B-52 bomber crashes on Guam

Anderson air force base says seven crew members were unhurt when aircraft from Pacific bomb squadron came down on flight line moments after takeoff.

A B-52H Stratofortress bomber has been destroyed in a fiery crash shortly after takeoff at a US air force base in Guam. All seven crew members survived and got away safely from the wreckage, military officials said.

The plane crashed around 8.30am on Wednesday “on the flight line” at Andersen air force base, which adjoins the village of Yigo in the US territory, the base said in a statement.

Tight Squeeze: Base FES exercises confined spaces rescue skills

Robins firefighters take part in confined space rescue training atop a C-130

78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Story by Jenny Gordon

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Lie down, then slowly scoot on your side or belly while wearing a head-to-toe protective suit and respirator, and you’ve just begun a day in the life of an aircraft mechanic who works inside a C-130 fuel tank.

It’s hot, dark, smells faintly of jet fuel – and you’ve only got inches to spare as you go about your job. It’s been compared to crawling and working inside of a toolbox, your car glove compartment or even under a bed. Doesn’t sound like a typical day in the office, does it?

When a mechanic works inside a confined space – a space that has limited or restricted means for entry or exit – a second individual is stationed outside to help monitor activities.

Should Jeremy Kahler, a 6-foot-2-inch aircraft electrician with the 560th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, suddenly lose consciousness inside an outboard fuel tank, it’s not his attendant’s job to enter that confined space to rescue him. That call goes to Robins Fire Emergency Services.

During a recently warm Thursday afternoon, just as 1 p.m. approached, six fire trucks arrived on the scene at Bldg. 2390.

The scenario: Kahler – who’s worked at Robins six years – is trapped and in need of assistance, and firefighters must conduct a Confined Space Rescue operation.

Mechanics like Kahler, formerly with the squadron’s Center Wing Box program, who work in confined spaces like a C-130 fuel tank can perform duties such as painting, sealant and foam removal, and making repairs while closer to the ground before they’re fixed on the aircraft.

Before firefighters arrive, he shows off the wing’s number one tank and several areas where he typically spends most of his time routing and clamping wires.

He usually goes in the wing with his feet first, when it’s an option, or head first through a hole at the top.

Once in, depending where his work is, he gets down and scrunches into a ball as he maneuvers about. When he’s sitting down inside, his head can pop up through that same hole.

“I’m a fairly skinny guy, and I can fit anywhere in this airplane, so I tend to be the one fitting in these small places. This would be the worst job if I was claustrophobic,” he said.

An entry crew consisting of firefighters Rick Hypes and Randy Hankinson walk to where one of the outer wings is raised on a platform. Lead firefighter Tony Tabler has been stationed nearby, gearing up for the department’s arrival.

“It looks like you could walk into a fire with it, but you can’t. These reflect about 90 percent of ambient heat,” said Tabler, referring to the silver airfield firefighting suits the crew is wearing. Those differ from the structural gear others have on; that material is tougher for physical activities and made for fighting things like structural fires in buildings.

Hypes and Hankinson climb to the top of the wing. Their personal protective equipment, which includes gloves, boots and breathing apparatus, is essential. Hypes looks into the small hole at the top, peering intently inside at the dark corners, searching for Kahler. Hypes is holding something in his hand.

This gas meter detects several types of gas levels, including hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, carbon monoxide and LEL, or lower explosive limits.

Once safe, they remove their gear.

“Just because he’s up there breathing doesn’t mean that he’s safe. There could be gas coming out. Until they’re 100 percent sure it’s safe, they won’t even come off air, “said Tabler. “We’ll make sure there’s at least breathable air in there so we can take it (mask) off. We’ll also go in with a system of extra bottles so that if something happens we’ll still have air.”

This training occurs regularly. It’s the second one in this facility for confined space rescue training – a critical one since the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex churns out dozens of aircraft through programmed depot maintenance throughout the year.

“My first concern is safety. We then check for oxygen and flammable content. Once declared safe, we took off our gear and checked the patient. We made contact with him, found out what the problem was and decided to go in,” said Hypes, a Robins firefighter since 1990. “The hardest part of this was finding the victim. Overall it went very well.”

Hankinson, who joined the department just nine months ago, added, “This training is very important considering the amount of time these workers spend in confined spaces.

“The possibility of someone getting stuck or injured inside is very real. Our being able to come out and work in a real-world situation is very beneficial to us.”

Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 simulates aircraft salvage, recovery

Sgt. Micah Steven McMackins and Lance Cpl. Kingston Baker-Griffin, aircraft rescue and firefighting specialists with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, separate chains in preparation to lifting a simulated aircraft as part of the aircraft salvage and recovery operations during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 11, 2016. Motor transportation operators, combat engineers, heavy equipment operators and aircraft rescue and firefighters worked together to recover the simulated downed aircraft. The exercise focuses on reinforcing skills that Marines learned during Marine Combat Training and throughout their military occupational specialty schooling in order to maintain situational readiness.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
Story by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 simulated aircraft salvage and recovery operations during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 11, 2016.

The exercise focuses on reinforcing skills that Marines learned during Marine Combat Training and throughout their military occupational specialty schooling in order to maintain situational readiness.

“The aircraft salvage and recovery was conducted to show that our unit is capable of performing these types of operations,” said 1st Lt. Frederick Holwerda, current operations officer with MWSS-171. “These operations could be conducted anytime an aircraft makes an unexpected landing and cannot make it back to its maintenance area on its own.”

Motor transportation operators, combat engineers, heavy equipment operators, and aircraft rescue and firefighters worked together to recover the simulated downed aircraft.

The opportunity to train in this environment helps Marines within different squadrons enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capabilities.

“We had to learn to overcome obstacles when working in the mud and conducting our jobs fluently while wearing gas masks,” said Pfc. Dalton Tennyson, a motor transportation operator with MWSS-171.

The Marines received a brief about the situation, conducted a convoy to the crash site, posted security, searched and assessed the area, located missing debris from the aircraft, lifted the aircraft, set it down on the back of a 7-ton medium tactical vehicle replacement and disguised the aircraft before returning back to friendly lines through a tactical convoy.

“We had the expeditionary fire rescue Marines out there, and they were the first on scene,” said Holwerda. “They conducted extrication operations where they cut into the aircraft to assess the situation, extract any victims on-board and take out any sensitive equipment from the aircraft.”

The Marines conducted the recovery operations once in the morning and again in the afternoon. During the second recovery, Marines had to overcome difficulties such as working in gas masks, having access to only one side of the aircraft and driving vehicles through tougher terrain.

“Confidence in the Marines was through the roof the second time we conducted this training,” said Staff Sgt. Justin Barnes, assistant chief of operations with MWSS-171. “The team building and camaraderie we hoped for during this exercise happened. Seeing the gained knowledge and confidence from the Marines gratified me.”

Holwerda said this is the first time MWSS-171 has trained in aircraft salvage and recovery at this magnitude.

“This is extremely important because if an aircraft has a mishap for some reason in Japan, we are trained and ready to execute the recovery of an aircraft,” said Holwerda. “We have the capabilities and the knowledge within the squadron who know how aircraft salvage and recovery works. That allows us to support the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and give the Marine Corps a few more valuable assets.”

Barnes said the exercise helped him recognize his capabilities, limitations, strengths and weaknesses as a Marine, which will help him become a better leader.

“I appreciate the struggles the Marines encountered,” said Barnes. “Being able to push myself and my Marines through until the end increased our confidence, and we become a better team.”

Sioux City Fire and Rescue renew training with 185th ARW

185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard
Story by Senior Airman David Asbra

Sioux City Fire and Rescue, and Fire Emergency Services from the 185th Air Refueling Wing have always had a good working relationship, according to 185th Fire Emergency Services Fire Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Michael Albrecht, but after more than two decades, Fire Emergency Services and Sioux City Fire and Rescue are training together this week at the Sioux City Airport.

The Emergency Response Units are training together on the Mobile Aircraft Rescue Firefighter Trainer, or MARFT, at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa from May 10-12th. The MARFT, which resembles the fuselage of an aircraft, can simulate a number of different fire scenarios.

Besides improving efficiency between the two departments, the joint training allows 185th Fire Emergency Services to be included in Sioux City’s Insurance Services Organization rating for the first time.

Albrecht says having the 185th people and resources included could help to improve Sioux City’s ISO rating. That improved rating would in turn save Sioux City homeowners and business owner’s money on their property insurance costs.

“We will train with Sioux City fire on structural firefighting evolutions to make sure that the two departments are operating together efficiently and with the same types of evolutions so that a joint firefighting effort would go smoothly,” said Albrecht. “We are equipped staffed and trained to be able to provide structural firefighting and emergency medical services outside the installation.”

According to Albrecht, the Mutual Aide Agreement, which allows 185th Fire Emergency Services to respond to emergencies with area fire departments, along with the joint training will only strengthen the 185th relationship with the community.

“We have responded to emergencies with Sioux City Emergency for years but this is the first time in 20 years or more that we have trained together,” said Albrecht. “We are a resource in our community and we anticipate being utilized in our community.”

Fireman hose down flames coming from the cabin door of a Mobile Aircraft Rescue Firefighter Trainer, while a MARFT instructor looks on, during a training exercise at the Sioux City Airport on May 11, 2016. The training is part of a joint exercise between Firefighters from the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Fire Emergency Services and Sioux City Fire and Rescue. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Staff Sgt. David Asbra/Released)

Fireman from the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Fire Emergency Services clear the cabin of the Mobile Aircraft Rescue Firefighter Trainer, during training with Sioux City Fire and Rescue, May 11, 2016, at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Staff Sgt. David Asbra/Released)

A double gift: A story of paying it forward, two times

From left, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Firefighters Jon Nordstrom, Capt. Roger Rearden and Scott Sullivan, pose for a photo at the JBM-HH Fire Station on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH May 10. The three firefighters, along with fellow firefighter Chris D’Agostino, donated a bicycle to Army and Air Force Exchange Service employee Fernando Castellon. Castellon rides a bike to and from work every day, but after his old bike broke, he had to walk. That’s when the firefighters took action. (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO photo by Delonte Harrod)

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
Story by Delonte Harrod

“It was the best day of my life,” said Fernando Castellon, cashier at the Express, the base’s only convenience store, on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. “I am very grateful for [my new] bike.”

A month ago, Castellon lost his only means of transportation—his bike. Castellon is a native of Bolivia and came to the United States 30 years ago. He has been working at JBM-HH for well over a decade. He lives about 15 blocks from the base and often rode his old bike to work until one day something happened: an act of kindness following an accident.

As usual, Castellon was riding his bike to work when the bolts holding the front wheel loosened and came off.

“I fell down and hit my face on the ground,” he recalled. “My face had scratches.”

Though he didn’t suffer any severe damages to his body or his face, his bike was unrepairable.

“The bike was old,” he said. “Something was wrong with the wheels. I [frequently] had to patch the tires. And I had to add oil to the chain every day.”

People began to notice that Castellon was walking to work. Several JBM-HH firefighters noticed as well since Castellon travels past the base fire station daily to get to work.

Capt. Roger Rearden, JBM-HH firefighter, while on his first shift one night, saw Castellon walking from the Fort Myer Officer’s Club. Rearden said he asked, “Why are you walking?”

Castellon doesn’t speak English well and, according to Rearden, he replied with words he could not understand. The next morning, Reardon said he was standing in front of the fire station and saw Castellon walking again.

“I saw him walking,” Rearden described. “I said to him, ‘you need to get a bike.’ He replied, ‘yea, yea’ and kept walking.”

Rearden said that he thought to himself: “You know what? This guy has two jobs, walks to work, and he probably sends money back to his family.”

“We need to find him a bike,” he concluded.

“So that is what we did,” Rearden explained.

Fire Fighters Scott Sullivan, Jon Nordstrom, Chris D’Agostino and Rearden set out to find a bike for Castellon.

“The problem with Arlington is that everything is so expensive,” said Rearden. “We went to a couple of different bike shops.”

Not finding a reasonable price for a bike, they headed to a local consignment shop in Arlington.

Rearden and his fellow firefighters were planning to pay for a bike to donate to Castellon, that is, until someone generously disrupted their plan.

As Rearden was waiting in line about to purchase the bike another told him that he didn’t want him to pay for the bike – because he wanted to.

“The ironic thing is…when I was in line getting ready to buy the bike, a person behind us said, ‘I got it,’” Rearden recalled. “I said, ‘What do you mean you got it?’ He said, ‘I am buying the bike.’ I said, ‘no, no we appreciate it. Thank you very much.’ He said, ‘I understand that you guys are helping somebody, so I am helping you.’ He bought the bike for Castellon, so we didn’t even have to buy it.”

Rearden thinks the unknown man may have overheard the firefighters’ retelling of Castellon’s story and became inspired to pay it forward by purchasing the bike for them.

“The man purchasing the bike for us made the whole situation better,” said Rearden.

Rearden said they had to make some minor adjustments to the bike before taking it to Castellon, who, at that point was still walking to work. Rearden said Sullivan and Nordstrom had to reposition the handle bars because they were backwards, wash off the bike and add some air to the tires.

They then headed to Fernando’s job. To surprise him, they went to the back of the store where workers usually stock products.

They asked the manager of the store to get Castellon, according to Rearden.

“[Castellon] kind of walked in and looked [confused], like ‘what is going on here?’” said Rearden. “We were like, ‘we got you a bike.’ He was all excited.”

“It was a total surprise; I was like wow,” said Castellon. “These are some very nice guys.”

Castellon added that his new bike gets him to work faster than his old bike.

Rearden said the fire department is family, but that family extends into the JBM-HH community and those outside of it.

“So when something happens to someone like that, we take care of them like they we’re family,” Rearden said.

Army and Air Force Exchange Service employee Fernando Castellon stands with his bicycle, donated to him by members of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Fire and Emergency Services, for a photograph May 10 in front of his workplace, the Express Shopette on Fort Myer. After Castellon’s last bike broke, the firefighters took action and donated a new bike to Castellon, who relies on the bicycle to get to and from work each day on Fort Myer. (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO photo by Delonte Harrod)