Guardsmen keep planes flying Published June 22, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Amber R. Kelly-Herard 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- When a C-130 that landed in Salerno, Afghanistan, suffered damage due to small rocks in the gravel, it was brought to Bagram Airfield June 17 for repairs. "A light was cracked, a propeller was chipped and there was damage to the main landing gear, the fuselage and some of the structure," said Senior Master Sgt. David Snook, deployed from Peoria, Ill., "but the mission is still ongoing." The 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, formed by Air National Guardsman deployed from Illinois, North Carolina, Minnesota, Wyoming and New York, were able to fix the aircraft within 24 hours to get it flying again. "The average aircraft takes about four to five hours to repair, but this plane had more damage than usual," said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Hayslett, deployed from 145th AMXS, Charlotte, N.C. "This plane was pretty much done in 12 hours, the thing that took the longest was waiting for the sealant to dry." The unit brings in about 13 aircraft that are repaired about every other day. "We look at each plane every day and each time after it lands," said Staff Sgt. Richard Bachelor, deployed from the 133rd AMXS. "We are constantly looking for things to fix and replace to keep the planes in good shape." This mission is critical to keep the planes in the air, completing the mission. "It's feels great what we are doing here," said Sergeant Hayslett. "We support the Army guys in the hills by fixing the aircraft so they can get the supplies they need to do their job." The Guardsmen are currently serving on two, 60-day rotations. Many of them have deployed together before. "Most of us were here in 2007 and 2008, so it's like a family reunion," said Sergeant Hayslett.