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Patches, panels and plates; sheet metal shop has it covered

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  Cracks, knicks, rips and corrosion, all enemies of aircraft structural components. However, with a measure, drill, patch and seal a select crew of aircraft structural warriors keep the aircraft roaring into the sky.

Airmen of Joint Base Balad's 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Structural Maintenance Shop maintain F-16 Fighting Falcons, C-130 Hercules and a host of other airframes. The shop accomplishes this, using a myriad of tools ranging from hammers and screwdrivers to rivet guns and pipe and sheet metal bending machines.

"We maintain the structural integrity of the aircraft," said Staff Sgt. Michael Whitt, 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron ASMS craftsman a native of Lancaster, Calif., deployed from the Tucson Air National Guard, Ariz. "We make sure that the cracks and nicks in the aircraft are taken care of so, the aircraft can keep flying the mission for the Air Force."

The 332 EMXS provides full-range intermediate, inspections, fabrications, accessories, armament, aerospace ground equipment and munitions capabilities. The squadron is also responsible for the bed down of more than $20 million in equipment and safe storage, production and accountability of $150 million of munitions stockpiled at multiple sites in Iraq.