Air Force Crew Keeps Aging B-52s Airborne

Defend America News ^ | Master Sgt. Scott King

[SandRat]

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Wortley, 40th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, replaces a B-52 generator. Wortley is deployed from Barksdale AFB, La., in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer
Air Force Crew Keeps Aging B-52s Airborne
U.S. airmen assigned to the 40th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron keep the aging B-52s airborne, a task vital to the success of Operation Enduring Freedom.
By U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Scott King 40th Air Expeditionary Group OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, May 3, 2006 — Thirty thousand feet above Afghan terrain, the U.S. Air Force B-52’s presence is felt. Its presence is welcomed by U.S. and coalition forces fighting in support if Operation Enduring Freedom, and unwelcomed by the terrorists who operate from there. Maintaining the fleet of B-25 Stratofortress’ here is no easy task. “The weather and environment adds to our many challenges as well. It’s truly inspiring to see the dedication and commitment our people display to meet the mission working through the rain to finish their work. The environment adds to our work here, with salt in the air and an aging metal aircraft it is a constant battle to preserve the aircraft and keep them healthy.” U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Carl Paskey Over the last eight months alone, B-52 pilots have flown more than 450 combat sorties, equaling over 7,500 hours, and have released more than 150 weapons on the enemy – that adds up to a lot of wear and tear on the airframe. This is where the maintainers come in. “The B-52 maintainer’s mission is clear and simple – provide safe, reliable, combat ready B-52s to the aircrew ready to perform their assigned missions,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Carl Paskey, 40th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron lead production superintendent. “The part that’s not so clear and simple is what it takes to perform such a mission. We have airmen in 17 [Air Force specialty codes] working 24-7.” A huge challenge for the "Buff" maintainers here is performing the mission with limited equipment and resources. Because of the location, aircraft parts are difficult to attain in a timely manner. Back-shop specialists have repaired broken parts here to keep the B-52s in the air. The maintainers have overcome some unique challenges and have provided combat ready aircraft 100 percent of the time. Another challenge here is the weather – hot, humid and salty. “The weather and environment adds to our many challenges as well,” Paskey said. “It’s truly inspiring to see the dedication and commitment our people display to meet the mission working through the rain to finish their work. The environment adds to our work here, with salt in the air and an aging metal aircraft it is a constant battle to preserve the aircraft and keep them U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy Manley, 40th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, welds a plate for a new bushing on a tow bar used on B-52s. Manley is deployed from Barksdale AFB, La., in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer	A B-52 navigates the skies above the Indian Ocean on its way to a combat mission over Afghanistan. The B-52s provide close air support for U.S. and coalition forces on the ground in Afghanistan. The photo was taken from the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer healthy. Each aircraft gets a clear-water rinse every two weeks and a wash every 30 days. These are things that are accomplished three times as often here then back home.” Airmen in the maintenance trenches feel strongly about the more than 50-year history of the aircraft and its current mission here. “Being in the B-52 maintenance career field is great. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to work on such a historic airframe,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Corey Richardson, 40th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems journeyman. “It has served as one of the primitive aircraft in the history of war and is still getting the job done. We are here to protect our country and loved ones – not just our loved ones, but everyone’s loved ones, and the B-52 helps seal the deal with its lethality.” Pilots know how pivotal the maintainers are to their mission of providing close air support for U.S. and coalition forces. “We have flown 200-plus sorties and have released more than 105 weapons on terrorsts, and none of it would have been possible without this group’s maintainers,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Mick R. Guthals, 40th Air Expeditionary Group commander. “For the last 120 days, they have made magic happen. They’ve overcome a near grounding phase hour shortage, identified, tracked, and repaired a critical [Joint Direct Attack Munition] strake problem, established never before quantities of successful launches and achieved the illusive 100 percent mission capable rate, yet they are always ready for the next challenge – I couldn’t ask for more.” Together with aircrew and support agencies, the maintainers feel they are saving lives. "Our mission here is vital to life,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Perry Pagan, 40th [Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron] B-52 structural maintenance craftsman. “It’s vital because when you hear of a group of Marines pinned down with a fire fight in Afghanistan calling in an air strike, you better bet they appreciate that. They are someone’s brother, husband, or father down there – the sooner we can take care of the terrorists the better, and the 'Buff' aids in that mission.”

[SandRat]

Aging BUFF BUMP-n-PING!

[ken in texas]

Ping for a great airplane that's about my own age.

[llevrok]

considering the hours on these frames, it is absolutely amazing these planes are not falling out of the sky daily. Truly amazing work!!

[Crazieman]

They think they'll keep flying until the 2040s.

[JRandomFreeper]

one of the primitive aircraft

Snot-nosed little son of a ....... REDACTED...

It's not that DAMN old.

/johnny

[SandRat]

LOL!!!!! I probably got shirts older than that "KID."

[JRandomFreeper]

s'OK. I'll PT with them (or those like them) this weekend. They always wonder how some old guy can smoke like a chimbley, drink like a fish, and run them into the ground. It's drill weekend.

Grump.

Sarge has a handle.

/johnny

[NormsRevenge]

'Buff' BumP