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Deployed EC-130H unit hits the mark

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron added another notch to its lineage March 18, 2008, marking the fourth consecutive year the Arizona-based unit has been deployed to Southwest Asia supporting the Global War on Terror.

Nine aircrew members assigned to the 55th Electronic Combat Group out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base flew on the 43rd EECS's 2,276th Compass Call combat sortie and surpassed the 15,624-hour-mark providing combatant commanders a unique capability to support the ground war in Iraq and beyond.

"We always have a good sense of accomplishment for the mission we do here," said Master Sgt. Tony Acciani, a 14-year veteran flight engineer with time on both the C-141 Starlifter and now the EC-130H. "It's a pretty amazing feeling to be a part of this unit. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing we're aiding the U.S. and coalition ground forces."

Tech. Sgt. Howard 'Dave' Hainley, an EC-130H flightline expeditor and electro environmental supervisor for the 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, said working on these 30 to 40-something-year-old aircraft is a challenging job.

"My job [encompasses] everything dealing with the inspection and maintenance of the aircraft so that it goes off without a hitch," said Sergeant Hainley, a 19-year veteran from Altoona, Pa., deployed from the 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron out of D-M AFB. "Working on these planes is awesome! We have a pretty good rapport with operations and go to the intelligence briefings to see what's happening in the battlefield and it helps tie it all together."

Keeping this aging historical flying unit tied together is what it's all about.

With the use of 'old-school' maintenance practices, Airmen and civilian contractors work hand-in-hand to ensure the unit's airborne tactical weapon system which disrupts enemy command and control communications and limits adversary coordination essential for enemy force management is fully mission capable.

"We go where they go and take pride in what we do," said Derek 'DC' Green, a retired EC-130H airborne maintenance technician now a civilian contractor deployed with the 386th EAMXS.

On his seventh deployment to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing supporting the 43rd mission, Mr. Green said he's somewhat of a resident expert on this particular model having worked with it for the last 26 years, nine of those as a civilian.

"It's different coming back as a civilian supporting the same mission, but the flip side is I know everything that's going on," said Mr. Green. "I miss being up there doing what I did on active-duty, but being able to help them out on the ground is a good thing. With the war on terror, it's good to know I still have my hand in the action and have an opportunity to contribute," he added.