being the only woman in my shop, I especially love sharing my positive experience working in a male-dominated career field to young women."

Over the course of the two-day event, approximately 5,000 people toured the displays and approximately 44,000 people attended the air show. For many of those visitors, this experience was their first time to see inside of a military aircraft, yet alone experience aerial refueling from a boom operator or pilot's perspective.

For Tech. Sgt. Anthony Broyles, operations intelligence NCO in charge at the 178th Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, having the hands-on experience of a [simulated] boom operator was a special experience for both him and his son, Preston.

"This was very cool for me and for my son because in 2015 I got to take a flight on a KC-135 from Columbus to Hawaii and I got to sit in the boom area and watch the boom operator refuel," Broyles said. "It was really cool to see the video of a boom operator's view and I’m really glad [Preston] got to see what it actually feels like."

The displays were built by Grissom maintainers who are also responsible for their set-up and operations.

"The flight deck came from a KC-135 flight deck and the boom pod came straight from the boneyard," said Senior Master Douglas Stogsdill, 434th Maintenance Squadron fabrications flight chief and event supervisor. "There was a lot of work that went into making this interactive static display and I've heard nothing but positive feedback from the public."

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.

• Date Taken: 07.05.2017
• Date Posted: 01.30.2018 12:50
• Story ID: 263883
• Location: DAYTON, OHIO, US