442nd on the job
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Tech. Sgt. Ken Portell, 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, drives the jammer into place under the inert TGM 65 Maverick missile on a A-10 weapons pylon station Dec. 19. Master Sgt. Jim Kirksey, Airman 1st Class Shane Dunn, and Senior Airman Nathan Kern, 442d AMXS, verify the bracket is lined up with the missile before the jammer arm is lifted to make contact. The AGM-65 Maverick is a tactical air-to-surface missile designed to strike a wide range of surface fixed or moving targets. Maverick can be released from safe range minimizing exposure to the enemy's air defenses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Samuel A. Park)