Sheet metal shop workers help warfighters

  • Published
  • By Lanorris Askew
  • Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  Fifty years ago, William "Bill" Shirah picked up a skill that today is helping "shape" the U.S. Air Force.

Over the years, as a master sheet metal worker, he has bent and shaped the metal that wraps around countless Air Force aircraft.

Today he shares his years of experience with 53 other people in the sheet metal shop, one of the many back shops that make up the maintenance directorate's commodities and industrial products division.

The "Manufacturing Man," as he is fondly called by his fellow crewmembers, can fashion just about anything out of sheet metal.

"Shirah is a very skillful employee and a great asset to our shop," said Lucion Foreman, shop supervisor. "I am glad to have his kind of expertise."

Although all of the workers in the sheet metal shop share the title sheet metal mechanic, each has his or her own special touch that he or she puts into the work.

"I feel that I contribute to the ion of the Air Force by sharing the knowledge and experience that I have in aircraft sheet metal," said Mr. Shirah. "Whenever someone new comes into the shop, if they are interested in learning from my expertise, I gladly share it."

An Air Force veteran himself, the 66-year-old mechanic said he knows how important it is to make sure his work can speak for him.

"Overhauling C-5 [Galaxy] aprons is my main job right now, but I guess I can just about do it all," he said.

The C-5 apron, which holds inspection panels and more importantly, holds the aircraft's engine, is one of his specialties.

The "Manufacturing Man" may know sheet metal inside and out, but it takes the entire team to make weathered pylons, corroded crew doors and dented cargo ramps and flaps as good as new.

"When we work on a part, we feel that when we send it out of here, we're helping (the warfighter) and the aircraft to do their ion," Mr. Foreman said. "Whether it's defending the country by moving troops and cargo or otherwise, our 'mini-ion' is to support the Air Force ion."

But that "mini-ion" has an impact on every type of aircraft people here service -- and even some they do not service anymore. Even though the last C-141 Starlifter left here months ago, the sheet metal shop still performs sheet metal repairs on its cargo ramps and flaps, Mr. Foreman said.

"We were kind of surprised that we're still doing the work on the C-141s, but as long as they keep the work coming we will keep doing it," he said.

Most of the items worked by the sheet metal crew are returned to supply as spares.

Basic sheet metal skills are the main requirement for the job, but reading blue prints and technical orders and operating a drill press are also necessary skills, Mr. Foreman said.

"When an item comes in it may be corroded, cracked or who knows what else," he said. "They tell us what they need, and we try to get it out in an ample amount of time. It comes in handy to be able to read the blueprints and TOs."

Ron Lusignan has toiled for three and four weeks at a time making sure his items are ready for work when he is done.

"I replace all the seals and repair any cracked or broken parts on the C-5 apron," he said. "It makes me feel like I am helping support the Air Force."

Mr. Foreman said he gets a feeling of pride when a job is complete, and he knows the work is now in the hands of those who protect America.

"It feels good when you repair an item and then look at the news and see an aircraft that you have worked on move some cargo or troops into Iraq," he said.