Barksdale's big bang

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristin High
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The cold air stings his hand as the "two-man" grabs a tool from his belt. He is preparing to attach an M117 general purpose bomb onto a B-52H Stratofortress. It's late November and the first chills of winter air hit the flight line of Barksdale as the "four-man" cheers on his "two-man" during a speedy and skillful load. The weapons loading team is being inspected for its monthly proficiency test.

"We have a monthly recertification because our job needs to be done correctly and accurately at all times," said Staff Sgt. Christi Vandermus, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member.

While loading, there are four-man teams working on the munitions and the aircraft. The team pre-plans an evacuation route during which tools are set-up and jobs are assigned.

The "one-man," or load crew chief, controls the check list. He is in charge of the load operation and manages everyone on the team.

The "two-man" controls loading and unloading, locking and transferring munitions. He maintains control of the bomb and helps to walk it from the trailer to the aircraft.

Munitions are transferred to the aircraft on a MJ1 bomb lift truck.
 
The "two-man" keeps one hand on the bomb being loaded the entire time it's in movement to ensure the bomb does not spin or shift during the transfer.

The "three-man" prepares the munitions before they are transferred. He checks to make sure there are no defects in the system before they are transported to the aircraft.

And finally, the "four-man" assists in preparing the aircraft and trailor and drives the MJ1 bomb lift truck.

The teams' monthly proficiency tests are can run between 30 minutes and three hours, depending on how many bombs are being loaded. For safety reasons, the weapons used during testing are all inactive.

Bombs are serious business and the troops in charge of them know and understand them inside and out.

"Our technical school is about six months long," said Staff Sgt. Justin Phillips, 2 AMXS load crew chief. "We learn everything from safety, aerospace ground equipment, aircraft safety and munitions."

Depending on what base the Airmen are sent to they can work on a multitude of planes from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to Barksdale's own B-52s.

"I was trained on the F-16 aircraft frame in tech school," said Vandermus. "The B-52 can be a challenge because the planes are older, but they can't produce anything better. Nothing can hold as many conventional and nuclear weapons as this aircraft."

Although Team Barksdale may not directly see the hard work the weapons loaders do, they are vital to the mission here.

"Our mission is to be a global deterrent on terrorism," said Vandermus. "Without weapons, it's just another airplane."