JBB wrench-turners keep Falcons flying, fighting

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal | Airman Adam Osgood, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, scans the underside of an F-16 Fighting Falcon while performing a routine inspection here, Sept. 24. The 332nd AEMXS is responsible for chasing sorties, aircraft launch and recovery, daily maintenance and refueling.  

BALAD, IRAQ

10.02.2009

Story by Senior Airman Andria Allmond  

332d Air Expeditionary Wing

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Wrench-benders, knuckle-busters, tire-kickers and "crew dogs" -- all nicknames for Air Force tactical aircraft maintainers.

Crew chiefs are what they're called most of the time, but it's their work, not their name that defines them. These Airmen are best known for preserving the foundation of combat airpower - its aircraft.

Nearly 50 crew chiefs from the 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron out of Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, arrived in theater earlier this month with a mission to preserve JBB's F-16 Fighting Falcons - the air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack weapon system here.

"We maintain aircraft, conduct launch and recovery and chase sorties," said Airman Adam Osgood, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. "We're here for the fight, to get the pilots up in the air and support our troops. We've got a mission -- getting the jet up is the priority."

Crew chiefs conduct daily inspections to ensure the aircraft are ready for a day of flying, as well as repair-delayed discrepancies -- minor maintenance problems that do not affect the mission or aircraft performance.

"As maintainers, we are responsible for the overall upkeep," said Tech. Sgt. Brian Donovan, 332nd EAMXS crew chief. "We go from maintaining the aircraft forms to servicing all the oils, fuel, [and] hydraulics and ensure the serviceability of the tires. We also take care of the flight controls, landing gear and do some of the engine work."

In addition to the routine maintenance and repair, the combat tool-twisters also play a role in ushering the aircraft off the runway. And when an aircraft returns, the crew chiefs recover each fixed-wing fighter.

"In recovery, once pilots are done with their mission up there, our duty is to catch the aircraft, park it and assist on getting the pilot out of the aircraft," said Osgood. "We make sure he's got everything together. Then we carry on with an inspection to make sure it's flyable for the next flight."

In many ways, maintaining jets in-theater is similar to the mission at home station, but there is one major variation to the daily grind in the desert -- crew chiefs have less time to mend their F-16s because of the increased operations tempo.

"Here, if we need to cut our turn time in half to meet mission requirements, we're doubling up our crew chiefs, and [we] go from having three hours to one hour or one and a half hours to turn an aircraft," said Osgood. "That takes a lot of hands and a lot of guys who know what they're doing to accomplish it. Sometimes you just gotta bust your butt and get it done."

As the crew chiefs adapt and respond to the challenges of a combat environment, the junior Airmen are also gaining valuable experience.

"It's especially good for our young guys to come here and see that what we do every day back home translates when you come downrange," said Donovan. "It's good to know that by putting that airplane in the air, you're helping the guys on the ground.

"If the Army calls, or whoever on the ground calls, we know we're ready for them. The young guys can see how much we are involved in the fight and how important we are to every other branch."

• Date Taken: 10.02.2009
• Date Posted: 10.02.2009 08:11
• Story ID: 39575
• Location: BALAD, IQ