GAU-8 30 mm weapon system

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Airmen from the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron install a 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun here, Nov. 4, 2009. The GAU-8 itself weighs 620 pounds, but the complete weapon, with feed system and drum, weighs 4,029 pounds with maximum ammunition load. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

Close air support fulfilled with weapons systems

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Senior Airman Scotty Loga, 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Armament Flight, inspects a pylon for chaffed wires and foreign objects that might be loose here, Nov. 14, 2009. The inspection of the GAU-8 Gatling gun is also as crucial as structural integrity, because without weapons systems close air support missions could not be fulfilled. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

Close air support fulfilled with weapons systems

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Staff Sgt. Ryan Van den Brand visually ensures there is enough clearance available as a GAU-8 30 mm weapon system is lifted into place for installation here, Nov. 4, 2009. At 4,000 feet 80 percent of rounds fired hit within a 20-foot radius. Sergeant Van den Brand is an armament troop for the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft maintenance Squadron from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

GAU-8 30 mm weapon system

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Senior Airman Sophia Ramallo checks for clearance as she moves a 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun into position for installation here, Nov. 4, 2009. Once fully installed, the GAU-8 weapons system will represent 16 percent of the A-10s unladen weight. Airman Ramallo is an armament troop for the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)

Close air support fulfilled with weapons systems

Published Dec. 2, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- They say it's all about the gun.

"They're right; it's all about that GAU-8 gun," said Staff Sgt. Paul Retherford, NCOIC of the 451st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Armament Flight. "That's how we do the closest air support possible for all the coalition forces."

Since the arrival of the A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, hostilities have decreased, making it safer for noncombative locals on the ground, said Sergeant Retherford.

The armament team builds the GAU-8 Avenger Gatling gun systems for the A-10 aircraft. They also tear down, rebuild, inspect and maintain all the bomb racks and munitions storage equipment that go on the aircraft.

The team constantly does phase inspections.

Phase inspection is a thorough inspection of the aircraft. After a certain amount of flight hours, the Airmen check for deficiencies, cracks, mechanical issues or anything that could hinder the performance of the aircraft or endanger the aircrew. The armament system is checked to make sure it is 100 percent functional.

The team removes the gun from the aircraft, takes it back to the shop, tears it down to the smallest nuts and bolts, inspects every part and then reassembles it. Once reassembled, they reinstall it onto the aircraft, which then goes up to perform its missions. The same is done for the bomb racks.

"The equipment that we work on is what drops the bombs and, of course, the gun system itself," Sergeant Retherford said.

"We also maintain ammunition loading assemblies, which is what actually transfers the 30 millimeter rounds from the ammunition cans into the gun system," he said. "Everything we do is all focused around the munitions side of it. We just tear it down to the finer nuts and bolts and load the bombs on."

The armament shop has completed 12 phases since their arrival in mid-July. The aircraft have performed 1,600 sorties, flown for 7,000 hours, and dropped approximately 20,000 pounds worth of munitions.

Members of the armament shop deployed to Kandahar from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

"We selected and brought the best from all Air Force Specialty Codes," said Sergeant Retherford. "When they built this team, they knew that they were wanting strong Airman, who were truly the best in their career field. I feel that all the Airman we brought with us are the reason why this is such a success. They truly are the best at what they do."