Whiteman Spirit Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody H. Ramirez
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Brig. Gen. Robert Wheeler, 509th Bomb Wing commander presented Airmen from the 509th Fire and Emergency Services, 509th Maintenance Group metals techs, and three civilians from the Northrop Grumman contractor team, with the Whiteman Spirit Award April 13, 2010.

Colonel Patricia McGinnis, 509th Mission Support commander nominated the individuals for addressing risk/safety issues associated with a recent with a B-2 engine fire at Guam.

They designed and built a fire suppression manifold that allows firefighters to directly connect a device to spray foam through a 3" gap that surrounds the B-2 tailpipe directly into the nozzle bay. Testing on a model indicated less than 3 minutes to fill the bay.

The fire department also acquired and implemented a piercing nozzle for the TI-3000 Fire truck which further reduces risk to fire fighters. It allows them to use an extendable turret to insert the piercing nozzle into the gap around the tail pipes to apply foam directly into the bay.

Leadership, mission focus, commitment to excellence, and innovative thinking by the 509th FES, NG contractor team and the MXG metals technicians significantly improved the safety of B-2 operations and enabled return to normal flying operations.

The new fire fighting tools/techniques help for a more effective fight against fires in the B-2 aft bay adjacent to the engines.

"This was quite a team effort here," said General Wheeler. "We're getting things done, grabbing a hold of a problem and solving it, and that's what sets Whiteman apart from the rest. We don't wait for solutions, we make solutions."