Fabrication flight: a broken jet’s last hope

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kevin Hokoana, 35th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight metals technology section chief, welds a mixing duct on an engine of an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 27, 2013. A combination of a welding and machine shop, the metals technology section focuses on the repair and reproduction of aircraft parts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kia Atkins)

Cheever transports material

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Brian Cheever, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Operations Management, transfers material for a work order in the 35 CES supply warehouse at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 27, 2013. Cheever is one of four Airmen who manage more than 17,000 items in the warehouse valued at $3.4 million. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Derek VanHorn)

Fit to fly: Generating aircraft

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Scott, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit avionics technician, connects an Equipment Cooling Set hose with a Bleed Air hose during aircraft generation at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 18, 2013. The wing’s AMUs were tasked with multiple aircraft generations, which were to be done in less than 24 hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

Fit to fly: Generating aircraft

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Teddy Longnecker, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit avionics technician, works on an F-16 Fighting Falcon while generating aircraft for the Operational Readiness Exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 18, 2013. During this exercise, the 13th and 14th AMUs came together to help demonstrate the wing’s overall readiness by generating safe and reliable aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee)

EME team’s on-scene

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Joshua Daggett, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron exercise craftsman, takes samples of simulated biological hazards found at the Richard Bong Theater during the first day of the operational readiness exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 18, 2013. The exercise tested the wing's response to hazardous material incidents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)

A pilots’ invisible guardian angel

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryan Reuse, 14th Fighter Squadron NCOIC of aircrew flight equipment, left, and Airman 1st Class Robert McClung, 35th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, left, wipes down Capt. Jessa Charron, 13th Fighter Squadron, center, during a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 15, 2013. The aircrew flight equipment flight’s responsibility is to maximize each pilot’s performance by making sure all products are up-to-date and safe enough to protect and sustain human life during flight operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson)