Maintenance Operations

Airman 1st Class Trevor Howell, 2nd Maintenance Squadron, inspects the left wing of a B-52H Stratofortress inside a hangar on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Jan. 12. Howell is checking for corrosion, cracks, rust and any foreign objects. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Joseph A. Pagán Jr.)(RELEASED)

Maintenance Operations

Airmen 1st Class Corey Cutright and Hugo Zueger-Garcia, both from the 2nd Maintenance Squadron, remove the exhaust nozzle on a B-52H Stratofortress on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Jan. 12. Cutright and Zueger-Garcia work together to check for any broken or loose parts under the exhaust nozzle. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Joseph A. Pagán Jr.)(RELEASED)

Maintenance Operations

Staff Sgt. Joshua Engel, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, applies a two-part sealant to the beaver tail panels on a B-52H Stratofortress on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Jan. 12. Engel applied the sealant to the panels that were removed during inspection of the B-52. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Joseph A. Pagán Jr.)(RELEASED)

Maintenance Operations

Staff Sgt. Joshua Engel, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, applies a two-part sealant to the beaver tail panels on a B-52H Stratofortress on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Jan. 12. Engel applied the sealant to keep air from entering the aircraft while in flight . (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Joseph A. Pagán Jr.)(RELEASED)

Maintenance keeps B-52s mission ready

Published Jan. 13, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Joseph A. Pagán Jr.
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE, La. -- Members of Team Barksdale look to the sky as an instant roar is heard from the jet engine. It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a B-52!

According to the Air Force Web site, a total of 744 of the planes were manufactured with the last one built in 1962. With that being said, there is only one way these planes were able to soar the skies for more than 50 years--with the capable hands of aircraft maintainers.

"The overall mission of the maintenance group is as vast and wide as the mission of the B-52 itself," said Senior Master Sgt. Bradley Warner, 2nd Maintenance Group chief enlisted manager's assistant. "Each squadron comes together to support the mission of the B-52."

The 2 MXG is divided into four squadrons: aircraft maintenance, maintenance operations, maintenance and munitions.

"One thousand eight hundred of the world's best Airmen ranging in a wide variety of skill sets work together for the group to maintain and sustain 27 B-52H aircraft," said Col. Steve Petters, 2nd Maintenance Group commander. "The youngest of which are older than the parents of the Airmen that work on the aircraft."

Without the hard work of the group and everyone involved, it would have been more difficult for the aircraft to last as long as they have. All of their efforts paid off by earning many awards in 2011.

"We are very proud of the recent accomplishments of the group," Petters said. "We won the Daedalian Award for Global Strike Command along with the Ellis Giant Sword for best overall at the 2011 Global Strike Challenge. This is a testament to those 1,800 Airmen who are outside right now in 30 degree weather."

While every job on base is essential, it is evident that Team Barksdale's 2 MXS displayed their dedication and technical expertise with all of their 2011 awards. Their continuous efforts keep these untiring workhorses ready and prepared for war.