Senior Airman Zach Ellerman, 746th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, conducts a pre-flight inspection on the number four engine of a C-130 Hercules Nov. 27. Items like the magnetic drain plugs, fuel heater strainer and hydraulic filters are thoroughly inspected during every pre- and post-flight inspection to ensure serviceability. Ellerman is a member of the 746th EAMU crew chiefs deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan. The team arrived to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in September and was responsible for the onward movement of more than 415 tons of cargo. Ellerman is a native of Rockwall, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

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Staff Sgt. Aaron Wermy, conducts a pre-flight inspection on the C-130 Hercules’ rudder and elevator to ensure all systems work properly during the upcoming flight Nov. 27. The 746 EAMU crew chiefs, deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan, support deployed C-130s which provide intra-theater combat airlift support throughout Southwest Asia. Since the team’s arrival to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in September, they were responsible for more than 100 sorties caring nearly 900 passengers and 415 tons of cargo. Wermy is a native of Albuquerque, N.M. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

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Staff Sgt. Javier Lindsay, 746th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, connects an aircraft generator to a C-130 Hercules to provide ground power to the aircraft Nov. 27. The unit crew chiefs are deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan, to support ongoing operations in Southwest Asia. The 746th EAMU is a maintenance unit assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Since the team’s arrival in September, these dedicated crew chiefs have helped conduct more than 100 C-130 sorties throughout the area of responsibility. Lindsay is a native of Hartford, Conn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

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Staff Sgt. Joshua Evans, 746th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, checks for overall tire serviceability of a C-130 Hercules during a routine pre-flight inspection Nov. 27. He also conducts a complete inspection of the landing gears and inspects miscellaneous hardware for any leakage within the hydraulics systems. Evans is a member of the 746th EAMU crew chiefs deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan. The team arrived to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in September and was responsible for the onward movement of more than 415 tons of cargo. Evans is a native of Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

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Staff Sgt. Joshua Evans, 746th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, marshalls a C-130 Hercules into its parking spot shortly after it landed at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Nov. 27. The 746 EAMU crew chiefs, deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan, support deployed C-130s which provide intra-theater combat airlift support throughout Southwest Asia. Since the team’s arrival to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in September, they have been responsible for more than 100 sorties carrying nearly 900 passengers and 415 tons of cargo. Evans is a native of Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

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Staff Sgt. Javier Lindsay, 746th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, conducts an inspection on the number three engine’s dry bay of a C-130 Hercules Nov. 27. Lindsay is looking for leaks or abnormalities within the bay before its cleared to fly. These inspections are conducted before and after any C-130 mission. The 746th EAMU is a maintenance unit assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. The C-130 crew chiefs are deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan. Lindsay is a native of Hartford, Conn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

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Staff Sgt. Joseph Stevens, 746th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, performs an exhaust inspection on the number two engine of a C-130 Hercules during a routine pre-flight inspection Nov. 27. He is checking for any cracks or damages in the rear turbine of the engine. Stevens is a member of the 746th EAMU crew chiefs deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan. Since the team’s arrival to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in September, the team has helped conduct more than 100 C-130 sorties. Stevens is a native of Flint, Mich. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

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A Day on the Job with: C-130 Yokota Crew Chiefs

Published Nov. 30, 2012