Cryogenics helps pilots breathe easy across AOR

Senior Airman Donte Hatcher, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics operator, fills a 50-gallon liquid oxygen tank during an inspection Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Liquid nitrogen and oxygen tanks are recharged into aircraft to provide aircrews with pure oxygen at altitude during missions conducted in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Senior Airman Donte Hatcher, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics operator, connects a hose into a 50-gallon liquid oxygen tank during an inspection Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The cryogenics team here not only provides aircrew pure oxygen when conducting missions, but they also supply liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen to warfighters in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Tech. Sgt. Alexander Sasser, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics NCO in charge, levels out the gauge to ensure the right amount of pressure is in a 50-gallon liquid oxygen tank during an inspection Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The cryogenics team here produces liquid oxygen, which is primarily used as aviator breathing oxygen, and liquid nitrogen, which is used for tire pressure and medical purposes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Senior Airman Donte Hatcher, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics operator, opens the vent valve of a 50-gallon liquid oxygen tank during an inspection Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The cryogenics team supplies, receives and issues liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen tanks to 11 bases within the U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Senior Airman Donte Hatcher, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics operator, pauses to wipe his brow from the summer heat while inspecting a 50-gallon liquid oxygen tank Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. There are a total of seven cryogenics Airmen working around the clock to ensure aircrews and other bases have the cryogenic supplies they need to accomplish the mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Senior Airman Donte Hatcher, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics operator, levels out the gauge to see the amount of pressure a 50-gallon liquid oxygen tank has during an inspection Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The cryogenics team fills tanks full of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen to transport onto the flight line to ensure the aircrew has pure oxygen to conduct the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Senior Airman Donte Hatcher, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics operator, takes a sample from a liquid oxygen tank to ensure its safety during an inspection Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Taking a sample of the liquid oxygen is one way Hatcher ensures the product is 99.5 percent pure or higher, which allows aircrew to accomplish their missions safely. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Senior Airman Donte Hatcher, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics operator, takes an odor sample of the liquid oxygen tank to ensure its safety during an inspection Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The cryogenics team has the capability to ship their products to multiple locations in the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Staff Sgt. John San Inocencio, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics supervisor, replaces the tie downs of a 400-gallon liquid oxygen tank to secure the tank onto a pallet prior to an aircraft shipment Aug. 5, 2016, al Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The cryogenics team supplies, receives and issues liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen tanks to 11 bases within the U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Staff Sgt. Kevin Searls, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics supervisor, tightens the fittings of a vent hose in preparation of an aircraft shipment Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Depending on the mission, the cryogenics team ships an average of six liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen a week to bases within the U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Staff Sgt. John Saninoncio, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics supervisor, places a 400-gallon liquid oxygen tank on a weighing scale using a forklift in preparation of an aircraft shipment Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The 379th ELRS maintains three large storage tanks that contain liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen along with 51 liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen carts that ship daily to other bases throughout the U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

Tech. Sgt. Alexander Sasser, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics NCO in charge, signs paperwork after weighing a 400-gallon liquid oxygen tank in preparation of an aircraft shipment Aug. 5, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The 379th ELRS maintains three large storage tanks that contain liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen along with 51 liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen carts that ship daily to other bases throughout the U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)