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MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- There is a long and proud
history between aircraft air crew and ground crew. This strong
relationship predates fixed wing flight and military aviation as we
know it today. Even on the very first powered flight, Orville and
Wilbur Wright had to decide who would be first to fly their craft
and who would help make the launch historically successful.
 There at Kitty Hawk, following a coin toss, Orville became the first
pilot and Wilbur the first ground crewman. The Wrights' engine
mechanic, Charlie Taylor (photo right), remained in Dayton to run the bicycle
shop. Taylor, who in only six weeks built the 152-pound, 12-horse
power, water-cooled, piston engine, made the Wrights' historic
flight possible.
The Wrights may be the first true aircraft
launch team, while Taylor may be aviation's first unsung mechanic
hero. The three of them became brothers in flight. The Wrights,
together with their mechanic Taylor, continued this team approach as
they demonstrated their flying machine to the U.S. military and the
world. This team approach has continues to this day.
Thirteen
years after the Wrights' flight, the U.S. Army sent Curtis JN-3
Jennies to Columbus, N.M., to put down an insurrection led by
Mexican General Pancho Villa. Aircraft aircrew and ground crew
proudly deployed for the first time in U.S. combat history, fighting
side-by-side with their mighty fabric covered airplanes.
This team tradition continued with the deployment of the Americaine
Escadrille, or "American Squadron," later known as the Lafayette
Escadrille. American volunteers left for France in April 1916, prior
to U.S. entrance into World War I, to fly French warplanes in
support of the Allies. The life span of those early pilots was so
short that the maintenance crews would salute them as they launched
into battle for fear that they may never return. That busted-knuckle
salute and its subsequent return from those early pilots was
symbolic in many ways and represented a level of respect between
aircrew and ground crew.
The salute was recognition by the
ground crew that the pilot has put an enormous amount of trust in
the aircraft maintainers, so much trust that he is willing to take
that warplane into the air and into combat with his life on the
line. It further identifies to the pilot that the aircraft is
airworthy and ready for battle. The return salute from the pilot
signifies the ultimate level of trust and recognizes that what the
pilot is about to do is inherently dangerous. The returned salute
also identifies the recognition from the pilot that the mechanic
probably stayed up all night patching bullet holes, repairing fuel
lines and restringing aileron cables to ensure the aircraft was
ready for battle. Furthermore, it is a final confirmation that the
pilot will do everything possible to bring the airplane back safely
into the hands of its proud maintainers.
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An aircraft maintainer renders a hand salute after marshalling a KC-135 Stratotanker off the parking ramp prior to takeoff on July 4, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. John P. Capra)
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Not much has changed in nearly 100 years as that
tradition continues even to this day. To quote Senior Master
Sgt. Christopher McDonald, a proud F-16 Fighting Falcon crew
chief upon his retirement in 2009, "As a crew chief, I
salute the pilot to release the aircraft to them, while
letting them know that they are leaving with a good jet.
When he returns that salute he is telling me that he will
take good care of it and return it back safely. There is
that kind of trust between the crew chief and the pilot. I
will definitely miss that."
The salute also
signifies a transfer of control, a change of command if you
will, from ground crew to air crew; a symbolic salute from
maintenance to say; "Sir/Ma'am, you have the aircraft," and
a return salute stating; "Roger, I have the aircraft."
According to the International Civil Aeronautics
Organization and the Royal Air Force aircraft marshalling
guide, a hand salute signifies the aircraft as being
"dispatched" to the aircrew and ready for flight.
This salute exchange tradition has continued from the
Lafayette Escadrille, across services and nations through
World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert
Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi
Freedom, as well as countless operations in between.
Recently, some have elected to change this long, proud
history and eliminate the symbol of the team relationship
between ground crew and aircrew. Some have taken the
position that what is actually being saluted is the U.S.
flag or U.S. Standard in motion, rather than the members of
the air crew. However, there are a few issues with that
argument.
The Standard was not painted on some U.S.
military aircraft until recent years. It is not painted on
most Navy, Marine or Army aircraft, as the Star and Bars
represent U.S. warplanes. Even though the Standard is not
emblazoned on these aircraft, a salute exchange is still
rendered between aircrew and ground crew. The Standard is
not painted on USAF Combat Air Forces aircraft like fighters
and bombers, yet a salute is still rendered upon taxi. The
Standard is painted on many remotely piloted aircraft, such
as Predators and Reapers, but the ground crews do not salute
those aircraft as there is no pilot to return it.
Foreign military ground crews launching U.S. aircraft
overseas also render a final salute, but obviously they are
not saluting the U.S. Standard. Does painting a Standard on
U.S. airlift aircraft really make a difference to this
tradition? Saluting the painted Standard on airlift aircraft
because it is in motion would be similar to saluting a U.S.
Mail vehicle as it drives by. What about an aircraft being
towed; it is in motion. Why is there no salute exchange in
that case? Simple: There is no pilot to return it and
therefore, the historic team of proud aircrew member and
unsung hero aviation mechanic is not present.
This
tradition of a salute exchange between ground crew and
aircrew is a long standing one that deserves its place in
our rich military aviation history. It is a custom that
deserves its' place right next to the first aircrew and
ground crew team of the Wright Brothers and Charlie Taylor.
Far be it from us to not recognize the past achievements of
our forebearers in aviation.
We all take great pride
in our jobs, both as aircrew and ground crew. We continue
this salute exchange proudly in recognition of how important
each of us is to the safe execution of military flight and
the accomplishment of the mission. Too many have died to
change that long tradition. Powered flight's first accident
death was U.S. Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge in a Wright
Flyer. Fittingly, the first individual to respond to the
scene of the crash was aviation mechanic Charlie Taylor -
yet another testament to the military aviation team
relationship.
Recently, with the first crash of a
KC-135R, SHELL 77 aircraft 63-8877, we are again reminded of
the significance and dangers involved with military
aviation. That proud crew's final salute came from an
equally proud aircraft maintainer in recognition of our
aviation heritage. The final salute between the crew chief
and the pilot is a lasting testament to our commitment to
safety, love of aircraft, and the everlasting bond of our
aviation team, born on the dunes of Kitty Hawk years ago.
Even in the face of adversity and the constant changing of
time, we will never forget our 100-year-old heritage or our
proudly held military aviation traditions.
By USAF 931st Air Refueling Group
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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