Here’s how airmen keep B-52 bombers flying on a moment’s notice
SUMMARY
The US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress has been in service since the 1950s and is still a major player in the mission of deterrence to our adversaries.
The maintainers of the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, deployed out of Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, traveled to RAF Fairford, England, to ensure the success of Bomber Task Force Europe 20-1.
"Our mission is to give confidence to our allies to show we are capable of going anywhere, anytime," said US Air Force Senior Airman Braedon McMaster, 2nd AMXS 96th AMU electronic warfare journeyman.
US Air Force airmen perform maintenance on a B-52 Stratofortress at RAF Fairford in England, Oct. 18, 2019.
(US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Philip Bryant)
Maintainers accomplish their mission by providing routine and unscheduled maintenance to the B-52s to ensure it is ready to fly at a moment's notice.
"Back home, people are focused on their job and will occasionally help out here and there," said US Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Crowe, 2nd AMXS 96th AMU B-52 expediter.
"Here, what seems to work is that everyone is all hands on deck. You may have an electronic countermeasures airman change an engine or an electrical environmental airman helping crew chiefs change brakes."
US Air Force airmen assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing prepare a US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress for take off during Bomber Task Force Europe 20-1, at RAF Fairford, England, Oct. 23, 2019.
(US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Duncan C. Bevan)
US Air Force 1st Lt. Kevan Thomas, a pilot assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron, does a preflight inspection on a US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress during Bomber Task Force Europe 20-1, at RAF Fairford, England, Oct. 23, 2019.
(US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Duncan C. Bevan)
US Air Force Airmen 1st Class Thomas Chase, left, and Christian Lozada, right, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chiefs, walk around a B-52H Stratofortress to conduct final pre-flight checks at RAF Fairford, England, Oct. 21, 2019.
(US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stuart Bright)
US Air Force Staff Sgt. Stephen Zbinovec, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, inspects the inside of the engine of a US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress after it has landed at RAF Fairford, England, Oct. 18, 2019.
(US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stuart Bright)
US Air Force Maj. "Feud," a pilot assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron, looks out at two US Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses during Bomber Task Force Europe 20-1, over the Baltic Sea, Oct. 23, 2019.
(US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Duncan C. Bevan)
The airmen of the 96th AMU are excited to be a part of the BTF for a variety of reasons.
"Being able to join with our allies is exciting," Crowe said. "We [join them] from home too, but here it feels different."
Spending time in England not only allows the maintainers to accomplish extra training, but they also use it to become closer and build trust with each other.
US Air Force Maj. "Feud" and US Air Force 1st Lt. Kevan Thomas, pilots assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron, prepare to fly by Tallinn Airport as a show of force during Bomber Task Force Europe 20-1, in Tallinn, Estonia, Oct. 23, 2019.
(US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Duncan C. Bevan)
Two US Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron fly in formation during Bomber Task Force Europe 20-1, over the Baltic Sea, Oct. 23, 2019.
(US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Duncan C. Bevan)
Without the 96th AMU at RAF Fairford, the B-52s would not be able to fly. "It's like your car," Crowe said. "If you are driving your car and you don't have anyone to take care of any of the parts that break, you may be able to drive it once or twice but that will be it."
The mission of the BTF is to assure our allies and deter our adversaries, and maintainers play a major role in ensuring we are able to accomplish our mission to respond at a moments' notice.
Two US Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses parked after arriving at RAF Fairford in England, Oct. 10, 2019.
(US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Philip Bryant)
"The B-52 is capable of going anywhere and in any point of time," McMaster said. "It launches fast and it puts fear into the hearts of our adversaries."
This article originally appeared on Business Insider. Follow @BusinessInsider on Twitter.
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