A welder's tale - Airman's World

Airman, August, 2002 by Keith Master Sgt. Reed

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Staff Sgt. David Huffman shuns the limelight. But he's at home under the light cast by his welding torch.

Huffman's a welder who works on aircraft and makes equipment parts. The trick is to fix airplanes without having to send away for parts, he said. Working in a "back shop" at Incirlik is a hot and sweaty job.

"We try to shorten the time it takes to get an airplane back on the job," he said.

His back shop is part of the 39th Maintenance Squadron's aircraft systems flight. The flight's 11 troops get help from 11 additional airmen who deploy there from bases around the world.

At most bases, the aircraft systems flight has three sections -- fabrication, armament and accessories -- with a host of functions. Not so at Incirlik. The flight has four other jobs to do.

It's the only flight of its kind in the Air Force, said Master Sgt. Kevin Brogan. He said his troops have their hands full supporting Operation Northern Watch.

That's OK with Huffman.

"We have to keep the jets ready to do their mission," he said. "So I take it personally if a jet goes down for maintenance for something we could have fixed."

With the advent of Operation Enduring Freedom, that's even more important, Huffman said. Besides the jets arriving to enforce the no-fly zone over northern Iraq for Northern Watch, operations in Afghanistan bring a host of cargo aircraft through the base.

But it doesn't matter what aircraft he has to work on. They're all important in his book. And with the help the flight gets from the Guard and Reserve, that ensures more aircraft are ready to fly.

"When we do our job, the planes keep flying," Huffman said. "Plus, you get a lot of satisfaction when you provide customers a finished product -- and see their reactions."