From touch-down to take-off, APG ensures tankers are mission-ready

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Staff Sgt. Brian Bunch, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron APG crew chief, troubleshoots an interphone system on a KC-135 Stratotanker Nov. 9, 2011, during a preflight red-ball maintenance check. Made up of three career fields – crew chiefs, hydraulics and propulsion specialists – APG formerly meant “airplane general,” and though the name is no longer officially used, it’s still kept for its historical roots. The APG crew chiefs include hydraulics and propulsion specialists, and between them, perform vital safety checks on aircraft both before and after flight. Red ball maintenance means any maintenance or safety problems found six hours or less prior to takeoff. Once a problem is found, the crew chiefs either fix it or coordinate the repair as quickly as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Abeyasekere)