Fly By: Cpl. George M. Johnson

Photo By Staff Sgt. S.T. Stewart | Cpl. George M. Johnson, an aviation ordnance technician with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467, disassembles an M197 20 mm cannon located on the front of an AH-1W Super Cobra at a forward arming and refueling point June 19, at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C. The disarming and arming of the weapons on the squadrons cobras was part of Exercise Mailed Fist, a large-force exercise being conducted by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing June 18-27. Johnson is from Cary, N.C.  

CHERRY POINT, NC, UNITED STATES

06.29.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. S.T. Stewart 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Cpl. George M. Johnson, an aircraft ordnance technician with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467 says the two most important parts of his job are speed and safety.

Johnson, a Cary, N.C., native, spends his day performing duties and tasks such as inspecting ammunition, testing aircraft systems, performing preventive maintenance and the arming and disarming of the AH-1W Super Cobra and the UH-1N Huey

“I love working on the aircraft, but sometimes it can be tough,” said Johnson.

When deployed, Johnson works at a forward arming and refueling point, where he is responsible for arming the aircraft in a timely manner.

The FARP can be quickly set up in remote locations and is used to rapidly refuel and arm aircraft, allowing the Marines and aircraft to get back in the air to continue their mission faster. Johnson has to perform his job in a matter of minutes.

Johnson said, “The pilots and the ground units waiting on the air support are depending on us to do our job quickly.”

Johnson emphasized the importance of working diligently and safely, “When the aircraft take back off within a few minutes of them landing, we know we’ve done our job well.”

• Date Taken: 06.29.2012
• Date Posted: 06.29.2012 11:14
• Story ID: 90847
• Location: CHERRY POINT, NC, US