Airmen destroy Iraqi weapons for base security (EOD)

Air Force Link ^ | Staff Sgt. John Gordinier,USAF

[SandRat]

3/24/2009 - JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) -- Approximately 30 Iraqi weapons were destroyed here March 18 to enhance base security, including many AK-47s; a Browning 9 mm pistol; a World War II-era .50 caliber anti-aircraft gun; an RPG 5 and 7; 61 mm and 81 mm mortars; and a 122 mm howitzer artillery piece.

"We destroy these weapons, so the weapons cannot be collected by enemy personnel and used against us at a later point in time," said Master Sgt. Gregg Fleming, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron armory and combat-arms assistant NCO in charge.

"These weapons have been turned in by units on base. Other weapons were turned in through amnesty boxes," added the Minneapolis native deployed here from Altus Air Force Base, Okla. "We have no idea where some of the weapons came from that were turned in through amnesty, because amnesty asks no questions.

"We destroy any weapons not categorized as historical or classified as war trophies for home units," Sergeant Fleming said. "This is something we normally do at deployed locations."

Airmen from the 332nd ESFS began placing all the weapons outside the armory in preparation for destruction. Waiting for civil engineer Airmen and the cutting torch, they stood guard over the weapons.

"We are going to chop the weapons down," Sergeant Fleming said. "We are going to de-militarize them to specifications by using a cutting torch."

"Security forces have specific instructions on how to de-militarize weapons that show us where to cut," said Tech. Sgt. Roy Hurd, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structural journeyman.

The torch uses an oxygen and acetylene mixture, which allows the temperature to get up to 1,000 degrees, added the Omaha, Neb., native deployed here from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. It can cut through just about anything.

Sergeant Hurd kicks on the torch and begins cutting through the weapons with specific instructions from Sergeant Fleming. Some melt like butter and break apart fast. Others take longer, like the 122 mm artillery weapon.

"It gives me great satisfaction to destroy these weapons, because now I know they are not going to be used to hurt Iraqis or military personnel again," Sergeant Hurd said.

[SandRat]

Tech. Sgt. Gregg Fleming holds a weapon steady as Tech. Sgt. Roy Hurd uses an oxy-acetylene torch to cut it at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, March 18. Enemy weapons were turned in by units and are being destroyed so they cannot be used against coalition forces and Iraqis. Sergeant Hurd is a 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structural journeyman. Sergeant Fleming is the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron assistant NCO in charge of combat arms training, maintenance and armory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Elizabeth Rissmiller)

[SandRat]

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[mad_as_he$$]

Useless without video.

[mcshot]

Seems the AKs and Browning 9mm (high power?) could be distributed amongst the IDF rather then torched. They could also send them to us good guys to help in the defense of our Constitution.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Air Force cut the RED WIRE dudes ping.

[Squantos]

This ain’t EOD Sandrat.......this is the security forces armory using a CE welder to cut up evidence firearms seized on base that has to be destroyed.......

If EOD did it the process would be weapons laced with flex linear shape charges and M112 blocks of C to “destroy” versus cut demil the evidence that was stored in that SF Armory.

[SandRat]

I stand corrected.

[Squantos]

That’s Ok......still a good story !

Aside....EOD is a science of vague assumptions based on debatable figures taken from inconclusive experiments performed with instruments of problematic accuracy by persons with doubtful reliability and questionable mentality....

CE welders are to smart to play our game......:o)

Stay safe Sir !