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Show 10 HILL TOP TIMES Pridoy. July 6, 1984 Vj """:. ....... ' V w..S:;;. SS;H::! ... (:: . (U.S. SSgt. David Domben, maintenance specialist for the 2952nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron here, replaces hydraulic lines in the front of an Temm By Amn. Paul keeps Latta 31st Public Affairs Division, Homestead AFB, The problem: You've got a few are suffering inircraft Fla. that from troubles your wing's F-4- s on hand maintenance complex doesn't normally handle. What do you do? The solution: Call in the 2952nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron from Hill AFB, Utah. That's what the 31st Tactical Training Wing, Homestead Phantoms AFB, Fla., did when a couple of its showed structural flaws, such as cracks and strains. "If a base has a problem with their aircraft and it's something they can't fix or don't deal with, they give us a call," said TSgt. James Malone, assistant depot team field chief. main"We work on any aspect of F-- 4 and tenance as well as the landing gear on any aircraft F-4- D F-1- 6 Mk- ' f: SrA. Anthony R. Daly, pneudraulics specialist, replaces wiring bundles in the wing of an F-4- p-iiiil- l,clhi in the Air Force inventory," Sergeant Malone added. The depot team arrived March 19 and stayed approximately three months. During that time they replaced three damaged F-- 4 wings, a damaged rear spar and a damaged intake. Although it doesn't sound like they did much, the work involved in repairing those structures is more complex than one would imagine. "One wing change takes approximately six weeks or 4,000 Sergeant Malone said. "This of consists removing and replacing compochange from old nents the wing and installing them in the new. Basically, it's a complete swap of equipment." Most of the aircraft the team services suffer from major structural damage or have a problem that the host unit isn't used to handling. - Force Photo by Amn. Paul M. Latta) wing. Sergeant Domben was a member of a depot team that repaired three aircraft wings while on deployment to Homestead AFB, Fla. 5on man-hours- ," Air F-- 4D eimdiMiri) "If our team didn't exist, then it is likely that the Air Force would lose the use of many aircraft," Sergeant Malone said. . condition Although keeping aircraft in is an important part of the team's existence, it is not their main reason for being. "Solving aircraft problems is the team's secondary mission," said Sergeant Malone, "Our primary mission is aircraft battle-damag- e repair. Should a plane be engaged in combat and return wounded, our job would be to fix it so it can fight again." The Hill depot team consists of 322 members that are broken down into small teams, according to Sergeant Malone. "The majority of these people are volunteers because team members spend 40 percent of their time on temporary duty. Being on a depot team is a special duty assignment that consists of a three-yea- r controlled tour at any one of five bases," Sergeant Malone said, adding that those interested in depot work should contact the Consolidated Base Personnel Office. Depending on workload priorities," team assignments could consist of a few weeks at home or another TDY lasting from a week to six months. "The Hill AFB depot team has done an outstanding job," said Col. B. J. Ziegler, III, deputy commander for maintenance. "They came down here to fix three aircraft and ended up fixing five. In addition they showed us some things that will help us support our mission." top-notc- h :'"" D after replacement of the wing. Airman Daly is a member of the 2952nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron and was deployed with a depot team to make structural repairs on some of the aircraft in the 31st t . Tactical Training Wing, Homestead AFB, Fla. ' X" (U.S. Air Force Photo by Amn. Paul M. Latta) TSgt. James Malone, assistant team chief for the depot team from here who deployed to Homestead AFB, Fla., recently, works in the . .. . .. - an F-4- D. . |